About
Length5.4 mi
ShapeLoop
DifficultyModerate
Elevation gain900 ft up
Typical time4 hr
TrailheadKahuku Unit, Highway 11
SurfacePasture, native forest and rough lava
Best seasonYear round. The summit area is cool and wet; the coastal and Kau Desert sections are hot and exposed.
DogsNot allowed
AccessibilityTrail is on uneven grassy terrain, with significant elevation gain.
What you'll see 🌄 Big views🌼 Wildflowers🌲 Old growth

A day hike on the Kona Trail takes you through scenic pasturelands scattered with large hia trees and other vegetation. The trail also traverses the 1887 lava flow from Mauna Loa where lava flows reached the ocean in less than a day. Relics of Kahuku's ranching era, pasture land and the 1887 lava flow define this trek. Trailhead : ROD Quarantine Gate. Hikers need to account for the 1.2-mile (1.9 km) one-way walk from the ROD Quarantine Gate to the Kona trailhead. Distance : 4.6-mile (7.3 km) loop with 520-foot (158 m) elevation change. Add in the 2.4 miles (3.8 km) to and from the trail head for a total of 7 miles (11.1 km) round trip. Difficulty : Strenuous Duration: 3 - 5 hours Bring : Water, snacks, sturdy footwear, and be prepared for sun, rain, heat or cold. You must spray the soles of your shoes with rubbing alcohol (provided) at the ROD (Rapid hia Death) decontamination station.

Tips
The transition from grassland to raw 1887 lava and back is abrupt and remarkable. Kahuku is open Thursday to Sunday only.
Location

Kahuku Unit, Highway 11

Other Hikers
No one has logged this trail yet.
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Trail data: USGS National Map / PAD-US, the National Park Service, state agencies, and © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Access and conditions change — check with the managing agency before you go.