Nonprofit Organization | Friends For Fitness

Our Mission

Friends For Fitness began in 1992 to decrease the prevalence of the sedentary lifestyle and to improve the health of Hawaii residents. Our mission is to create a diverse, user-friendly, beautiful recreation area at the Maka'eo Walking Path that promotes healthy lifestyles through community participation and collaboration.

Friends For Fitness, Exerscape, Exercise, Gardening, Kona, Volunteer, Andrew Darcy

Get Active at the

Maka'eo Walking Path

Old Kona Airport Recreation Area

Open daily from 7am - 7pm

The Maka'eo Walking Path consists of two paved asphalt loops (0.3 miles and 0.7 miles) that create a 1 mile walking and running path. At the path's main entrance you'll find a small exercise pavilion, the small loop lawn, and the Maka'eo bulletin board showcase. The showcase is updated monthly with health awareness information, path events, and fun facts. The small exercise pavilion offers a stretching post, parallel bars, and pull up bars.

At the north end of the path is the large lawn that hosts weekly physical activities like Karate and Tai Chi lessons. On the south end of the path next to the Kailua Kona Skate Park is a large succulent garden that is cared for by our Thursday morning Friends For Fitness group. As you make your way around the path you'll find an achialine pond amongst the pathway's colorful gardens that are cared for by volunteers seeking a physically active lifestyle.

Select each photo below to find out more about the Maka'eo Walking Path.

Maka'eo Walking Path

The Maka'eo Walking Path sign designates where the path's main entrance is. You'll see the sign about half way down the Old Kona Airport Runway on the right hand side.

"On An Evening In Kona"

Maka'eo is a great place to walk or jog after a long day of sedentary desk work. Enjoy Kona's beautiful backdrop, Hualalai, during the sunset hours or catch the sunset from Kailua Beach across the runway from Maka'eo Walking Path.

Anchialine Pond

An anchialine pond is a landlocked body of water with a subterranean connection to the ocean. The water in the pond rises and falls with the change in tides.

This pond was recently restored by the Oahu-based U.S. Army 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division. Thank you soldiers for your community service, hard work, and dedication. (March 2021)

(Photo by Elizabeth Northrup)

Exercise Pavilion

A small exercise pavilion offers a stretching post, parallel bars, and pull up bars.

Small Loop Lawn

This picture was taken when the Maka'eo Walking Path first began in the 90's. It has come a long way!

Succulent Garden

This succulent garden is cared for by our Thursday morning Friends For Fitness group. Come on down and lend a hand! Thursday Mornings from 8:30am-11am.

Thank you to Kaz Shigezawa for your vision and ambition with this area!

Take A Seat

As you round the Maka'eo Walking Path you'll find many places to sit and relax. Some benches were generously donated by our local community members and organizations, while other benches have been donated in memory of a loved one.

Adopt A Garden

Adopting a garden at the Maka'eo Walking Path allows you to be physically active while beautifing the community area. Be creative and have fun with the area you adopt!

Dance, Run, Jog, Walk

What gets you moving? Exercising should be fun and this is the place for you to be yourself and be active!

Bulletin Board Showcase

The showcase is updated monthly with health awareness information and fun facts. Be sure to check it out!

Who We Are

Just like you, we are hard-working people of the Kona community. We volunteer our free time to care for the Maka'eo Walking Path at the Old Kona Airport Recreation Area. We believe in living a healthy lifestyle and strive to provide our community with a beautiful place to do that.

Friends For Fitness is always open to new people willing to help out, volunteer, adopt a garden, or care for our community area.

Learn How To Get Involved

Friends For Fitness, Palm Tree, Path, Kona, Andrew Darcy

Friends For Fitness

Our Mission

Get Active at the

Maka'eo Walking Path

Old Kona Airport Recreation Area

Open daily from 7am - 7pm

Who We Are

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