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| Nā Ala Hele | |
|---|---|
| Name | Nā Ala Hele |
| Native name | Nā Ala Hele |
| Formation | 1987 |
| Type | State program |
| Headquarters | Honolulu, Hawaii |
| Parent organization | Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources |
| Jurisdiction | Hawaii |
Nā Ala Hele
Nā Ala Hele is the statewide trail and access program administered by the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources to plan, manage, and maintain hiking, equestrian, and mountain biking corridors across the islands of Hawaii (island), Maui, Oahu, Kauai, Molokai, and Lanai. The program develops trail inventories, issues permits, coordinates stewardship, and supports public use while balancing interests of native Hawaiian practitioners, landowners, conservationists, and outdoor recreation organizations such as the Nature Conservancy, Sierra Club (United States), and American Hiking Society. Nā Ala Hele interfaces with federal agencies like the National Park Service, United States Forest Service, and Fish and Wildlife Service for projects in areas including Haleakalā, Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, and the Kīpahulu Valley.
Nā Ala Hele operates within the framework of the Hawaii Revised Statutes that guide land use and access across state-managed lands under Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW). The program maintains a statewide trails database, publishes trail guides used by groups such as the Boy Scouts of America, Girl Scouts of the USA, and Outward Bound (United States), and implements signage standards compatible with National Trails System practices. Coordination extends to county governments including the City and County of Honolulu, County of Maui, Hawaii County, Hawaii, and County of Kauai for urban and rural trail corridors, and to nonprofit partners like The Trust for Public Land and Island Preservation.
Nā Ala Hele was established in the late 20th century to respond to increasing outdoor recreation on state lands, drawing on precedents from programs like the Appalachian Trail Conservancy and management practices at Yosemite National Park. Early efforts were influenced by Native Hawaiian land stewardship traditions linked to places such as Kīpuka Puaulu and the mauka–makai system centered on ʻāina-based resource management, and by legal developments including the Public Trust Doctrine (United States). Milestones include statewide trail inventories, partnerships for invasive species control with organizations like Hawaii Invasive Species Council, and resource protection initiatives in watersheds managed by the Board of Land and Natural Resources.
Operational oversight is provided by DOFAW staff housed within the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources with regional field offices collaborating with the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, and local landowners including trusts such as Kamehameha Schools. The management toolbox includes trail planning, permitting systems, environmental assessments under the National Environmental Policy Act, and cultural impact consultations pursuant to protocols involving organizations like the Hawaiian Historical Society and cultural practitioners from ʻohana and Hawaiian civic clubs such as the Hawaiian Civic Club of Honolulu. Enforcement of rules overlaps with county Department of Parks and Recreation (Honolulu) rangers and law enforcement agencies including the Hawaii Police Department.
Nā Ala Hele oversees a diverse portfolio of trails ranging from short interpretive loops at sites like Kualoa Ranch and Makapuʻu Point to extended backcountry routes across Nā Pali Coast State Wilderness Park, Molokai Forest Reserve, and the Na Pali-Kona Trail. Facilities include trailheads, parking at locations such as Diamond Head State Monument, shelters modeled on standards used by the Long Distance Walkers Association, bridges in partnership with the American Society of Civil Engineers, and signage following guidelines promulgated by the Federal Highway Administration for visitor information. Trail stewardship projects often involve volunteer cohorts from groups such as Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado-style affiliates, campus clubs from the University of Hawaii at Manoa, and community groups on Molokai.
Nā Ala Hele’s work intersects with Hawaiian cultural practices and biodiversity conservation in places like the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary adjacency zones, alpine ecosystems on Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa, and wet forest habitats in the Hawaii (island) rainforest ecoregion. The program collaborates with kūpuna, Hawaiian cultural practitioners connected to wahi pana such as Hoʻokipa, and institutions including the Bishop Museum to incorporate interpretive materials about moʻolelo, ahupuaʻa, and wahi kapu. Conservation partners include Hawaii Conservation Alliance, Hawaiian Legacy Hardwoods, and botanical collections like the National Tropical Botanical Garden to protect endemic taxa such as flora in the Maui Nui Nui flora listings.
Nā Ala Hele promotes safe recreation through trail maintenance standards, emergency response coordination with Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, and search-and-rescue protocols with volunteer units such as Civil Air Patrol squadrons and county search-and-rescue teams. Visitor education campaigns reference best practices endorsed by organizations like the American Red Cross and the Wilderness Medical Society; they also coordinate closures for hazards related to Kilauea volcanic activity and weather advisories issued by the National Weather Service. Recreational programming partners include outfitters registered with the Hawaii Tourism Authority and outdoor education programs run by Kupu (nonprofit).
Funding is a blend of state appropriations from the Hawaii State Legislature, federal grants via programs administered by the National Forest Service, fee revenues from permits and commercial use authorization, and philanthropic support from foundations such as the Kresge Foundation, Hawaii Community Foundation, and conservation endowments managed by the Kamehameha Schools. Strategic partnerships include collaborations with the Hawaii Trails Alliance, county park departments, universities such as the University of Hawaii System for research, and private land stewards including resort entities at locations like Wailea and Princeville. These alliances underpin projects ranging from invasive species control funded by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to trail restoration financed through grants from the Recreational Trails Program.
Category:Protected areas of Hawaii Category:Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources