Kipuka Puaulu Trail

I love hiking this loop trail! For a more intense hike, I think going right at the sign provides a more intense incline. Going left, it's more shaded and the incline is broken up with more leveled areas. Beautiful native vegetation all around, but also has many invasive plants present, which workers and volunteers work towards suppressing! Always be aware of overhead hazards, dead trees hung up on other trees...the area is known to have ROD (Rapid Ohia Death), which is a deadly fungal disease that attacks the Ohia tree's vascular system. There is a ROD spray bottle station at the entrance of the trail, please spray your boots/shoes on your way out to reduce the spread of ROD on the island!

Lovely little loop trail. Lots of variety to keep your attention. Enjoyed seeing trees like Eucalyptus and others that I dont have at home. Definitely use the spray at the entrance and clean shoes before and after due to an invasive fungus they dont want to introduce elsewhere.

Bring your binoculars!!! This is an easy hike (> 1 mile). You’ll want to use the NPS app for the self-guided hike along the way. The terrain is nice and the vegetation is unbelievable!

This pleasant, well-maintained trail through a protected forest was a nice break. We heard many birds, although we saw very few, however, it was only early afternoon. We also saw Kamehameha butterflies flitting in the tall shrubs. The trail hike took us about 45 minutes.

Nice hike in a quiet area of the park. Lots of birds and beautiful forest. Highly recommend. Easy hike and parking.

Amazing. It is a bit of an up and down because the trail is on the side of the mountain but there are a lot of neat info plaques about plant species. Definitely download the trail guide before you go. There is no restroom at the trailhead but there's a day use area just before you get here that has one as well as picnic tables.

This is a great, easy trail that is a 1.2 mile loop. There are a lot of plants and snimals here. I could hear many birds and even saw several kalij pheasants. There is a bench along the trailer to rest or sit and listen to the birds. There is a lava tube with a sign saying not to enter. I recommend buying the $2 pamplet at the entrance. It is very imformative and makes a great keepsake of the walk.

Great, non-strenuous hike through indigenous flora of the Big Island. Lots of Kalij pheasants on trail, beautiful birds. Heard but didn't see the 'apapane singing in the trees. Not on the standard tourist radar, but definitely worth seeking out!