Kauai 2016

Nov. 12 - 21 -- Kauai is referred to as the Garden Island. It's an island of endless summer but it is also the wettest place on earth (440" of precipitation annually). The diverse landscape ranges from deserts and beaches to rainforests and swamps. Daylight hours vary by only 2.5 hours year round and the year round temperatures vary by only 7 degrees. The fruits are sweet, there's no pesky bugs and the air is fresh with the ocean breeze.

When John arrived at our dwelling for the next few weeks, he thought, "What did I get us into?" There was a host of young people from Norway partying and having fun. The hostel looked like a building from the 1970s hippie era. Bright colors and painted flowers decorated the walls and bunk beds. It seemed there were people tucked away in every nook & cranny. Some were even sleeping in beds outside, facing the beach.

As it turned out, we ended up liking it there. Even though the kitchen was so tiny and it became a serious obstacle course at breakfast time. We mets lots of people, made new friends and even ended up taking a few along on some of our hikes. In the end they said they were sad to see us go (not sad about getting our leftover food though). The rooftop patio was a wonderful way to end the day, watching the sun set on the ocean.

Wendy, me and Christine got our very own room, right by the kitchen.

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Hike #1: Nualolo Cliff Trail - 10.5 km / 700m gain / 1130m high

The wet trail led us through lush forest with wild guava fruits and pine trees. The mud was slippery so we took our time.

The latter half of the trail was dryer and more out in the open.

We had to acclimatize. It was alot warmer here than back home in Canada BC.

The Napali Coast.

The hanging valley of Kalalau.

We drove through the Waimea Canyon and stopped at this viewpoint of Waipoo Falls.

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Hike #2: Makauwahi Cave Coastal Trail - a fairly level 4 hour hike along the shore of the southern and driest part of the island.

If it wasn't for the wind, the heat would've been unbearable.

Scarred landscape caused by lava flow.

The cave.

As we were having lunch, a couple came by and offered to give us a personal tour of a tortoise farm nearby. What an unexpected delight! She was a teacher who had entered into the Hall of Fame and had actually met President Bush and Obama. She was now a volunteer there and a few of the tortoises were her pets.

The largest tortoise weighed 250 lbs!

Group shot: Judy P, Irene H, Lisa S, Simon H, Elizabth (met her at the hostel), Wendy, John, Robbin, Cathy, me, Christine

Ingrit

Ficus tree.

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Hike #3: Hanakapiai Falls - 15 km / 720m gain / 4 hours

This was the most popular trail, being on the north part of the island in the Napali Coast State Park.

Again we had to be very careful choosing our steps on the trail that was 80% wet.

We had to cross creeks five times.

Arrived at the secluded Hanakapiai Beach which is known for it's big waves.

From the beach the trail split; we stayed left. Right goes to a second waterfall as the trail goes along the cliff's edge, high above the sea. This would've been a 22km day. A few in our group did it but said the second waterfall was not as spectacular as the Hanakapiai Falls.

After another hour of climbing after the beach, we arrived at Hanakapiai Falls which are 300' high.

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Hike #4: Pihea/ Alakai Swamp Trail - 14 km / 600m gain This is the world's highest swamp.

We walked along the ridge overlooking the Kalalau Valley.

Kalalau Valley.

At a junction in this forest we left the ridge. This was the highest point at 1300m. From there the trail angled downwards, over roots and single boards.

Red flowered Ohi'as bushes.

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Hike #5: Secret Falls + Fern Grotto - This was a combination of kayaking up the Wailua River and a 1-hour hike to the falls.

Wendy & I had arrived one week later than the rest of the group so they'd already done this one. We started at the historic Kamokila Hawaiian Village further upstream, which cut off several hours of kayaking.

Though this trail was short, it had much to offer.

Secret Falls - 100' high.

On the way back we parked our kayaks and checked out Fern Grotto.

An evening spent at a Hawaiian Luau.

Pig roasting in the ground.

Dancers.

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A visit to the McBryde Botanical Gardens.

Over half of Hawaii's native plants are threatened with extinction. Plants have gone extinct because their natural pollinators, such as birds and insects, vanished. Feral pigs and goats have destroyed the under-story vegetation and loss of land and erosion due to development are also to blame.

The Monkey Pod tree.