Pepeiao--Kaaha--Hilina Pali hike
Date: Wed, 6 Jan 1999 20:34:13 -1000 From: "Dayle K. Turner" (turner@hawaii.edu> Subject: Pepeiao--Ka'aha--Hilina Pali I just returned from the Big Island yesterday where I had to attend a work-related meeting, and with a free day prior to the meeting, I decided to visit the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park to hike the 14.6-mile Ka'aha loop described in Stuart Ball's backpacking book. Early Monday, I arrived in Hilo via the Hawaiian Air early bird flight, grabbed a rental car, stopped at Walmart for some supplies and then McDonald's for some breakfast, and then headed up Hawaii Belt Road, bound for HVNP. Once at the park, I stopped at the Visitor's Center to check out the trail conditions ("Go for it!" said the wahine ranger at the desk) and to obtain a camping permit for Namakani Paio (none needed), where I ended up spending Monday night. From the visitor's center, the drive to the trailhead is about 15 miles, nine on the narrow but not-to...