Planning Your Pilgrimage
A Local's Guide to Visiting Lapakahi
Written by a Cultural Expert
Leilani AkoFinding Lapakahi: A Hidden Treasure
Finding Lapakahi is simple, yet it feels like discovering a secret. Located on Highway 270, about 12.4 miles north of Kawaihae Harbor, its entrance is marked by a modest sign. It's a clue that you're leaving the main tourist track behind.
Follow the paved road down to the parking area. You'll find a small structure that serves as a visitor center. Here, a park attendant can answer questions. You can pick up the trail guide brochure that will be your map for the journey ahead.
This is a place of quiet thought, not structured entertainment. The most important advice I can offer is to respect the ʻāina (land) by respecting its climate. The Kohala coast is famously hot and dry. The park offers very little shade.
When to Visit: Timing is Everything
Plan your visit for early morning, just after it opens at 8:00 AM. Or in the later afternoon before it closes at 4:00 PM. The golden light of these hours is not only more comfortable but casts the lava rock walls in beautiful, dramatic glow.
Water is not just recommended. It's absolutely necessary. There is no drinking water in the park, so bring more than you think you'll need. Sturdy, closed-toe walking shoes are also essential. The 1.1-mile loop trail is a natural path. Uneven and covered with sharp volcanic rocks. This is not a place for flip-flops.
Lapakahi State Historical Park: Visitor Essentials
📍 Location
North Kohala, on ʻAkoni Pule Highway (Hwy 270)
12.4 miles north of Kawaihae Harbor
🕒 Hours
8:00 AM – 4:00 PM Daily
No entry after 3:30 PM
Closed on State Holidays
💰 Admission
Free
Donations appreciated for park maintenance
🚶 Trail
1.1-mile self-guided loop
19 numbered interpretive stops
🏛️ Amenities
- • Restrooms
- • Picnic tables
- • Small visitor center
- • Trail guide brochures
Essential Items: What to Bring
A hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen will be your best friends against the strong Hawaiian sun. Remember, this is an exposed coastal environment with little natural shade.
💧 Water (Essential)
No drinking water available in the park. Bring more than you think you'll need. The dry climate and walking will make you thirsty.
👟 Sturdy Footwear
Closed-toe shoes required. Trail is uneven and covered with sharp volcanic rocks. No flip-flops or sandals.
☀️ Sun Protection
Hat, sunglasses, and high-SPF sunscreen. Very little shade on the trail. Strong Hawaiian sun reflects off lava rock.
📖 Trail Guide
Pick up the interpretive brochure at the visitor center. Essential for understanding the 19 numbered stops along the trail.
🗺️ Quick Access
- Terrain: Rocky, uneven
- Accessibility: Not ADA compliant
- Pets: Not allowed
- Bikes: Not allowed
⚠️ Important Rules
- Stay on marked trails at all times
- Do not touch, move, or climb on rock walls
- Pack out all trash
- Respect burial sites and sacred areas
🗺️ Lapakahi Guide
Mālama: Visiting with Respect
As you prepare for your walk, understand the concept of mālama. To care for. To protect. The rules here are not about restriction but about respect. You are walking through homes, workplaces, and burial grounds of generations of Hawaiian families.
Sacred Stones
The low rock walls you see are not random piles of stone. They are foundations of homes, boundaries of sacred sites, markers of graves.
Living Heritage
Think of walking through a cemetery or a church. The same level of respect is required here.
Preservation Partnership
By following these simple acts of respect, you become a partner in preserving this incredible site.
Leave everything as you found it. Pack out any trash you bring in. Pets and bicycles are not allowed on the trail to protect the fragile features. Stay on the marked trail at all times. Do not touch, climb on, or move a single stone.
