Kalopa State park is a beautiful lush 100 acre native forest which contains mostly native
trees, shrubs, ferns and other forms of life rarely seen in much of Hawaii today. There is
an easy 0.7 mile loop trail that will take you through an ohi`a rain forest. This
forest contains ancient ohi`a trees, some of the largest ever recorded. The ohi`a
create an upper canopy beneath which grow in abundance kopiko, kolea, pilo, hame,
olomea, hapu`u and other native species. Another trail is the
Kalopa Gulch trail. This trail leads you along the Kalopa and Hanaipoe gulches which are
as deep as 150 - 200 feet deep and originate near the summit of Mauna Kea. These gulches
were formed by the meltwater from the Pleisocene glacial icecap of Mauna Kea. There are
two choices with this particular trail system, a minimal 0.5 or a 1.5 mile hike.
The endangered io ( the Hawaiian hawk) can be seen on occaision as well as the ope`apa`a
(the endangered Hawaiian hoary bat) and the auku`u (night heron). Many other
introduced birds can be seen and heard while in the park; cardinal, linnet, melodious
laughing thrush, white - eye, Kalij and ring - neck pheasants
There is a pavillion with tables for picnicking and grills for bar-b-queing for those who
are reluctant to leave this place of peaceful birds singing and lush greenery.
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