Manuka State Wayside Park is a 13.4 acres (5.4 ha) state park featuring an arboretum and hiking trail that leads to a pit crater lush with vegetation. The park is surrounded by the 25,550-acre (10,340 ha) Manuka Forest Reserve.
Located west of mile 81 on Mamalahoa Highway (Highway 11), 19.3 miles (31 km) west of Na'alehu in the Big Island of Hawaii, the state park is quite secluded but worth a visit for hikers and nature enthusiasts. The arboretum, which covers 8 acres (3.2 ha), is believed to have been originally planted in the mid-19th century. It features 48 species of native Hawaiian plants and more than 130 species of non-native exotic species.
The park is also known for the 2.2-mile Manuka nature trail which meanders along a lava forest lush with Kukui nut trees, ohia, eucalyptus, guava, tree ferns, and Ti plants. Attractions along the trail are lava flows of different ages, remnants of an ancient agricultural site and an amazing pit crater with a depth of approximately 30 feet. The pit crater is heavily forested with banana trees, vines and ohia trees. The hike lasts for about 2 to 3 hours.
Manuka means "blundering" in the Hawaiian language, and is also the name of an ancient land subdivision that extended from the ocean to the upland forest, known as an ahupua'a.
Manuka means "blundering" in the Hawaiian language, and is also the name of an ancient land subdivision that extended from the ocean to the upland forest, known as an ahupua'a.
Park facilities include picnic tables and restrooms but no potable water. Camping is allowed in the park with permit.
