A Hawaiian Kaleidoscope - Kalepa Ridge Trail Guide and Supplemental Images - February 2012

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Wonderful Glade

Winding along the edge

Lower Kalalau Valley

Kalepa Ridge continues to narrow as you descend it. Eventually (perhaps 1.2 km / 0.7 miles from the start), the ridge starts to narrow, and turns into a sharper crest. The cliffs here become more spectacular (off to the right). Off to the left, the slope steepens but is not yet cliff. You start to get increasingly-favorable angles on the valley as you descended along the ridge.

Getting narrower

Isolated Lama Trees

The views become more and more incredible as you hike down Kalepa Ridge. There is often a dizzying drop off to the right, looking straight down on the streep, fluted grassy ridges that are so characteristic of the Na Pali Coast. Looking more horizontally, there are great views of the fluted walls on the other side of Kalalau Valley.

Back up to the Plateau

Undulating Ridge

Another perfect path shot

courtesy JInnes

Down a steep prow

Kalalau-Nakeikionaiwi Divide

Above crumbling cliffs

Soon (about 1.6km / 1mile from the start of the hike), the slopes on the left side of Kalepa Ridge become open, and you are now on a true knife edge. There is a small grassy knoll that is reached, and you are tested with your first real 'two-sided' exposed bit of ridge. It is likely that many people will want to stop at this point.

courtesy JInnes

Becoming knife-edged

Approaching turnaround point

Andrew on open point

Below the grassy knob, there is a short saddle with no grass at all - just red volcanic soil, hard-packed, with a moderately steep drop on the left and an extreme one on the right. On the far side is another grassy point open on all sides. Assuming the conditions are good and the ground is dry, it is fairly easy to make it across this section and onto that next-lower grassy point.

The ridgecrest is increasingly exposed below this point and I did not continue any farther, although if you were very brave and sure-footed you could probably go another few hundred feet down the ridge.