Hiking to the Golden Pools of Keawaiki
BY KAPINA LANSDALE
Beautiful Keawaiki, south of Kohala bay with a lone palm tree on its rocky shore. While this certainly isn’t the best swimming beach on the Kohala coast, this area is rich with natural beauty and history.
A walk through a huge ‘aʻā lava field dating from an eruption of Mauna Loa in 1859 will take you to the Golden Pools of Keawaiki.
“Vibrant in it’s golden color, from a unique algae is where this pool gets its name from.“
Hiking Keawaiki
This hike can be done by a few different routes. Starting at the trail head on Highway 19 near marker 79, you’ll find a huge dust parking area. Take the path that leads to the ocean. Cross the Kings Highway Trail and walk alongside the fence of the private property to the right where the path narrows.
Just before arriving on the beach, a trail going to the right will take you to the Golden Pools.
Best choice is to continue a loop along the beach side where you will pass both Pueo and Keawaiki Bay. Round trip is roughly a 2 mile hike.
There is no shade on this hike so remember to bring enough water and don’t forget sunscreen!
The Golden Pools
These are anchialine pools, which are landlocked bodies of fresh water with an underground connection with the ocean. There are many of these brackish pools throughout the island of Hawai’i, but these pools contain a different type of algae.
Vibrant in it’s golden color, from a unique algae is where this pool gets its name from.
Although after hiking, this cool crisp inviting water may be tempting to take a dip, it is highly recommended not to do so. To preserve this unique ecosystem please admire it from a distance.
After you’re done visiting this unique ecosystem, continue your hike toward Pueo Bay where you can jump into the water and cool off before your hike back
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