Kaunolu Trail

South Lanai

The Bishop Museum excavated this area in 1923 and again in 1991. They established this interpretive, self-guided trail through Kaunolu Village on Lanai's south coast. This ancient Hawaiian fishing villages has ruins of hundreds of homes, storerooms, gardens, and burial sites of the village people.

The Halulu Heiau and King Kamehameha the Great's vacation home are two sites that are particularly well preserved. Most of the trail is well-marked with maps and educational plaques to help guide you through the maze of sites that overlook the beautiful Kaunolu Bay.

This area was first inhabitied aroun the 15th Century and residents lived here until the end of the 1900's. It is thought that this was the religious center of the entire island due to the type and size of the heaiu located here.

Useful Information:

Walking time is approximately 1 hour
Wear sturdy shoes, a hat, and sun screen
Bring water
No facilities
DO NOT remove, move, or wrap any stones or other items found in this archeological preserve
DO NOT attempt to access this area if it is raining as the dirt roads are rocky and steep.

DIRECTIONS:
Take Highway 440 west out of Lanai City toward Kaumalapau Harbor. Go past the airport turnoff and take the next left Kaupili Road, an unmarked dirt road. Travel approximately 2.5 miles to a yellow standpipe on the right. Turn right on this rocky road which descends downhill about 3 miles to Kaunolu Village. The intrepretive hike is on the right

This area is very remote and extremely striking both historically, educationally, and naturally.