A Hawaiian Kaleidoscope - Kalalau Trail Guide and Supplemental Images - February 2012

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The section of trail around Chivalry point - in addition to being very scenic in its own right - offers a remarkable contrast to the closed-in jungle that you hike in back at the start of the Kalalau Trail.

The most exposed part

Brian on exposed section

End of exposed section

The really exposed section of trail is probably only about 200 feet long. After that, the trail sharply rounds a corner and begins a wonderful long section that cuts across red earthy volcanic soil. A lot of trailwork (again, primarily by Bill Summers) has been done to create a safe, wide incut trail through these sections, because they are still somewhat airy and have exposure in spots.

Cloud-wreathed Manono Ridge

Bright and sunny slopes

Traversing grassy slopes

The already-fantastic scenery becomes better and better as the trail continues westward. You are now hiking along the final major section of the trail - the part between Hanakoa Valley and Kalalau Valley. The cliffs above have morphed into the fluted shapes and sharp spikes that are so immortalized in pictures; the vegetation and terrain have transitioned almost entirely into a semi-arid sort of state, meaning there are almost continual views as the trail threads its way across the tops of rounded red cliffs, with waves continuously booming and pounding against the bedrock below.

Nearing Kalalau

Rugged shapes

Fantastic Shapes

Volcanic Slope

Rugged Na Pali Coast

Narrow traversing path

Although this last major stretch of trail is mostly a traverse across sea-facing cliffs, there is a small hanging valley that descends from above every so often. These little valleys hide little enclaves of forest, and it is delightful as the trail ducks into each of these, allowing you to briefly experience a quick microclimate change before coming back out onto the open slopes.