The Hawaii Tourism Authority announced Tuesday that it has given $530,000 to the state’s Na Ala Hele Trail and Access System, including money for a “universal trail assessment” of all 128 sanctioned trails covering 825 miles.

“This will allow us to gather data on how many people are regularly using specific trails and to identify trail maintenance and improvement issues we need to address for the safety and enjoyment of our wonderful trail system,” said Mike Millay, Na Ala Hele program manager.

The $130,000 assessment, expected to be completed by the end of the year, will come up with a description of every trail, and that information will be posted on signs at every trailhead and on the Na Ala Hele website.

A description would include such things as trail length, slope and elevation gain.

“So if you find out maybe that the trail is only a mile long but climbs 5,000 feet in elevation and you only have one water bottle in hand or if you are wearing slippers, you will be able to make that assessment,” Millay said.

The rest of the HTA money will fund a backlog of trail maintenance needs, he said.

With the latest allocation, the HTA has provided $1.07 million for DLNR in support of HTA’s initiative to inform and educate residents and visitors on how to properly approach the environment and to support efforts to restore natural and cultural resources across the state.

“That’s really the core of what we’re trying to accomplish, is reinvest these tourism dollars into protecting what is important to us in our natural and cultural resources,” said Kalani Ka‘ana‘ana, HTA’s director of cultural affairs.

ON THE NET:

>> Na Ala Hele website: hawaiitrails.hawaii.gov