Kaloko-Honokohau National Historic Park

Since I was bound to the Kona area for a few days I kept things simple. The first outdoors activity to come across if you head North out of Kona is Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historical Park, and as usual I stepped up to the Visitor’s Center to ask about a hike.

Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historical Park is a United States National Historical Park located in the Kona District on the Big island of Hawaiʻi in the U.S. state of Hawaiʻi. It includes the National Historic Landmarked archaeological site known as the Honokōhau Settlement. – Wikipedia

The 100 yards hike from the parking lot to the Visitors Center made it abundantly clear; I was overdressed. After getting my hiking orders, and a quick change of clothes (shorts and a T-shirt was still too much) I was off on my first Hawaii hike… and wouldn’t you know it, it was nothing like I expected. Some common sense would have informed me that a volcanic island would be ripe with lava rock, but common sense had escaped me for the months leading up to this trip. It just never occurred to me that my path would primarily be lava rock which poses it’s own unique issues when hiking: 1) It’s hot, 2) it is never flat, and 3) it breaks apart and tries to roll out from under you at the least expected times.

Nevertheless, the 2.5 mile round-trip hike was worth it. It was paid for in sweat, but the payout was worth it. My first proper Hawaiian beach and the Honokōhau Settlement rolled into one.