Kaloko Trails
West Hawaii Trails is a 501(c)3 nonprofit that maintains the Kaloko trails, aka Makāula-ʻOʻoma. These rocky, rooty trails are in an ʻōhiʻa forest and are popular with hikers, trail runners and mountain bikers.
Join us for volunteer trail work on the 1st Saturday of every month. More info
Donations pay for trail tools. $25k will fund an Environmental Impact Study (EIS) needed for DLNR to approve new trails, to include a much needed intermediate climb/descent trail.
Dr. Jeff McDevitt, pictured here with his daugher Melia, is a retired local physician who runs the 501(c)3 nonprofit West Hawaii Trails, and is out weekly maintaining the trails. We'd love your help paying for trail tools.
Map of the Kaloko (aka Makāula-‘O‘oma) trails on TrailForks. Google maps link to trailhead parking.
We recommend hiking in clockwise loops to avoid climbing back to the trailhead when you're tired. If you're looking for a shorter hike, turn right and do and out-and-back on Upper Jurassic.
Work focuses on cutting back invasives, such as Himalayan ginger, that take over the trails. No experience necessary, everyone welcome!
- 9 - 11am on the first Saturday of every month, no sign up, just show up. Meet at the Makahi St. trail head. Google maps link
- Wear sturdy shoes, gloves and be prepared for variable weather including rain.
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Bring tools if you have them, the most useful are machete, loppers, small hand sicle or 6” cordless chainsaw. If you can't bring tools, contact us so we can bring some for you.
History of the Makāula-‘O‘oma Forest Reserve Trails
In the mid 1990s the state of Hawaii took back the lease of portions of land from Huehue Ranch to form forest reserves for recreation in Kona. The 1365-acre Makāula-‘O‘oma Forest reserve, on the northern border of the Kaloko subdivision, was dedicated for hiking and mountain biking.
In 1993, the Department of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW), asked Dr Jeff McDevitt and Grant Miller to build trails for mountain biking. The mountain bikers put in 6 miles of trails with hand tools over the next several years. Separate trails had been planned for hiking but never got built so the mountain bike trails became multiuse.
The trails have been maintained since then by the two original trail builders from the nonprofit WEST HAWAII TRAILS, with assistance from DLNR in controlling invasive plants since 2017. They set up a volunteer trail maintenance workday on the first Saturday of every month, meeting 9 to 11 AM at the trailhead at end of Makahi St.
Information about the Makāula-‘O‘oma (Kaloko) Trail network from Hawaii DLNR.