Our Partners

NPS Photo

E Mau Nā Ala Hele

E Mau Nā Ala Hele is a Hawaiʻi Island-based 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization established in 1979 devoted to preserving and perpetuating the historic trails and the protection of historic and natural areas adjacent to the trails.


Ala Kahakai Trail Association

The Ala Kahakai Trail Association (ATA) began as an interim organization in 2006 to become a registered non-profit organization registered in 2008. It is the supporting and overarching organization for the community management aspects of the Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail (NHT), which is 175 miles of dedicated cultural and heritage trail on Hawai'i Island.

The trail association was established to ensure that the Ala Kahakai NHT is well connected to the community, that Hawaiian values and principles are in place and practiced, to foster partnerships and collaboration, and to provide help and guidance for the work of managing and sustaining the trail in perpetuity.

They keep the vision of cultural conservation and community building through stewardship of the trail. Board members represent all the moku (districts) of Hawai'i Island and have deep ties to these places. They serve to unite the community and to build positive, broad-based local, national and international support for the shared vision and goals stated in the trail's comprehensive management plan.


Hawaiʻi Pacific Parks Association

Hawaiʻi Pacific Parks Association (HPPA) is a nonprofit cooperating association working in partnership with national parks in Hawaiʻi and American Samoa. Proceeds from HPPA support interpretation, educational programs, research projects, publications, and cultural activities in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park.

Since its creation in 1933, the association has contributed over $32 million in direct aid and other support to the parks.


Na Pe'a Youth Sailing

The living classroom of Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail has expanded beyond land trails to blue water ocean trails. A long time vision of creating future leaders, effective marine resource stewardship and perpetuation of indigenous beliefs, traditions and practices of native Hawaiians came to fruition with the Na Pe'a program.

Youth are being given hands on instructions about traditional Hawaiian sailing canoes with an emphasis on land and water stewardship. Middle school students selected from Konawaena Middle School for the year long program based out of Keauhou Bay in Kailua Kona meet three times a month. They have completed safety training, visited canoe plants in a Hawaiian rainforest, made their own paddles, and much more since they started in September 2013.

Training includes learning the names and stories of places; the history of the Hawaiians of Kona, their beliefs, values, traditions and practices of caring for the ocean and beaches; navigation, fishing, and boat safety…so the youth, in turn, may teach others. The long term intention is that there will be similar programs in many locations across Hawai'i.