Free guided hikes, coffee talks and cultural programs are planned in the Kahuku Unit of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park from April through June. Visitors can also explore Kahuku on their own from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.
Enter the Kahuku Unit of the park on the mauka side of Highway 11 near mile marker 70.5, and meet near the parking area. Sturdy footwear, water, raingear, sun protection and a snack are recommended for all hikes. Entrance and all programs are free.
Ike Hana Noeau (Experience the Skillful Work) Hawaiian cultural demonstrations are held from 10 a.m. to noon on the third Friday of each month. On April 21, learn how to make ti leaf lei. On May 19, learn to make a miniature kahili. On June 23, weave a small decorative fish out of coconut fronds.
Informal coffee talk conversations on a variety of topics are planned from 9:30-11 a.m. on the last Friday of each month. Tea and pastries will be available for purchase.
Palm Trail is a moderately difficult 2.6-mile loop traversing scenic pastures along an ancient cinder cone, with some of the best panoramic views Kahuku has to offer. A guided hike of Palm Trail is offered from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Sunday and May 28 and June 25.
Puu o Lokuana is a short 0.4-mile hike to the top of the grassy cinder cone. Learn about the formation and various uses of this hill over time and enjoy a view of lower Ka‘u on the hike scheduled from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. May 20 and June 3.
Hiiaka and Pele. Discover two Hawaiian goddesses, sisters Pelehonuamea and Hiiaka, and the natural phenomena they represent. The talk is given in an on an easy, 1.7-mile walk on the main road in Kahuku from 9:30-11:30 a.m. May 7 and June 17.
People and Land of Kahuku is a moderate two-mile, three-hour guided hike that loops through varied landscapes to explore the human history of Kahuku. It is offered from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. May 6.
Ohia Lehua. Learn about the vital role of ohia lehua in native Hawaiian forests on an easy, 1-mile walk offered from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. May 14 and June 11.
Birth of Kahuku. Explore the rich geologic history of Kahuku. Traverse the vast 1868 lava flow, see different volcano features and formations, and identify many parts of the Southwest Rift Zone of Mauna Loa. The guided easy-to-moderate hike is from 9:30-11:30 a.m. Saturday and May 27 and June 10.
Nature and Culture: An Unseverable Relationship. Hike the Palm Trail and be inspired by a place where catastrophic change and restoration can be observed as the land transitions from the 1868 lava flow and its pioneer plants, to deeper soil with more diverse and older flora. The 2-mile moderate hike is offered from 9:30-11:30 a.m. April 29, May 13 and June 24.
