The trail continued in use throughout the 18 th and 19 th centuries, although some sections were modified to accommodate horses, and later, two-wheeled carts and motorized vehicles. The trail has great significance to native Hawaiians who continue to use it in traditional ways. Approximately fifty percent of the 175 miles of trail are currently in local, state, or federal government ownership. For the Park Service alone the trail connects four NPS sites and several national historic landmarks. Approximately nine percent of the trail lies across public access easements or dedications.
Ancient trails are already open to public use and are owned in fee simple by the state.
The plan would actively involve native Hawaiians, landowners, trail users, and other interested groups and individuals. State and local agencies, native Hawaiian and local organizations, landowners, and trail user groups would be encouraged to manage their portions of the trail. The National Park Service would administer this trail according to the authorities of Section 7 of the National Trails System Act, ensuring that natural, cultural, and ethnographic resources were inventoried and protected before trail segments were opened and promoted for public use. The Secretary of the Interior would appoint an advisory council comprised of representatives of affected federal, state, and local government agencies, the native Hawaiian community, corporate and individual landowners, trail users, and others with an established interest in the trail, to provide the National Park Service with guidance on the operation of the trail. By designating the Ala Kahakai as a National Historic Trail S. 700 would help us preserve one of the most important legacies of Hawaii's indigenous history and culture.