Bart Smith Photography

​Walking Down a Dream

​Ala Kahakai

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    Mo' okini Heiau (ca. A.D. 480), Kohala Historic State Monument, Near Upolu Point, the Northhern most point of the Big Islan of Hawaii and the Terminus of the Ala Kahakai Historic Trail. Hawaii.
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    View from Ala Kahakai Trail near Hiana' ula Point. Hawaii.
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    Modern pedestrian travel from Ala Kahakai Trail passing through a golf course near Mauna Kea Beach Hotel. Hawaii.
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    Shadowman on pahoehoe Lava flow (1859) from Kings Highway foot Trail north of Kiholo Bay. Hawaii.
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    Pahoehoe Lava flow (1859) from Kings Highway foot Trail north of Kiholo Bay. Hawaii.
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    Ala Kahakai Trail heading south towards Mano Point. Hawaii.
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    Wave blow hole in coastal lava flow, Mano Point. Hawaii.
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    Polynesian Totem Pole, Beach at Kona Village Resort. Hawaii..
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    Manini' owali Beach, Kua Bay, Hawaii. Late afternoon
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    Littered camp. (abandoned homeless encampment). Hawaii.
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    Surfing at Makalawena Beach, Puu Ali Bay along the Ala Kahakai Historic Trail. Hawaii.
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    Palms along Mahai ula Bay along the Ala Kahakai Historic Trail. Hawaii.
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    Ala Kahakai Trail along Kaloko-Honokohau National Historic Park. North of Kailua-Kona, Hawaii.
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    Historic fish dam from Ala Kahakai Trail along Kaloko-Honokohau National Historic Park. North of Kailua-Kona, Hawaii.
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    St Peters By-The-Sea Catholic Church. Kahalau'u, Hawaii.
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    Kealakekua Bay. Location where Captain Cook and his crew landed and were welcomed as the first European visitors in 1778 and the location where Captain Cook was killed upon his return the following year.
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    Overgrown section of Ala Kahakai Trail near Pa'ao'ao Point. Hawaii.
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    Ki'i (Wooden images) stand watch over rebuilt Temple (Hale o Keawe) at Pu'uhonua O Honaunau National Historic Park (City of Refuge). Hawaii.
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    Pu'uhonua o Honaunau National Historic Park (City of Refuge)
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    Ala Kahakai Trail stone work, a few miles south of Pu'uhonua o Honaunau National Historic Park. Hawaii.
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    Ala Kahakai Trail passing a Heiau, Manuka Bay. Hawaii.
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    Coastline near Humuhumu Point. Hawaii. Thru-hiking the Ala Kahakai was extremely challenging, not sure if I would have succeeded without the help of several folks who gave me their time, energy, and support. A huge Thank You to Barbara, Betsy and Peter and his wife. Aloha aku oe no laila, he nui loa.
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    Kanonone waterhole, Pohue Bay. Hawaii.
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    Wai'ahukini settlement area and Hawea Point from under Kiawe tree on Pali o Kulani. Near South Point, Hawaii.
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    Bart Smith (laden down with 5 quarts of water) South entrance to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.
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    Lava designs along Kau Desert Trail. Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.Hawaii.
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    Rainbow over Pepeiao Cabin, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. The prior night I was witness to a wicked Gale with a lightening strike way to close, it was reassuring to wake to a rainbow.
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    Cairnes leading north across pahoehoe lava along Funa Coast Trail section of the Ala Kahakai trail. Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.
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    Holei Sea Arch. Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Hawaii.
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    Petroglyphs. Historic site of Kapalaoa. South of Waikoloa Beach. Hawaii.
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    Green Sea Turtle resting on beach at Kaloko-Honokohau National Historic Park. Hawaii.
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    Pu'ukohola Heiu. Pu'ukohola Heiu National Historic Site. Hawaii.
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    Petroglyph of sailing ship. Historic site of Kapalaoa. South of Waikoloa Beach. Hawaii.
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    Manuka Natural Area Reserve.
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    Wave Smoothed rocks sometimes carried many miles and placed along the Ala Kahakai Trail centeries ago for easier walking over the lava. Near Keanani'onaha Point. Hawaii.
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    Distant Mauna Loa, and remnants of a Polynesian Village from just south of Lapakahi State Historical Park.
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    Kiawe trees along Waialea Bay, north of Puako, Hawaii.
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    Waikoloa Petroglyph reserve along Kings Highway foot trail, Wailoloa, Hawaii.
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    Ala Kahakai Trail sign, Kaloko-Honokohau National Historic Park. North of Kailua-Kona, Hawaii.
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    Captain Cook Monument. Hawaii.
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    Ala Kahakai, a few miles south of Pu'uhonua o Honaunau National Historic Park (City of Refuge)
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    Goat horn and skull. Near Kanewa'a Point. North of Manuka Bay
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    Descending ropes below Pali o Kulani to Wai'ahukini Beach along the Ala Kahakai.. Near South Point, Hawaii.
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    Three foot high walls near Heiau o Molilele and Pali o Kulani. Pu'u Hou (Cinder Cone) is in distance. One theory is that these walls were storage buildings for canoes. Hawaii.
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    Halemaumau Crater viewed from Jaggar Museum Overlook. Hawaii's National Park, Hawaii. (Not on the Ala Kahakai Trail but a 25 mile side trip)

Summary of the Trail




2000 - Ala Kahakai NHT

Featuring ancient cultural remains, this 175-mile trail links numerous communities, prehistoric and historic sites around the shoreline of the Big Island of Hawai'i.  Cultural highlights include royal centers, heiau (temples), loko 'ia (fishponds), ko 'a (fishing shrines), and wahi pana (sacred places). The death of British sea captain James Cook and the rise of Hawai'ian king Kamehameha I took place along this trail.  Its natural resources include coastal vegetation, tropical ecosystems, migratory birds and several threatened and endangered endemic species of pants and animals.  The Trail's establishmeht was championed by Hawai'ian Senators Daniel Akaka and Daniel Inouye, and today it is administered by the National Park Service.  Two nonprofit groups, E Mau Na Ala Hele ("to perpetuate the trails") and the Ala Kahakai Trail Association work together to make this Trail a cherished route of Hawai'ian heritage.

(See NPS website www.nps.gov/alka)
 
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