Ala Kahakai Coastal Trail

The Ala Kahakai Coastal Trail, located on the west side of the island, was built centuries ago by Hawaiian farmers and fishermen to provide access for royalty and priests traveling by canoe. While portions of the ancient trail have been lost due to lava flows, coastal erosion, agriculture, and resort development, some west coast segments can still be hiked today. If you look closely, you may see the remnants of old hawaiian settlements, ancient shrines, and petroglyphs made from travelers of long ago. Some old-timers insist that on dark nights one can hear the clatter of spears and gourds and the scrape of woven sandals over stones as the spirits of ancient warriors march along the trail.The sand used to create this art was collected on a segment of the trail near Ala kahakai Beach.