The trail to Pepeiao Cabin

View from Hilina Pali Shelter on the Kau Desert Trail in Hawaii
View from the shelter at the trailhead.

This week’s Sunday Stills challenge theme is ‘Great Outdoors Month.’ See more responses here.

I did this hike, at Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, quite a while ago, but for one reason or another the post never came together and then went missing in my files! This hike started from the lookout at the end of Hilina Pali Road. A few years back, I did a different hike from this starting point that almost did me in (here). This time, having learned from that experience, I stayed on top of the pali (Hawaiian for cliff). My destination was Pepeiao Cabin (pronounced ‘pay-pay-ow’), about five miles away, though the trail is the Ka’u Desert Trail, part of which I’ve hiked from the other end (here).

Ohia trees on the Kau Desert Trail in Hawaii
Ohia trees on the trail.
A spider wrapped in a leaf on the Kau Desert Trail in Hawaii
A spider sheltering in a leaf.
The Kau Desert Trail in Hawaii
The Ka’u Desert Trail.
A cairn on the Kau Desert Trail in Hawaii
The Ka’u Desert Trail marked by cairns.
A view from the Kau Desert Trail in Hawaii
View from The Ka’u Desert Trail.

The day was sunny, but not too hot, and with a nice breeze for the most part. The elevation drop (and gain on the return) is only around 500 feet so it wasn’t too strenuous, and the trail was fairly easy to follow. It passes through grassy areas and across lava flows, and is well-marked with cairns. Ohia trees dot the landscape, along with a variety of shrubs and other flowers. I didn’t see too many birds, but there was a decent show of butterflies and bugs. The views were splendid, down to the coast or upslope towards Mauna Loa.

Balloon plants on the Kau Desert Trail in Hawaii
A Balloon plant on the Ka’u Desert Trail.
Balloon plant flowers on the Kau Desert Trail in Hawaii
Balloon plant flowers on the Ka’u Desert Trail.
Common Guava on the Kau Desert Trail in Hawaii
Common Guava on the Ka’u Desert Trail.
Grass borders the Kau Desert Trail in Hawaii
Grasses alongside the Ka’u Desert Trail.
Grass borders the Kau Desert Trail in Hawaii
Grasses alongside the Ka’u Desert Trail.

All the backcountry trails I’ve hiked in the park have featured something particularly unusual and interesting. On this hike, I was amazed by the substantial areas of sand on the trail or alongside it. This certainly didn’t get there from the beach, since the elevation is around 2,000 feet. My assumption is that it’s just volcanic rock broken down by rainfall, but just not washed down to the coast. Some of the sand was grassed over and it was like walking through dunes on the coast!

Sand and a pool of water on the Kau Desert Trail in Hawaii
Sand on the Ka’u Desert Trail.
Footprints in the sand on the Kau Desert Trail in Hawaii
Footprints in the sand on the Ka’u Desert Trail.
Tracks in the sand on the Kau Desert Trail in Hawaii
Tracks in the sand on the Ka’u Desert Trail.
Sand on the Kau Desert Trail in Hawaii
Sand on the Ka’u Desert Trail.
Sand in the lava on the Kau Desert Trail in Hawaii
Sand in the lava on the Ka’u Desert Trail.

Eventually, I reached Pepeiao Cabin. There are several of these backcountry cabins in the park, and they require a permit to stay at them. This one was typically rustic, with a catchment water tank that may or may not contain water, depending on the weather and use. There’s also an outhouse with a splendid view. Inside, the cabin was basic, but the kind of place I’d be happy to stay in if it was raining outside.

Pepeiao Cabin on the Ka’u Desert Trail.
The Pepeiao Cabin on the Kau Desert Trail in Hawaii
Pepeiao Cabin on the Ka’u Desert Trail.
The interior of the Pepeiao Cabin on the Kau Desert Trail in Hawaii
The interior of Pepeiao Cabin on the Ka’u Desert Trail.
The outhouse near the Pepeiao Cabin on the Kau Desert Trail in Hawaii
The outhouse by Pepeiao Cabin on the Ka’u Desert Trail.

After I got back, I saw that the park website says “Pepeiao is in the southwestern reaches of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park backcountry. The cabin is no longer safe for use and visitors should plan on tent camping.” I was a bit surprised because I’ve certainly stayed in plenty of less salubrious accommodations in my day!

Also posted for Jo’s Monday Walk. See more responses here.

14 thoughts on “The trail to Pepeiao Cabin”

    1. Graham's avatarGraham Post author

      I should try and find out why there’s all that sand there. I can’t say I’ve noticed any on other hikes I’ve done.

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  4. Terri Webster Schrandt's avatarTerri Webster Schrandt

    Thanks for taking us along this awesome hike, Graham! Grand views of the ocean and various vistas. I like the look of the outhouse–nice to know it also had a view, LOL! The flowers and the volcanic sand are treat for the eyes. That cabin is pretty cool. and I’m glad you could locate and share all this photos.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Graham's avatarGraham Post author

      There are several outhouses in the park that have great views! These backcountry trails are fun to explore so long as the volcano isn’t erupting. When it is, this area would be very inhospitable because of the gasses from the volcano.

      Liked by 1 person

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