Welcome to HIKT-Hike 2026

Hawaii Island King's Trail 2026 - The Way of Kamehameha 

Congratulations on beginning a journey to hike the Hawaii Island King’s Trail (HIKT), the Way of Kamehameha! Ala Loa! The question is, Wanna Go? In a few simple steps listed in detail at the bottom of this page, you will be an official HIKT-Hiker! The question is can you be a "Complete HIKT" Hiker and subject to all the bragging rights associated with walking around the Island from Kamehameha Statue to Kamehameha Statue, 300 miles on the coast of Hawaii Island, a feat very few people have accomplished. There are 2 ways to register; as a HIKTHike 2026:

1. Group Member/Supporter Hiker - Attend the scheduled HIKTHike 2026 HIKTs as scheduled on this website and make up ones as you can with other members of the group as your schedule allows. HIKTHike 2026 Group hike as a group, not as individuals, and leave no one behind. We work together to plan and coordinate logistical support. We do not hike for speed but for the beauty of the land.  With that stated, you need to be an Advanced Hiker to make this journey and not a liability to the group.  
2. Individual Hiker - Not part of the HIKTHike 2026 group and hiking on your own and at your own time. You hike your way.

Either way, you will need the HIKT Hiker Guide to guide you on your way.  Question is, Wanna Go? Ride the Ride, Live the Legend!

The "HIKT" circuit (Hawaii Island King's Trail) is 18 hikes over 20 days all detailed in the HIKT Hiker Guide. The HIKTHike 2026 group will do this on 16 Saturday hikes and 2 overnight Saturday/Sunday hikes, 2 a month - hiking from the original King Kamehameha Statue in Kapaau (Hawi area), HIKT1, to the 2nd King Kamehameha Statue in Hilo, HIKT18. As an individual hiker, you decide your frequency of hiking and the order you do the HIKT segments. You can also do both, group and individual hikes. This "Way of Kamehameha" is slightly over 300 miles (approximately 250 miles on coastal trail / 50 miles on road). The HIKT Hiker Group completes the circuit between February to October. If you choose to join on this "one of a kind" ADVENTURE, as a group member or as an individual hiker, you will become a coveted HIKT-Hiker and if you complete the series, you will become a "Complete HIKT "! So far there are 10 Complete HIKTs that have completed the 300-mile circuit. Again, the Question, Wanna Go?

The HIKTHike Segments averages approximately 15 miles per hike, but it is not the distance but terrain that matters.  Each hike will average 8 to 10 hours and we hike one way, start to finish with little to no support.  Some hikes cover 20 miles and some segments only 10 miles, again depending on terrain and where we can get in and out of the trail. We have 18 set hiking routes. We will walk only on National, State, and County Lands, and Private Land with County Access Easements following the Ala Kahakai Trail Corridor for a majority of the HIKT. The Waypoints, found in the HIKT Hiker Guide, will guide you through each segment. Just as important is the Route Guidance that will assist you getting from Waypoint to Waypoint. This hiking series is different than most as, the majority of the time, there is no "Official Trail or Trail Marking". There are many ways and the HIKT Hiker Guide will show you "a Way". You will and must find your "Own Way". 

We also need Support Members, for the HIKTHike 2026 Group meaning if you want to be part of the HIKT-Hikers, but maybe are not confident to complete the entire distance, come support us.  In a support role you would help shuttle us from the meet up point at 7am to the starting point.  You would start the hike with us to a point and then turn back and hike to the vehicle, move the vehicle to the finish point, and hike in to meet us to finish the hike. In this way you experience much of  the terrain as well as you help the group. You will also get stronger to be able to complete entire hikes. This is a great way to start out if you are unsure of your abilities.

Do not worry if you sign up for the group and can't make every hike as you can make hikes up with others in the group as you will have all the information to complete the hikes, or finish in another year. All information for every HIKT hike is in the HIKT Hiker Guide. We use Google Maps as our platform and you are given all the waypoints in the HIKT Hiker Guide.  Your phone becomes your GPS device to show you where you are and the waypoints of the route. You must have a google account and have the google maps app on your cell phone. It is also wise to link Google Maps on your desk top computer to your phone.  This way any changes on one will be on both, your computer and phone.

 
Every HIKT-Hiker is expected to purchase the HIKT Hiker Guide and study the route conditions and history for the upcoming hike, HIKT, and know how operate Google Maps on your phone to navigate from waypoint to waypoint. You are not on a guided hike, but a group member helping discover the route. We will teach you on the first couple of hikes, but every member is expected to contribute to the situational awareness of the terrain and route. You should also take time to open up the links with each HIKT route description to learn the history of the land you are walking on. You can't appreciate where you are if you do not know where it has been.  

The tentative dates of the HIKTHIke 2026 Group Hikes are as follows: 2/7, 2/21, 3/14, 3/28, 4/11, 4/25, 5/16, 5/30, 6/13, 6/27 and 6/28, 7/11, 7/25, 8/8 and 9, 8/29, 9/12, 9/26, 10/10, 10/24.  Dates for each HIKT hike is listed on the calendar tab. All details of the HIKT hike are in the HIKT Hike Guide.  

For the Group Hikes, we typically meet at the designated meet up point at 7am (usually the finish point), shuttle to the start, hike one way, have a post hike celebration at finish, shuttle drivers back to their cars at start point, and go home.  The terrain you will see is incredible and you will learn the true, raw beauty of Hawaii Island. The bond you build with the other HIKTs will be friendships for life.

If you want to challenge yourself and see this island like you never imagined, come hike with us. Come be a HIKT-Hiker! Please complete the following steps below to register for HIKT 2026. 

To Register for HIKTHike 2026 Group or Individually, Please do the Following:

1. Please Click the hyperlink, read and agree to the Acknowledgement of the HIKT. 
2. Please click on the hyperlink and complete the Pono Pledge 
3. Please click on the hperlink and agree to follow the HIKT-Hiker Group Rules 
4. Please click the "Complete Registration for HIKT 2026" button at the bottom of this page and fill out the email completely with your full name, cell phone number and Email address. Confirm if you are registering as a HIKER or SUPPORTER for HIKT 2025. By sending the AUTO GENERATED email, you are confirming you have completed, understand, and will follow # 1, 2, and 3 listed above. 

*If you do not get to the point where an auto generated email pops up stating you have completed #1, 2, 3 above and asking you to fill in your name, cell number and email address, you have not registered. See STEP 4. Without an email, you do not hike with the group and you are not a registered HIKT.