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During the Hike

In An Emergency

What is Na Ala Hele?

Stay on the Trail

Call 911: Ask for Fire/Rescue. Tell them which trail

Most accidents happen when hikers leave the establishedtrail and disregard warning signs. Staying on the trail
greatly reduces your chances of having a serious fall or
getting lost. Hawaiian forests are not like mainland
forests—the growth is very dense, and it is easy to
become disoriented. Thick overgrowth can mask dangerously steep drop-offs. Thin, sharp lava rock can crack
beneath your weight above deep holes or lava tubes.

you’re on and what happened.

Na Ala Hele (NAH) is the State of Hawai‘i Trail and Access
Program. NAH was initially created in response to publicconcern about the increasing loss of access to trails and thethreat to historic trails from development pressures.
Currently, NAH is also increasingly engaged in multiple
trail use and management issues such as regulating commercial use, conducting trail improvement for resource
management, improving user safety, disseminating trailrelated information, and determining the current ownership of historic government trails in efforts to protect theseroutes for potential use by future generations.

Be Visible: Wear or wave a brightly colored item in an
open area during the day. At night, use a flashlight or camera flash.

Be Noisy: Use a whistle to attract attention.
Stay Calm: Objectively assess your situation before mak-Stay Together

Hiking Safely

ing any decision. Stay calm and positive.

Hikers separated from their partners are more apt tomake a wrong turn or lose the established trail. Keeptrack of each other, and regroup periodically, especiallynear junctions or when the trail gets obscure. Monitor
everyone’s condition. Dehydration, sunstroke, hypothermia, and fatigue can hit even experienced hikers.

chances of getting into further trouble, especially after dark,
by staying in one place. This is why it is important to notify
someone of your hike location and destination.

Avoid Undue Risks

Stay Warm: Wind andClimbing waterfalls and following narrow ridgelines orgulches off the trail can place you in danger. Rock climbing is extremely dangerous due to the crumbly andporous nature of the volcanic rock. There have been fatal
accidents from crumbling rock...don’t take the chance.

rain can drain your body ofwarmth, and be life-threatening. Get out of the windand use your rain gear or
extra clothes to stay warm.

Stay Put: You will be found more quickly and reduce theWhen might you
need emergency
assistance?
• When an injury or illness
prevents walking.

Na Ala Hele deeply appreciates any public interest anddesire to assist in the stewardship of trails in Hawai‘i. Trails
require continuous attention to insure the quality of thetrail experience, the safety of the trail users, and for theproper management of the natural and cultural resources.
Na Ala Hele relies frequently on community volunteers forproviding the essential person-power to conduct trail
restoration or construction projects. For more information,
contact the Na Ala Hele staff on your island:O‘ahu:
Maui, Moloka‘i, Lāna‘i:
Kaua‘i:Big Island:

I N

H A W A I ‘ I(808) 973-9782(808) 873-3508(808) 274-3433(808) 974-4217• When extremely badweather hits.

Keep an eye on the sky. When hiking into valleys or
crossing streams, be mindful of rain conditions along themountain top or ridges that can suddenly raise the waterlevel in the stream. Use extreme caution if attempting tocross a swollen stream...rushing water is very powerful.
It is better to find an alternative route, or wait until thewater subsides.

Watch the Time
Hawai‘i does not have daylight savings time, and night
falls quickly in the tropics. Getting a late start increases
the possibility of getting caught in the dark. Know yourturnaround time and stick to it to allow enough time toreturn. If you’re caught by darkness, stay put unless you
are very familiar with the trail and have a flashlight.

• When it’s too dark to see.
This brochure is subject to Title VI of theCivil Rights Act of 1964, Section 504 of
Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title II of theAmericans with Disabilities Act of 1990, theAge Discrimination Act of 1975, Title IX of
the Education Amendments of 1972, andoffers all persons the opportunity to participate in programs or activities regardless ofrace, color , national origin, age, sex, or disability. Further, it is agreed that no individual
will be turned away from or otherwise denied
access to or benefit from any program oractivity that is directly associated with a program of the recipient on the basis of race,color, national origin, age, sex (in educational activities), or disability.

• When you’re extremelyfatigued or dehydrated.

A portion of the content of this brochure was originally created throughcollaboration between the City & County of Honolulu and the Na Ala Hele
Program, by the Mountain Trail Safety Task Force. Funding for this brochure
was provided by the Department of Health, Kaho‘omiki Program(Healthy Hawai‘i Initiative), and the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority.

• When you’re disoriented orlost.

• When you’re stranded,scared, and unable to move.

Na Ala Hele Website
www.hawaiitrails.org
State of Hawai‘iDepartment of Land & Natural Resources
Division of Forestry & Wildlife
1151 Punchbowl Street, Room 325
Honolulu, HI 96813(808) 587-0166
www.state.hi.us/dlnr/dofaw

May, 2001

Monitor the Weather

www.hawaiitrails.org

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Why Should You
Read This Brochure?
Because it may save your life or someone else’s, prevent
an injury, or maybe just save you from significant embarrassment! Public recreational demand for trail experiences in Hawai‘i continues to increase. A trail and park
survey conducted in 2000 indicated that approximately
78% of the users surveyed were out-of-state visitors.
Rescue personnel are now more frequently responding tomissing or injured hikers than ever before, indicating theneed for trail users to be better informed and prepared.
Rescuing careless or reckless hikers places others at risk
and increases costs to Hawai`i taxpayers.
This brochure will provide you with a comprehensive listof trail safety tips, fundamental equipment, appropriate
behavior in an emergency situation, and other importantinformation.
Further information is available from the State of Hawai‘i,
Division of Forestry & Wildlife, Na Ala Hele (NAH)
Program. NAH has an extensive informational website on
features under its jurisdiction at: www.hawaiitrails.org.
If you are a novice hiker, or a visitor to Hawai‘i, you may
want to consider a licensed commercial tour operator. An
experienced guide can provide natural and cultural interpretive information, as well as increase your safety on thetrails. For a current listing of NAH permitted operators,
see the Na Ala Hele website.
Hiking clubs and conservation groups also provide organized hikes and volunteer outdoor service projects. Checkthe newspapers for a listing of weekly activities.
Trailheads are targets for theft! Any valuables should not
be left inside your vehicles, even in the trunk.

Hiking in Hawai‘iPlan Your Hike

Hiking Essentials

Isolated by over 2,000 miles from the nearest landmass,
Hawaiian native flora and fauna evolved into highly specialized species found nowhere else in the world.

Inform Others of Your Plans

Water is a must. Carry at least 2 liters of water perperson for a full-day hike; more if it’s a long hike or on ahot day. In tropical weather, dehydration can become aserious problem.

Hiking in the Hawaiian Islands offers residents and visitors
many opportunities to experience a unique natural environment. Known throughout the world for a wide variety ofecosystems, trails in Hawai`i can take you to coastal dunes,
shrublands, rainforests, and high alpine deserts. Certainhistoric trails provide a glimpse of the cultural heritage ofHawai‘i as they traverse past historic and archeologicalsites.

Remember: When you are hiking on trails in Hawai‘i,you are a guest in the home of our forest creatures andHawaiian ancestors. Please treat these areas with respect.
Read and follow any official informational or directionalsignage that may be posted along the trail to ensure thatyou are not walking onto sacred sites or areas of ecologicalrestoration.

User Group
Etiquette
For trails where multiple group use occurs(hiking, mountainbiking, horseback riding), please honor thefollowing protocol:Pet Owners
If you are on a trail in a Public Hunting Area, you might
encounter hunting dogs along the trail, and your pet may beat risk. Make sure that your dog is leashed, and kept at asafe distance. Please be considerate of other trail users, andremove any droppings from the trail.

Let someone know which trail (name and location) you
plan to hike on, and when you expect to return. If something should go wrong, rescuers will have accurate information on where to start searching.

Hike With a Partner
Don’t hike alone. Frequently, people who get into trouble
are alone. In case of an emergency, your partner’s help canbe invaluable.

If you have a cell phone, bring it along. Though reception
is not available from all points on the islands, it is a good
item to have in case of emergency.

Learn about the trail so you will know the route, where tostart, and degree of difficulty. This information can befound on the website, by contacting the NAH staff, or in atrail guidebook.

Carry a daypack or waistpack. You will need to keep yourhands free and unencumbered while hiking. Pack abrightly colored article (to attract rescuer’s attention), awhistle (the sound travels farther and lasts longer than avoice), sunscreen, mosquito repellant, a small flashlight,
food, and some basic first-aid (at least band-aids andantiseptic).

Assess Your Capabilities

Protect the Native Environment

Compare your level of fitness, ability, and experience withthe trail description. Be practical and realistic. There are awide variety of trails in Hawai`i, so pick one that suits yourlevel.

Hawai‘i has a unique natural environment with manyrare native plants and animals. Unfortunately, these fragile native ecosystems are under constant threat from nonnative weedy plants. One way these weeds are spread isby seeds mixed in with mud on hiking boots and gear.
You can minimize this impact by scrubbing your boots
after every hike, and start each hike with clean boots.

Get Information About the Trail

Check Weather Conditions.
Sunny and clear mornWeather information:
ings are sometimes
followed by rain and• O‘ahu
973-4380
wind later in the day.
• Maui, Moloka‘i, Lāna‘i877-5111
Flash floods are dan• Kaua‘i245-6001
gerous possibilities in• Big Island961-5582
the narrow gulches.
• Website www.nws.noaa.gov/pr/hnl
Call the National
Weather Service for the latest forecast.

Wear Proper Clothing
Dress in layers so you can protect your skin from theintense tropical sun. A hat, sunglasses and sunscreen arerecommended. Hiking boots offer traction and ankle support to prevent slipping and injuries on muddy trails andslick or sharp rocks. Light raingear is good to carry becauseof the quickly changing weather conditions.

Health Warning
Leptospirosis is a bacterial disease that is transmitted
from animals to humans. The leptospira bacteria can survive for long periods in fresh water and mud. It can enter
the human body through the eyes, nose, mouth, and broken skin. Do not drink untreated stream or lake water. If
you have flu-like symptoms 2-20 days after hiking in wetor muddy areas, see your doctor immediately.
Leptospirosis can be fatal if left untreated.