Land adjacent to the Pololu Trailhead on the Kohala Coast is being donated to the state by a private donor.
Steve Bergfeld, Hawaii branch manager for the state Department of Land and Natural Resources’ Division of Forestry and Wildlife, said in a press release “the generous donation comes at a pivotal time as DOFAW just published its Pololu Trailhead Management Plan.”
Pololu Valley and the trailhead have long faced the challenges of heavy visitor traffic and overcrowding. Considered a sacred site, with very limited parking and bordered by private residences, Pololu has reached a critical inflection point in recent years, with an all-time high of nearly 1,500 visitors in a single day.
The management plan was developed in collaboration with the North Kohala community to identify solutions to address the challenges resulting from high levels of visitation.
One of the most promising management scenarios recommended by the community identified the property adjacent to the trailhead as an ideal location for a heritage center, parking and portable toilets.
Last month, the donor met with DLNR and explained that he had purchased the property and wanted to help with the cause. The press release didn’t state how many acres are being gifted.
The donor recalled a recent visit to Pololu.
“I was greeted by Sarah Pule-Fujii, one of Pololu’s Stewards, who shared with me the sacredness and cultural importance of the Pololu Valley” the donor said in the press release. “That interaction left a lasting impression with me and sparked my desire to help provide a solution to some of the difficulties the Pololu community was experiencing.”
Stewards, like Pule-Fujii, greet and provide guidance to each visitor at the trailhead, which sees 322,000 visitors annually.
Last month marked the third anniversary of the trailhead stewardship program at Pololu. Over the past three years, the stewards’ work hasreduced the numbers hiking accidents, illegal campers and ocean rescues in Pololu Valley, according to the DLNR.
The successes achieved by the Pololu Stewards paved the way for the statewide rollout of the Na Manu ‘Elele Steward Program in late 2023. It is a collaboration between Kupu, a nonprofit focused on providing conservation and environmental workforce development opportunities, and the DLNR, with grant funding from the U.S. Economic Development Administration.
The Na Manu ’Elele Steward Program’s goal is to educate and connect people with Hawaii’s cherished wahi pana — its legendary places and natural spaces. This program is already positively benefiting sites throughout Hawaii and has funding to continue employing stewards across the state through 2026.