Ancient Trails Focus of Kona Historical Society Lecture

The Kona Historical Society will present a lecture next week on ancient Hawaiian trails and how they connect us to the past.

The talk will be given by Richard Stevens, a professor of history at the University of Hawaii Center West Hawaii.

Stevens’ presentation will include discussion of trail preservation and access, and the impact of trails on land-use decisions. His slide show will include images by the late Hawaiian artist Wailehua Gray.

Stevens, who earned his doctorate at UH-Manoa, has worked as a “trail hunter” for the state Division of Forestry and the UH Research Corporation, and has authored magazine articles about Hawaiian trails.

A Vietnam veteran, he has also written books about the Ho Chi Minh Trail in Vietnam.

The free presentation, the sixth in the historical society’s Hanohano O Kona lecture series, will be held at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday at the West Hawaii Civic Center. Call 323-3222 for information.