MEDIA RELEASE

Hawaii National Park, HI – Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park is opening a new hiking trail in the Park’s Kahuku Unit on Sat. Oct. 8, 2011 with a celebration at the trailhead at 10 a.m. followed by a ranger guided hike with Ranger John Stallman. A second ranger guided hike will lead by Ranger Dean Gallagher at 11 a.m.

The Palm trail is a 2.6 mile loop traversing through scenic pasture along an ancient cinder cone with some of the best panoramic views Kahuku has to offer. Along the way are relics of the ranching era, sections of remnant native forest and amazing volcanic features from the 1868 eruptive fissures.

The Kahuku Unit is open weekends from 9:00AM – 3:00 PM except the first Saturday of each month. The entrance is on the mauka (upslope) side of Highway 11 between mile markers 70 and 71. The Palm trailhead is two miles up the unpaved main road.

Kahuku can be hot and dry or cool and rainy. Bring sunscreen, rain gear, good walking shoes for the moderate hike, water and snacks. Please leave your animals at home for this event. Pets are not allowed above the airstrip and may not be left inside vehicles. Palm trail head can be reached by 2 wheel drive vehicles; however, 4 wheel drive is recommended for the road beyond the trail head.