Big Island Hiking Adventures
The End Of The World

This little jaunt could run the gamut from a walk to a hike depending on how ambitious you are.  The name is misleading as the trail is actually right in the Keauhou area by the ocean.  Drive south on Ali`i Drive all the way to the end.  You will see a trail head and you can park alongside the road.  This trail skirts along a former battlefield on your left from the days of King Kamehameha.  When the King died, his wife Ka`ahumanu lifted the religious and social kapu (taboo) mandating that men and women eat separately.  Some people were in agreement with her and other segments of society were not, and this kapu was important enough that sides were drawn and a bloody battle occurred on this site.  It is considered a very important and significant area in Hawaiian history.  Follow the gravel trail around to the shoreline.  Usually we become very inspired by the crashing waves which always leads to frisky behavior in which we head out over the large lava rocks, which is rough going, but a lot of fun.  I call this lava-hopping, and have improved my coordination and balance over the years by being devoted to this sport.  This area of the shoreline is very dramatic and beautiful where the surf crashes along the cliffs.  Many of us who have lived here a while get chills looking at the shoreline to the south because our teenagers like to jump off the cliffs in the distance into the churning ocean.