Oah'u // #theonewhereweallgotoHawaii
Kaua'i // Coconut Coast + North
Kaua'i // Favorite Memory + Hike
Kaua'i // The Na Pali Coast
Kaua'i // Hiking Highs
Kaua'i // South + West
So many hikes on the island, so little time. In addition to the Kalalau Trail and Hanakapai'ai Falls Hike, some of us decided to take a day to hike on the west side. It was a hard decision as there are many to choose from. Rather than doing one long day hike, we opted to do a morning hike and an afternoon hike whose trailheads were close in proximity to one another.
➳ Honopu Ridge Trail
These days, this trail is maintained by volunteers and although marked, we took wrong turns more than once. Even getting to the trail head was a little confusing despite specific directions, and we were not super confident, we had reached it at first.
The guidebook's instructions were "take Hwy 50 to Waimea Canyon Drive, at 4/10 mile past the 17 mile marker there’s a turnout on the curve about 100 feet past a telephone pole, park there and the trail heads left toward the coast, after about 120 feet you come to your first confusing intersection, the trail to the left is the correct path (don't go straight) at 2/10 mile the trail comes to a T-intersection at a tree whose branches all point to the right, turn right..."
Once we had it figured out, this out and back hike was sweet. It is ~5 miles round-trip with the 2,000 foot descent on the way out and all uphill on the way back.
How I would describe the hike in a few words: Spiny ferns. Steep dirt trail. Sick views.
The trail starts high in the forest.
After a little while, the ocean could be seen in the distance.
All those spiny ferns, and we wore shorts. Fail.
Especially, going through areas where the ferns were almost as tall as us.
Once it opens up, the dirt trail leads down the spine which is narrow at some points and drops thousands of feet on either side.
Definitely, an adrenaline rush or shall I say a hiking high.
The majestic Na Pali coast from the trail, this time from the west looking north.
Honopu Valley can be seen 3,000 feet below. My Neverland. The dreamer in me imagines Captain Hook's ship anchored just off the beach in the cove.
These trail views of the Na Pali coast are ones we hope to remember for a long, long time.
After the photos and six-shooter tours, it was time to climb back up. The ascent was a lot quicker than going down and took 50 minutes thanks to Nick's pace clock.
After the morning hike, we all met for a picnic lunch at the Pu'u o Kila lookout and to enjoy the views of the Kalalau Valley.
Literally, 10 minutes after the above photo was taken, the clouds rolled in and the view looked like this. Oh island weather. It's never quite predictable.
Then, some of the group went to see Waimea Canyon and explore the west more, while the rest of us started the afternoon hike.
➳ Pihea Trail to Alakai Swamp Hike
This out and back hike starts at the end of Waimea Canyon Drive at Pu'u o Kila Lookout. It is ~8 miles round trip and goes past the Kalalau Valley and through the highest swamp in the world, eventually reaching the Kilohana Lookout.
Unlike the morning hike, there was no guessing needed; this trail was easy to follow.
Hiking across the swamp, through fog and low-lying clouds was surreal. It's flat, but in your mind, you know that you are kind of in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by mountains on all sides that cannot be seen.
It reminded me a lot of the boardwalks in the Everglades.
After hiking two miles through the swamp, the trail ends abruptly at the edge of a cliff called the Kilohana Lookout. It was a clear day, and we were fortunate to experience what the guidebook described as "the majestic view of Ha'ena on the north shore."
Majestic it was indeed. We learned afterwards from the catamaran crew that this view is rarely visible and usually just clouds. One of the shipmates had been up here eight times and still had not seen it.
Lamentations 3:21-23 But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
Then, it was back the way we had come. When we reached the trailhead, the clouds were now gone, and the marvelous Kalalau Valley could be seen once again.
As we experienced first-hand, there are some sweet hikes on this island. At some point, we look forward to returning to check a few more off the list: Kaapoko Tunnel Hike, Awa'awapuhi Trail, Sleeping Giant, and whatever else our friends Monica and Tyler, who live in Kaua'i now, might recommend. :)
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