National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail Comprehensive Management Plan Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail Comprehensive Management Plan Hawai‘i County, Hawai‘i May 2009 This Comprehensive Management Plan represents the overall management strategy for an approximate fi fteen year period for the Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail. This document summarizes the selected alternative from the Abbreviated Final Comprehensive Management Plan/ Environmental Impact Statement (October 2008). The Record of Decision (ROD), signed on January 29, 2009, is included in this document as appendix C. The ROD also contains a summary of public and interagency involvement. Photo Credits Front cover: Trail to Luahinewai, Kïholo, North Kona, NPS photo; inset: A throw-net fi sherman at Kaloko-Honokōhou National Historic Park, Barbara A. Schaefer photo Back cover: top left: Hikers along the trail between Keawaiki and ‘Anaeho‘omalu Bay, Barbara A. Schaefer photo; top right: Navigators’ Heiau, N. Kohala, NPS photo; bottom: Pu‘ukoholä Heiau NHS, NPS photos. This page: Manini‘owali, N. Kona, NPS photo Inside back cover: top left: Manini‘owali, N. Kona; top center: Anchialine pond, Kaloko-Honokōhau NHP; top right: Jeep Trail, N. Kohala; below: ‘Anaeho‘omalu Petroglyph Preserve, NPS photos. It is with great pleasure that the National Park Service presents this comprehensive management plan. It is based on specialized input and community consultation and will serve as the guide for the management of the Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail for the next fi fteen years. This document is more than just a ‘plan’. It refl ects the collective vision and dreams of the hundreds of individuals who took part in the consultations or who shared their personal feelings and thoughts about this amazing and culturally signifi cant trail. Their thoughts and stories have provided meaningful insights that guided us to select the descendant-led, community-based alternative to trail management referred to in the plan as the Ahupua‘a Trails System. In many respects, it is a model plan and an example of collaboration since the now adopted Ahupua‘a Trails System alternative was created in direct response to the concerns and issues identifi ed through a rigorous public planning process. It is a model for Hawaii in that it will bring together county, state, federal agencies, private landowners and businesses, as well as community groups in partnership to manage shoreline trails and their associated cultural and natural resources. Since the Ala Kahakai National Historic Tail was designated in 2000, the National Park Service has learned much about how different historic and cultural trails are in that they have been in continuous use since the arrival of the fi rst Polynesians to the Hawaiian Islands. We understand how important trails are to Hawaiian people and to others whose ancestors arrived in historic times. Trails have always contributed to building and connecting communities and in the management of an abundant economy able to sustain thousands of islanders with no dependency on off-shore sources. The hundreds of stories that we have heard during the planning process have been truly remarkable and inspirational, and I am certain that this document captures both the local and national signifi cance of the trail. I am equally confi dent that the management strategy we have developed through this collaborative effort can achieve our long term goals to provide a means to integrate modern management sciences into traditional knowledge and practices and to provide a way for local communities to be engaged in the preservation and management of their ancient and historical trails and routes. I am often asked, “How can we accomplish all of the things that are in the comprehensive management plan?” The simple answer is that we must all continue to remain engaged with each other and dedicate the time and effort it will take. Through groups such as the Ala Kahakai Trail Association and Ē Mau Na Ala Hele, the public and private sectors, and other partners, it is possible to accomplish together what is not possible alone. It is through the power of deep-rooted, personal commitments of individuals and families that we will continue the forward movement to fulfi ll their “kuleana”—their ancestral responsibility—to care for the trails and the places along the trail in a manner that is inclusive of all members of our island communities. I want to sincerely thank each of you for sharing your time, your stories and for working with us and teaching us that, “the trails are the people and the people are the trails”. I look forward to seeing you soon and implementing this important plan together. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or comments. Aloha pumehana, Aric Arakaki Superintendent Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail i Mamalahoa trail, NPS photo ii Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail Comprehensive Management Plan Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail Comprehensive Management Plan Contact: Prepared by: Superintendent U.S. Department of the Interior Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail National Park Service 73-4786 Kanalani Street, #14 Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail & Kailua-Kona, HI 96740 Pacifi c West Region - Oakland, California Horse on Mamalahoa trail circa early 1900’s. Hawaiian Mission Children’s Museum photo iii Trail near Punalu‘u, Barbara A. Schaefer photo iv Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail Comprehensive Management Plan Contents Hawaiian Words Used in the Text vii Resource Protection 60 Introduction 2 Goal of the Protection Program 60 Description 2 Cultural & Natural Resource Protection 61 Foundation for the Trail Plan 2 Fire Management 68 Purpose of the Trail 4 Wilderness 68 Community Vision for the Trail 5 Trail User Experience 69 Signifi cance of the Ala Kahakai NHT to the Hawaiian Traditional Users or Practitioners 69 People and to the Entire Nation 6 Recreation 69 Primary Interpretive Themes 11 Interpretation and Education 69 Historic Overview 12 Trail Identifi cation 72 Hawaiian Land Use and Resource Management Health and Safety 73 Practices: Defi nition of the Ahupua‘a 12 User Capacity 73 The Hawaiian Trail System 13 Facility Development 78 Traditional Uses of the Ala Loa 15 Implementation 79 Kamehameha, Island Unifi cation, and the Ala Loa 15 Costs 79 The Ala Loa and Abolition of the Kapu 16 Operations 79 Evolution of the Ala Loa 17 One-Time Costs 80 Effects of the Highways Act of 1892 on the Ala Funding 81 Kahakai NHT 18 Action Items 82 Background 20 Management, Administration, and Partnerships 82 Introduction 20 Interpretation and Education 82 Status of Resources and Values 20 Preparers of the Plan 89 Cultural Resources 20 Natural Resources 26 Glossary 90 Wilderness 29 Trail Mapping 30 APPENDICES 95 Gaps in Information and Research Needs 31 A: Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail Act 96 Legal and Policy Requirements 31 B: The National Trails System Act (Selected Relationship to Other Plans 36 Sections) 98 Comprehensive Management Plan 40 C: Record of Decision 110 D: Assessment of Consistency with the State of Purpose and Need for the Plan 40 Hawaii Coastal Zone Management Program 121 Purpose of the Plan 40 E: High Potential Sites and Complexes along the Ala The Need for the Plan 41 Kahakai NHT 124 Concept for the Ala Kahakai NHT 42 F: Trail Segment Descriptions 136 Administration, Management, and Partnerships 43 G: Hawai‘i Island Guidelines for the Treatment of Defi nition of Terms 43 Historic Hawaiian Trails 142 Management Approach 43 References for Draft Plan and EIS 147 Guidance for Including Trail Sites and Segments 50 Criteria for High Potential Sites and Segments 50 Acknowledgements 154 Criteria for Including Interpretive Facilities 51 Criteria for Trail Alignment 53 Trail Classifi cations and Management Prescriptions 54 v MAPS 1: Vicinity Map and Location of the Ala Kahakai NHT 3 2: Districts of Hawai‘i Island with Ahupua‘a and Ancient Royal Centers 14 3: Location of High Potential Cultural Sites and Complexes 25 4: Auto Tour Route 59 5: North Kohala and South Kohala Districts 83 6: North Kona District 84 7: South Kona District 85 8: Ka‘ū District (Manauka Bay to Pālima Point) 86 9: Ka‘ū and Puna Districts (Pālima Point to Hākuma Point) 87 TABLES 1: High Potential Cultural Sites and Complexes Along the Ala Kahakai NHT 23 2: Annual Operations Costs 80 3: One-Time Costs 80 vi Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail Comprehensive Management Plan Hawaiian Words Used in the Text ‘a‘ä – Solidifi ed lava with a rough, clinkery surface. aloha – Sacred breath of life, love, compassion. ahu – A heap of stones erected as a marker; a aloha ‘äina – Love of the land, reverence for all cairn; the altar upon which tribute offerings were living things. placed. heiau – Hawaiian temple platform. There were ahupua‘a – A major land division usually extending numerous temples for many different purposes from the uplands to the sea, so called because such as agricultural prosperity, fi shing, surfi ng, the the boundary was marked by a heap (ahu) of hula, etc. Only the highest ranking one, the luakini, stones surmounted by an image of a pig (pua‘a) or was used for human sacrifi ce. because a pig or some other tribute was laid on the altar as a tax to the chief. hölua – An inclined dry-laid masonry ramp on which sledding contests were held. ‘äina – The living earth. ho‘okipa – Hospitality ala – Anciently a footpath, trail, way; now also road or highway. ho‘okupu – Tribute as a sign of honor and respect, gift exchange. ‘alä – Waterworn stones used as steppingstones or to mark a footpath; also called pa‘alä. ‘ili – A subdivision within an ahupua‘a administered by the chief controlling the ahupua‘a.