Kapāpala Forest Reserve is located on the south side of the island of Hawaiʻi in the district of Kaʻū. The reserve was first designated on October 17, 1930, by Governorʻs Proclamation, and currently consists of approximately 37,276 acres. Kapāpala Forest Reserve lies on the slopes of Mauna Loa above Mamaloha Highway and northwest of Kīlauea crater.