DOT Kaloko-Honokōhau Trailside Interpretive Project
In 2024–2025, Pilina First led the creative development and design of interpretive signage for a trail preservation project along Queen Kaʻahumanu Highway in North Kona, Hawaiʻi Island.
The project was part of a mitigation plan developed by the Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation (HDOT) in response to impacts on historical trails caused by the Queen Kaʻahumanu Highway widening project. Working as a subcontractor to Honua Consulting, Pilina First oversaw the interpretive content strategy and engaged Ruth Moen of Dog N Pony Shows to draft the signage text across ten panels covering topics ranging from ancient trail systems and Hawaiian land management to the cultural significance of the Māmalahoa Trail. The resulting signage station will serve as a lasting public interpretive resource connecting visitors to the rich cultural and historical landscape of the Kealakehe region.
