Powerline Road (Big Island, Hawai'i)

Eastern saddle, above Hilo, Big Island (Hawai\'i)

Kulani Powerline Road (no cars allowed) is my favorite bird watching location and nature exporation area. It runs parallel to the better-known Pu'u O'o Trail, on the east side of the saddle, between Saddle Road and Stainback Road. The access trail for Powerline Road is marked with an "Upper Waiakea Forest Reserve" sign between the 21 and 22 mile markers on the South side of Saddle Road, among the yellow arrow signs at a curve. (Beware the 8 inch drop off of the pavement at the edge of the roadway!)

Powerline Road doesn't look like much from the Saddle Road, or even for the first 100 yards, but beyond that you will be rewarded! This area has the most native hawaiian birds of any place that I frequently visit, fascinating landscapes, and spectacular views of the mountains and saddle on clear days. It is at about 5500-6000 feet elevation, 4-5 miles long, with little elevation change. The "road" ends at the 1984 lava flow, but you can cross about a mile over the 1984 and 1942 lava flows to Stainback Road on the flank of Mauna Loa if you want to.

At the junction of Stainback and Powerline roads, gates prevent you from taking Stainback to the East, and Powerline to the South. Following Stainback to the West takes you up gradually up the slopes of Mauna Loa towards the microwave relays (5 miles) and Mauna Loa Observatory (14 miles?). There are many native birds along Stainback Road between the Powerline Road junction and the microwave relays at 9000 feet elevation. A historical note: Stainback was constructed early in the 20th century with prison labor, and intended as a tourist drive, that would take people from the tropical rainforests of the coast to the summit of Mauna Loa.

Powerline Road crosses mostly pahoehoe lava flows from 1852, 1855, 1881, etc, which surround kipuka forests (like islands of forest in a lava sea) filled with native plants such as ohia, koa, olapa and hapu'u tree-ferns. The lava flows themselves are also heavily vegetated with native ferns, grasses, berry bushes, and pioneering shrubby ohia. Small ohia trees on the lava flows are often covered in many brilliant red blossoms. Pahoehoe lava is relatively smooth, like broken pavement, so it is easy to cross the vast lava flows and explore kipukas far off the road.

However, take extra care to monitor the weather and DO NOT underestimate how easily you can get lost once you leave the road! The weather can change very quickly - lightning is very dangerous and terrifying when crossing miles of open lava field, and hypothermia is a serious danger if you become lost overnight in fog and rain. Fortunately Powerline Road is very straight, which makes it safer than the fainter and more rugged Pu'u O'o Trail.

Many native birds inhabit both the kipuka forests and the lava flows. 'Amakihi, 'Apapane, I'iwi and 'Oma'o are common. Kolea, 'Io and 'Elepaio are often seen. Hawaii Creeper and 'Akiapola'au are much less common. Some people have seen 'Akepa. Kalij pheasant (invasive) are common, and nene may occasionally be present. You may even also see mouflon sheep, pigs, mongoose, skinks, etc. Note: mammal hunting is allowed and there are often target shooters firing just off the road.

Each kipuka and lava flow on Powerline Road has its own character, and the kipukas at both ends have large meadows and bogs to explore. Lava tubes are scattered around the lava fields. You should wear heavy tough hiking boots for Powerline Road, because the "road" is simply a raw bulldozer scrape across the lava. I highly recommend starting AT dawn if at all possible, because the clouds can set in quickly between 10AM and 1PM. The air is wonderfully cool and dry, and the overcast afternoons give welcome relief from the intense Sun.

More pictures and information: http://www.speakeasy.org/~bkr/trails/powerline.html

IMPORTANT NOTE: There is currently road construction activity at the turn-off to Powerline Road from Saddle Road described above, due to the re-routing and widening of Saddle Road. It is possible that at some point easy parking and access to Powerline Road may disappear for a long time. As of January 15 I was still able to drive to the Powerline Road gate in my little Toyota hatchback, and several vehicles were parked along the access trail this weekend. If access becomes 4WD-only I may have to blaze a new hiking trail to Powerline Road from an alternate parking area along Saddle Road. I'll try to keep this page updated on the condition of access to Powerline Road.

Content and images originally posted by bkrownd

•