Exploring Kahuku, April - June 2013 (Honolulu, Volcano: estate, park, area)

[OpenD]

Kahuku, at the southern end of Ka'u District, is not well known to many. Now a unit of the National Park Service at Volcanoes National Park has organized a series of events from April to June to promote exploration of this historic area... once lush and green, now scorched by Pele... or was it?

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park will celebrate the 10th anniversary of its Kahuku Unit by offering free programs to introduce visitors and residents to the park’s southernmost section from April through June.

Explore and protect Kahuku | Hawaii Tribune Herald

And here's another piece of background on this enigmatic area, privately owned for 150 years, and surprisingly, rather well protected by that ownership.

"We thought it would be a great opportunity for the public to see dozens of rare and endangered plant and bird species, and also to visit an area that was privately owned for a century and a half," Boone said.

"We walk through a pristine forest that's surrounded by pastureland. The forest kipuka (oasis) survived 150 years of ranching because it's located in a ravine with steep walls, and cattle, sheep and goats had a hard time getting into it."

Kahuku hike is ancient journey on Big Isle - Hawaii News - Honolulu Star-Advertiser

[Jungjohann]

Where????

[Jonah K]

Originally Posted by OpenD

Kohuku, at the southern end of Ka'u District, is not well known to many. Now a unit of the National Park Service has organized a series of events from April to June to promote exploration of this historic area... once lush and green, now scorched by Pele... or was it?

Actually, it's "Kahuku", not "Kohuku." The Damon Estate was the last private owner of Kahuku and in 2003, most of the area was sold to the Nature Conservancy and the National Park Service.

[OpenD]

Yes, thanks for the catch Jonah.

Kahuku is in south Ka'u Dis6trict, and the access is between mile markers 70 and 71 on the mauka side of Highway 11.

[JoDan]

Hiked in there several times and in 2011 attended a Cultural event sponsored by the park. Fun place! Wonder if they'll be increasing the days it's open?

[OpenD]

Originally Posted by JoDan

Wonder if they'll be increasing the days it's open?

Given the state of National Park funding, I think this two-days-a-month program from April to June is a surprising improvement over what it has been in the recent past. That's why I posted the notice for others to learn about the opportunity, which is keyed to the 10th Anniversary of the unit. It may not be this good again for a long time.