Sandalwood Trail (Iliahi Trail), HI

The park service map no longer designates this trail section as the Sandalwood trail. I'm not sure if all of the rare Sandalwood trees finally died off... or there is just a natural switch over to Native names? In unto itself this short route (.5 miles) is better used in pairing with other trail sections to create broader loops. With so many of the trails in and around Kilauea closed down due to the toxic outgassing, it is necessary to pair up these shorter trails to put together a "real" hike.

This one is ideal to enjoy parking at the Visitor Center... hike out on the Sulfur Banks Trail or the Crater Rim Trail, then drop down and loop back on this route, connecting with the Halema'uma'u Trail... to ascend back up to the Visitor Center, or better still... extend the loop out to connect with Byron Ledge for the ascent up Waldron Ledge, to loop back on the Crater Rim Trail.

You could even add in the Kilauea Iki trail for a grand loop... avoiding the crowded parking areas of that more popular hike.

Until they re-open the Kilauea Caldera, the good hiking is about combining these small routes!

With luck, you will find few other hikers along the trails off of the top of the Caldera... enjoy the solitude.

The trails do have informative numbered points of interest, with guide books for sell, self serve, at the trail heads. Take the time to buy these same guides in bulk at the Visitor Center and save yourself some cash.

Leave No Trace and +Add a Triplog after your hike to support this local community.

2013-04-09 imike