PLANTS ALONG THE TRAILJUNGLE WARFARE TRAINING

Many of the plants along the trail are not native. As you hike,look for the indigenous species (native to Hawai‘i but also foundelsewhere), Polynesian introduced species (brought by theoriginal Hawaiian settlers over a thousand years ago), and alienspecies (brought intentionally or accidentally after 1778).

Kahana was used by the military in World War II as a jungle
warfare training site for soldiers going to fight in the Pacific.
Over 300,000 soldiers learned to live off the land, construct rope
bridges for stream crossings, and carry out combat in the forestof Kahana. Villages were built in the valley to simulate combat
situations with live-fire training that included rockets, machine
guns, flame-throwers, grenades, and rifles.

Hau. The wood of this low, twisting
tree is very buoyant. It was used by
Hawaiians for canoe outriggers and floats
on fishing nets. The bark was made into
ropes and cordage.

At #2 along the trail, there areseveral bunkers and tank barriers
that remain from the military’s
use of the valley, circa 19431945. The crushed coral trail
you are hiking on is part of theroad system built for army jeeps,trucks, and tanks. At the stream
crossings are the foundations ofthe former bridges.

Hala. This tree has long leaves (lauhala)that are flattened, stripped, and woven
into floor mats, baskets, pillows andfans. Hala fruit resembles a pineapple.
Dried keyes of the fruit were used asbrushes to decorate kapa (barkcloth).
Kukui. This common forest tree is known
as the candlenut tree. The oil in the kernel
was burnt as light by the Hawaiians. The
nut is cleaned and strung as a lei and the“meat” in the shell is used as a seasoning(‘inamona) for fish.
Ki (ti). A very important plant to Hawaiians,
ti leaves have widespread uses, including
house thatching, cooking, clothing, fishing, lei
making, and ritual uses.
‘Öhi‘a ‘ai (Mountain Apple). This tree
likes the wet, shady areas along the trail.
The bright pink flowers appear in spring.
The edible fruit grows off the branches
and ripens in late summer. This tree is a
Polynesian introduction.
Guava. Introduced to Hawai‘i in theearly 1800s as a cultivated plant, the fruitis made into paste, jam, jelly, and juice.
Guava reproduces prolifically as the seeds
are spread by pigs and birds.
Mango. Native to India, this tree wasbrought to Hawai‘i in the 1800s for its
delicious fruit. These large trees havebecome common in the Hawaiian forestand yards. Look for the ripe yellow fruitin summer.
Inkberry. A recent introduction from
Malaysia, this shrub is rapidly spreadingalong the trail. The pink berries turn black
as they ripen. Birds eat the berries and drop
the seeds throughout the forest.

NAKOATRAIL

HIKE SAFE• Stay on the designated trail. Following pig paths or hunter
trails will get you lost.
• Wear good footwear. The trail is uneven, rocky,and muddy. Be prepared for several stream
crossings with slippery rocks and moving water.
• There are no emergency communication services along thetrail and cellular phones will not work.
• Be sure you have enough time for your hike.
• Do not drink water from the stream - carry at least
one liter of water per person on this hike.
• Mosquito repellent and suncreen are recommended.
• Do not taste or eat unfamiliar plants.

WARNING: Flash Flood!

Be alert, water may rise without warning. Fastmoving water may result in serious injury ordeath. Do not cross streams if the water is high.

State of Hawai‘i
Department of Land & Natural Resources
DIVISION OF STATE PARKS
https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/dsp/
Kahana State Park
52-222 Kamehameha Hwy.
Kahana, HI 96717
Phone: 808-237-7767

O‘ahu District Park Office1151 Punchbowl Street, #310
Honolulu, HI 96813
Phone: 808-587-0300
Assistance for the printing of thisbrochure provided by HTA.

Koa Artwork by Robin Yoko Racoma, From the Mountains to the Sea
Copyright © 1997 Kamehameha Schools

AHUPUA‘A ‘O KAHANA
STATE PARKKahana, O‘ahu

NAKOA TRAILHIKING THE TRAILThis 3.5-mile (5.5 km) loop trail meanders on thevalley floor and lower slopes about midway along
the length of Kahana Valley. The trail goes througha forest of both native and introduced plants withtwo major stream crossings.

There are 4 major points along the trail that serve as
landmarks during your hike. Please take a minuteat these points to make sure you take the correct
trail route. Hikers have gotten lost on this trail
because they go off on hunter or pig trails that leadfar back into the valley or up the steep valley walls.
For your safety, stay on the designated trail.

Näkoa refers to the koa trees that you will see along
the trail. Koa and ‘öhi‘a are the two dominant trees inHawai‘i’s native forests. Numerous tree roots create
uneven and slippery trail conditions. The dense tree
canopy can make the trail turn dark quickly. Allow
2 to 3 hours for the hike.

Trailhead (#1) to #2: 1.6 mile

The first part of the loop
takes about 1 hour. The
trail is relatively level,
going through a forest ofhala (pandanus), hapu‘u(tree fern), guava, kukui(candlenut),andanoccasional koa tree. The
trail is carpeted withlauhala (leaves of the halatree) and kukui nuts. You
will cross numerous small
tributary streambeds that are generally dry or
have small amounts of water. However, they canstill be slippery and subject to flooding.

The trailhead is at the end of Kahana Valley Road,but you must park at the designated site before
the residential area. It is a 0.6-mile walk from theparking area to the trailhead. Enjoy your hike.
Acacia koa has sickleshaped leaves and small
cream-colored flower“balls”. The golden,hard wood is popular
for woodworking.

Options at #2

LOTS OF WATER

Four trails intersect at #2. Going right (west) willtake you to the reservoir tank and back downa road to the trailhead (about 1.5 mile). Goingstraight towards the bunkers, there is a 0.5-mileside-trip that takes you through a bamboo forest
down to Kahawainui Stream.

Kahana is the wettest valley on O‘ahu and sits atop
the island’s largest aquifer. Rainfall is abundant in
the back of the valley where the clouds atop theKo‘olau Mountains drop their moisture. The water
is channeled into the many tributaries that drain
into two large streams - Kahawainui Stream on thewest side of the valley and Kawa Stream on theeast side. These streams join makai (seaward) of thetrail to form Kahana Stream which flows acrossthe valley floor to enter the ocean at the easternside of Kahana Bay.
The water in the streams of Kahana is fast-flowing.
You may need to wade in knee-deep water tocross the stream
and walk overslippery rocks.
Do not try to
crossthesestreams during
or after rainy
weather whenwaterlevelsrise.
Be prepared for frequent rain showers during yourhike. A light rainjacket or poncho is recommended.
Good hiking boots are needed for the slippery,
muddy trail conditions.

#2 to #3: 0.5 mile

Going left (east) at #2, you follow the old militaryroad marked by the crushed coral surface. After ashort walk through the rose apple forest, you willneed to cross Kahawainui Stream. It is a gradualuphill climb toward the east side of the valley.

#3 to Kahana Dam (#4): 1.3 mile

HUNTING AREA

LEPTOSPIROSISThe trail is adjacent to a hunting area and you may
see signs of wild pigs on the trail. Pigs root in
the muddy areas and eat fallen fruit.
Hunters often have dogs to assist
with their hunt for the wild pigs in thevalley. Use caution if you see pigs or
hunting dogs on the trail. Hunting isallowed on weekends and holidays.
Hunters use the trail to access thehunting areas in the park.

Leptospirosis is a bacterial disease transmitted
from animals, such as rats and pigs, to humans. It
can enter the body through the eyes,
nose, mouth and broken skin. You
can get leptospirosis by drinking
or swimming in contaminatedwater or hiking in contaminatedmud. See a doctor if you develop
flu-like symptoms after hiking or
swimming.

Along this part of the trail, you will see some of thelargest koa trees. Look for the sickle-shaped leaves
on the ground. The native vegetation gives way
to exotics such as the inkberry shrubs, guava, andorchids as you continue makai (seaward).

#4 to Trailhead (#1): 0.1 mile

You will cross Kahawainui Stream a second timeat the dam. Usecaution as the dam
is slippery andthe water moves
swiftly. It is a short
15 minutes back to
the trailhead.