Ala Kahakai Trail, Big Island of Hawaii

 

The Cliffs on this trail consist of ancient lava flows.  The predominant color is black which makes the hike about 5-10 degrees hotter even with the ocean breeze.

This was one of the more well known trails on the Big Island and I got the suggestion from a very helpful free magazine called 101 Things to Do on The Big Island.  I picked it up at the airport.

We drove from Waikoloa to The Westin Hapuna Beach Resort.  We drove to the entrance gate and told them that we wanted beach access and to do the hike.  The lady gave us directions to free parking and gave us a pass to put on our dash.  We parked and headed down a very serene country path.


We walked down to the beach and found the Lifeguard's stand to ask where the trail head was and he pointed us in the right direction which was to the left of the hotel.

When we finally walked down the country path and saw the beach I was quite surprised to see such a nice beach.  On our last visit to the Big Island we never did find a nice beach but only black sand beaches.  The Big Island is the newest of all of the Hawaiian chain.  Undoubtedly in thousands of years the Big Island will be full of beautiful beaches once that lava stone breaks down.  There is tan and brown and grey lava stone on island so the beaches will be varied.  There is even a green sand beach in the south of the island.



We began the hike and welcomed the ocean breeze.  The trail links 3 beaches and is not a loop.  You walk past many mansions fit for a Queen.  I love HGTV so this was right up my alley, Darren not so much.  I gawked at the stunning mansions as we walked and Darren trudged on.






We continued on our walk knowing that however far we walked we would have to walk back.  The views were quite pretty with jagged black lava everywhere and tidal pools and little coves strewn everywhere.







Darren standing below in a coral field.  Eventually that section of the beach will be a white sand beach.  We came to another beach and sat and rested for a few minutes because it is a hot hike due to the heat radiating off of the black lava stone that is everywhere.  

The hike is worth it if you like sand, sun, beaches and water and who doesn't?









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