1871 Trail Introduction

The 1871 Trail is part of the larger Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail

NPS

Quick Facts

Location:

Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail

Designation:

Historic Trail

Amenities

2 listed

Historical/Interpretive Information/Exhibits, Scenic View/Photo Spot

Look out at the trail in front of you. It may seem like just a simple trail, but if you look closely it will tell the story of the progression from footpaths to roadways.

Imagine what this island would look like with no roads…. How about with no trails! It would certainly be difficult to get around in this rugged lava landscape. When the Polynesian Voyagers arrived in the Hawaiian Islands, that was their reality. An untouched, rugged, lava wilderness. So, in ancient times, a network of trails was constructed to connect people, places, and resources.

This section of trail is called the 1871 Trail, due to improvements made in… You guessed it, 1871. However, this small segment of trail is just one section of the larger Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail which is the 175-mile-long trail corridor that traverses from the northernmost tip of the island, along the western edge, around the southern tip and into Puna.

This historic trail generally follows the ancient coastal alaloa, or long trail that formed primary route of travel around the island. The alaloa that the Ala Kahakai NHT follows is sometimes referred to as the "alanui aupuni," the Hawaiian Kingdom government road, that you can still see as the "King's Trail" in North Kona/South Kohala or the "Māmalahoa Trail" in North Kona which intersects our sister park, Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historical Park. This ancient network of trail also included shorter more locally important trails like the alahele that ran laterally with the shoreline, and the mauka-makai trails, that ran from upland areas to coastal areas.

Over the years, many of these anicent trails were straightened and widened to reflect changes in transportation while others were simply abandoned. Some of the trails that survived the tests of time were preserved, like the Ala Kahakai NHT, or even converted into roadways we know today. As you continue down the trail you see evidence of this evolution as you will pass historic and ancient structures, see impressive geologic features, and immerse yourself in the kahakai (coastal) environment.