The Nā Ala Hele Program Plan on trails and access for the islands is being updated for the first time since 1991, and the state wants community input.
In April, the Department of Land and Natural Resources released a draft of the Program Plan Update, which is available for review on the Nā Ala Hele website.
The 1991 Nā Ala Hele Program Plan is the foundational document for how the Program operates, plans, and manages trails and public accesses across the State of Hawai‘i, according to the draft plan.
On Wednesday, May 27, the Nā Ala Hele Trail & Access Program staff members and their planning consultants will hold a virtual meeting where they will provide a virtual presentation summarizing the new plan update.
During the meeting, participants will learn about proposed changes to Nā Ala Hele operations and how they can get involved.
The meeting starts at 4 p.m. Click here to register.
Community input on the draft plan will also be accepted via the Nā Ala Hele website through July 31, 2026.
The Plan update process brings the original plan into a new outdoor recreation landscape with ever-evolving challenges.
The Nā Ala Hele Trail and Access Program was established in 1991 in the spirit and continuance of these efforts to ensure open, safe, and responsible public access on trails, rights-of-ways, and other public accesses.
“Future estimates of climate change impacts have driven an increased state focus on climate change mitigation efforts, such as shifting transportation investments to more active modes, including biking, walking, and rolling,” the draft plan states. “The Nā Ala Hele Trail and Access Program can contribute to these efforts by expanding the trail system into urban and rural trail and greenway networks that improve active mobility, increase recreational opportunities, and expand the types of individuals and families that can enjoy trails.”
The Plan refocuses efforts on managing increased visitor and recreationalist volumes to emphasize natural and cultural resource protection.
The Plan also clarifies and expands upon the State mandate to maintain, preserve, and protect native Hawaiian access rights and better integrate the historic and cultural significance of many of the State’s trails into trail interpretation.
