Hiking the Kaūmana Trail on the Big Island of Hawaiʻi
Distance (One Way): 1.5 miles / 2.4 km
The Kaūmana Trail is one of the easier hikes off Saddle Road, and it makes for one of the best trails on the Big Island to see a variety of native Hawaiian plants and birds, like the ʻIʻiwi and ʻApapane.
In my opinion, Kaūmana makes for a great quick adventure, whether you’re staying on the east side of Hawaiʻi Island or you’re making your way between Hilo and Kona.
Kaūmana Trailhead Parking
Parking for the Kaūmana Trail is located in either one of two trailheads directly off Saddle Road.
Personally, I like starting at the lower Kaūmana Trailhead to go uphill first, but the hike could just as easily be started in reverse.
Google Maps Directions: Lower Kaūmana Trailhead
My Hawaiʻi Hiking Checklist
Osprey 3L Water Bladder - The Osprey 3L water bladder is the most universal hiking and backpacking water bladder on the market, and it’s my go-to because of the slide-off seal that allows it to be quickly filled from the top. Additionally, individual parts are easily replaceable, such as the bite valve.
Blister / Heel Protectors - I swear by these cheap, amazing heel protectors to prevent blisters for nearly every kind of hiking and backpacking that I do!
Black Diamond Headlamp - Personally, I recommend the Black Diamond Storm because it is one of the brightest, lightest, and longest-lasting headlamps on the market—and trust me, the weight-to-battery-life ratio really does matter!
Hiking / Trail Running Shoes - Depending on the type of trail, I prefer to use either the Keen Targhee for longer, more rugged hiking or the HOKA Zinal Trail-Running Shoe for lighter, less intense trails. In either case, both have been amazing to me for many years across countless environments, and both can be found in men’s and women’s sizes. - (Men’s Keen / Women’s Keen) (Men’s HOKA / Women’s HOKA)
Waterproof Rain Shell - You never know when it may rain, and I’ve learned over the years that a rain shell is far better than a rain jacket. By this, I mean that it’s best to have something that the water will roll right off of, which is why I recommend the Patagonia Torrentshell 3L available in both men’s and women’s sizes.
High SPF Sunscreen - Packing high-SPF sunscreen is a must for long days outside!
Hiking the Kaūmana Trail
As previously mentioned, there are two trailheads for the Kaūmana Historic Trail, but I typically choose to begin this hike from the bottom. However, it really just depends on whether you would rather hike uphill first or on the return trip.
Overall, the Kaūmana Trail only gains about 300 ft. (91 m) of elevation, which is hardly noticeable over the total 1.5-mile (2.4 km) one-way distance.
For the most part, the Kaūmana Trail is very easy to navigate, especially since the trail parallels Saddle Road just to the north.
On top of this, Kaūmana traverses a pāhoehoe lava flow, meaning that it’s a very solid hiking surface with no mud, even in the rain!
If you’re hiking the Kaūmana Trail to see some of Hawaiʻi’s native birds, I can tell you from experience that you’re more likely to see the ʻIʻiwi and ʻApapane early and late in the day, as well as when there is an abundance of ʻŌhiʻa lehua flowering!
ʻŌhelo ʻai is an edible native Hawaiian plant, but I’ll let you be the judge. There are three native ʻŌhelo species in Hawaiʻi, with a few hybrids, but some would tell you that certain species taste better than others.
From experience, the deeper the red, the better tasting the berries will be.
Toward the upper end of Kaūmana, the trail begins to turn back toward Saddle Road, which can be seen in the photo below.
Upper Kaūmana Trailhead
In my experience, it seems that more hikers prefer to start at the lower Kaūmana Trailhead than the upper, but regardless, there will always be some mild elevation gain, whichever way you decide to go.
Native Plants on the Kaūmana Trail
The Kaūmana Trail is one of the best trails on Hawaiʻi Island to see a beautifully intact native Hawaiian forest.
On Kaūmana, you can expect to see ʻŌhiʻa, ʻŌhelo ʻai, Kōlea lau nui, Hāpuʻu, Uluhe, Paʻiniu, and ʻŌlapa, to truly name only a few.
To learn more about identifying these and many other native plants from across Hawaiʻi, check out my separate post below.
Read My Separate Post: Native Hawaiian Plant Guide
More Big Island Adventures
If you’re interested in reading about some more amazing Hawaiʻi Island adventures, check out my separate posts below!
Best Hotels & Vacation Rentals on Hawaiʻi Island
Since Hawaiʻi Island is such a big island, I recommend starting your search on VRBO to find places in both Kona and Hilo.
This way, you can plan your adventures on all sides of the island without having to drive too far.
Island of Hawaiʻi
Hawaiʻi Island Airport-Hotel Shuttle
Prices on ride-share apps like Uber/ Lyft cannot beat the price of booking your hotel or vacation rental shuttle prior to arrival.
That being said, the shuttle option below is incredibly cheap, and it’s a great option to get to accommodations across the Kailua-Kona side of the Big Island!
Best Way to Book Rental Cars!
I travel quite a bit, and I know firsthand that finding a good rental car deal can be a challenge, but that’s why I recommend comparing all of your options with Discover Cars.
In short, Discover Cars is a well-known, reputable business that allows you to search for the best deal across companies, and they have the best full-refund cancellation policy I’ve ever seen, valid up to 72, or sometimes even 48, hours prior to your reservation!
Book Here: Discover Cars
One of my favorites!
Visiting Other Islands
If you are visiting Hawaiʻi Island or heading to another island, check out some of my personal recommendations for Oʻahu, Maui, Kauaʻi, Molokai, Lānaʻi, and Hawaiʻi Island (Big Island) in these separate posts.
If you’re trying to decide which island is right for your visit, check out my overview about each island in the post below.
Read My Separate Post: What is the Best Hawaiian Island to Visit?
What is the Best Time of Year to Visit Hawaiʻi?
The weather in Hawaiʻi can often appear to be warm and beautiful throughout the year, but in my experience, there is a lot more to consider when planning what time of year to visit the islands, such as what island you are considering, what sides of each island do you plan to stay, what activities are you most interested in, the wildlife, and countless other nuanced variables that can all impact the type of trip you can expect to have.
For these reasons, I highly recommend reading through my separate article to not only understand my thoughts regarding the best time of year to come to Hawaiʻi but also what you need to consider based on the time of year that you plan to visit.
Read My Separate Post: What is the Best Time of Year to Visit Hawaiʻi?
Safety
All hikes in Hawaiʻi should not be compared to trails outside of the islands, and hikers should exercise due caution on every adventure, given that many are extremely dangerous.
By this, I mean that Hawaiʻi is known for hot, humid weather, steep, dramatic, and unstable cliffs, and flash floods, which can occur without warning. Therefore, it is important that you check the local forecast, understand the physical condition of your entire group, and pack sufficient food and water before attempting any hike.
Disclaimer
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Furthermore, Noah Lang Photography LLC shall not be held responsible for any injuries, lost individuals, or legal issues arising from the use of information provided on this website, and if applicable, the above safety disclaimer should be referenced to provide a generic overview of the risks involved.
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