Walking to Hilo

[rbakker]

Has anyone ever tried hiking along the lava coast from Puna (HPP, to be precise) to Hilo. Is it possible? Is it advisable? I've heard there's a bit of a no-go zone on the Eastern edge of Hilo, but would that be a problem for someone who kept to the coast?

I've seen the website with all the aerial images of the coast, looks quite straightforward.

[FELDCHASE]

Hi, I hiked that route from the bottom of Kaloli into Hilo about 10 years ago. I stayed on the coast from Haena (Shipman Beach) to Hilo and finished at Richardson Beach. It is possible. I did it in about 6 hours but it was very hot and rough! Take lots of water-probably more than you think you'd need, and stay off of slippery rocks. It was an interesting hike, with a really nice beach near the end. I had heard there was an old trail/road but I never found it.
Good luck!

[rbakker]

Thanks for the info. Six hours is very impressive, I'm sure it'll take me far longer. Nice to know there's a clear route into Hilo in case of an emergency (eg lava).

Now I also wonder how far you can get going south from Kaloli. Have to try that one day too.

I'll take plenty of water but I'll see if I can make do by cracking coconuts, just as an experiment.

[Carey]

The old Govrm't Beach road goes all the way southeast from Kaloli, through HPP, through patches of pastures & rainforest to Hawaiian Beaches/Shores/Rec all the way through to Wa'awa'a & to four corners near the east lighthouse...
Edit to Add:
The coast route is much like the route to Hilo, with a few tougher areas, esp. the SE area of Beaches/Rec/Shores.... fairly steep cliffs with little walking area... but there are also some nice little 'pocket beaches' (Big Caveat: be aware that there is a stiff current & entering the water can be very hazardous.... )

[rbakker]

I much prefer walking along the coast to the Old Governmentt Beach Road. No mud, no mosquitoes, cooler air, better view!
But indeed, those slippery rocks are the things to watch out for.

[Tolleys]

Please do not beat me up on this information I bring to you. I am only acting as the messenger to help clarify.

The cliffs in HPP are private property. Hawaii county has claried this issue for oceanfront property owners in HPP. Below is an excerpt from a letter written to an oceanfront property owner who was having issues with homeowner liability insurance. The letter was issued in 2005.

"Furthermore, 115-5 does not provide that the 40-ft shoreline setback area is a public access corridor. To date the County of Hawaii has not established lateral public access along the seacliffs of HPP by either easement or condemnation. Therefore, the area mauka of the shoreline on privately held lots are private property."

There is much confusion among locals and frankly, HPP oceanfront property owners on this issue. The good news, to my knowledge, most of the property owners do not mind occasional walkers or fishers.




Susan

[rbakker]

Thanks for the information Susan, I'll see if I can find out more about this. It's certainly news to me!

[Beachboy]

if you're going from Kaloli. towards Hilo, I don't think you'll cross anybody's property until you get to Shipman Beach. I could be mistaken but I never saw any homes along the old Puna Hwy running thru this path towards Hilo..

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You know the only difference between Sarah Palin and Dick Cheney is ... lipstick.

[rbakker]

From http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/hrscurrent...5-0005.htm :

[§115-5] Transit area and public transit corridor defined. The right of transit along the shoreline exists below the private property line which is defined as being along the upper reaches of the wash of waves, usually evidenced by the edge of vegetation or by the debris left by the wash of waves. However, in areas of cliffs or areas where the nature of the topography is such that there is no reasonably safe transit for the public along the shoreline below the private property lines, the counties by condemnation shall establish along the makai boundaries of the property lines public transit corridors which shall be not less than six feet wide. [L 1974, c 244, §5]

("Condemnation is the process of taking private property for public use through the power of eminent domain")

So the County has a right to take these strips of private property in HPP, but so far hasn't, if I understand correctly.

Doesn't affect me because by the time an owner sees I'm on his/her property I'll be off it again. I often walk along the shoreline in HPP, nobody has ever hassled me, some even wave (until now, I thought it was a friendly wave!).

Common sense seems to prevail. If I had oceantfront I wouldn't mind if people walked past, or sat down, as long as they didn't leave trash.