A Hawaiian Kaleidoscope - Kaua'i: the Na Pali Coast and Koke'e Park - February 2012

Return to alavigne.net home

NOTE: You have javascript disabled in your browser. This presentation will continue to function, but with only basic capabilities. In order to view this presentation will full capabilities, please enable javascript in your browser, then refresh this page.

[< Previous Page]

[page 1] [page 2] [page 3] [page 4] [page 5] [page 6] [page 7] [page 8] [page 9] [page 10] [page 11] [page 12] [page 13] [page 14] [page 15]

[Next Page >]

Hanakapi'ai Valley marks the spot where a side trail heads off south to Hanakapi'ai Falls - one many beautiful multi-hundred foot high ribbon falls that exist along the Na Pali Coast.

Although a visit to a spectacular waterfall would have been nice, our time for the day had been fully allocated to the Kalalau Trail. Westward we continued.

Much narrower trail now

After Hanakapi'ai Valley, the character of the Kalalau Trail changes dramatically. It is no longer a wide, almost road-like, track; the trail becomes very narrow, often overhanging with tropical vegetation. Clearly the amount of traffic the trail receives beyond Hanakapi'ai Beach is drastically lower. That is all good with me - I prefer quaint little remote paths to an over-eroded hiker highway.

Smiley Face Spider

One thing that continued from the first stretch of trail was the slickness of the mud underfoot, and we struggled for grip as we ascended a switchbacking route out of Hanakapi'ai valley. Unfortunately, some thoughtless hikers had needlessly cut shortcuts across some of these switchbacks, creating ugliness and greater opportunity for erosion and trail destabilization. Do not cut switchbacks, please!

courtesy JInnes

Green camo lizard

Hiking above Hanakapi'ai Beach

Looking east from above Hanakapi'ai

Once out of Hanakapi'ai Valley, the Kalalau Trail is more direct for a bit, traversing along more or less on the level high above the ocean and beneath groundwater-moistened black basalt cliffs.

Jenn beneath basalt cliffs

Through the jungle

Brian ducks for the camera

Two and a half hours after starting out, we approached a gate-like highpoint. The trail passes through a small notch, between a large outcropping of lava (known as Space Rock), and the toe of a steep ridge. There is a fence and sign here, marking the entrance to the Hono o Na Pali reserve. The reserve was established in 1983 to help manage and preserve the rare native plant species on Kaua'i, and to deal with the invasive non-native plants and fauna (especially feral pigs and goats). The native plants, not having any natural chemical or physical defenses against mammalian browsing, are especially susceptible to destruction.

Entrance to the reserve

Crossing the fence into the reserve and through the notch marked by Space Rock, we laid eyes on the next valley along the coast - the Hoolulu Valley. It somehow felt "wild-er" here. I'm not sure what it was; the view of the tropical forest clinging to the steep slopes of this small valley perhaps, combined with the crashing surf from the turquoise waters 800 feet below, and perhaps also the fact that the trail was now this intimate little-used path threading its way through the landscape. Regardless, it was a fine spot to stop for a mid-morning break.

Across Hoolulu Valley

View through Screwpine

Looking out from the jungle

We continued on, following the Kalalau Trail across Hoolulu Valley. The route contoured into the valley, descending and switchbacking gently down about 400 feet of elevation as it did so. After crossing the Hoolulu Stream, the trail contours back out of the valley.

courtesy JInnes

Bamboo Orchid

Through shady forest

Steep traverse

Once out of the valley, the trail traversed west across steeply sloping forested slopes. We noticed that the undergrowth in the forest was getting a little more open. The plants seemed to be changing slightly, too, losing a touch of their 'tropicalness'. The trail, we noticed, was no longer slick and muddy - now it was just a nice, slightly moist earthy path.

Steep coastal section

Through a kukui forest

More patches of opennes

In places, the trail opened out onto a steep vegetated slopes, offering spectacular views back along the coast from where we'd come, and down to the frothing waters of the ocean, five hundred feet below. A delightful section of trail!

Rounding a corner

The Kalalau Trail

Break below Waiahuakua Falls

A highpoint along the trail at the entrance to Waiahuakua valley - the next valley along the coast - was another perfectly scenic spot for a snack break. It was now shortly after 11am, and we were getting close to running out of water. We had deliberately gone with a light water load because we knew that there would be plenty of spots to fill up along the way. We planned for a water filtering break at the next little stream. Looking up, we could see a fantastic ribbon waterfall cascading down more than a thousand feet of mossy cliffs. Surely we'd have to cross that idyllic watercourse in the next little while.

The next stretch of pali

Heading into Waiahuakua valley

Waiahuakua valley forest

[< Previous Page]

[page 1] [page 2] [page 3] [page 4] [page 5] [page 6] [page 7] [page 8] [page 9] [page 10] [page 11] [page 12] [page 13] [page 14] [page 15]

[Next Page >]

Send feedback or leave comments (note: comments in message board below are separate from those in above message board)

send feedback |

homemade custom message board

(1 message)
(last message posted on Tue. May 15, 14:34 EDT 2012 by Elvira)