Kaua'i * Day 3 * 6.16.2010

Got up at 6:00am to get packed up and ready for our hike to Hanakapi'ai Falls! This was our first time to head up North of where we were staying and we really enjoyed the early morning drive. We fell in love with the Hanalei area....one of the first things we saw was a rainbow! A double one! And every time we went back up north, we always saw rainbows...so awesome! It's so lush and green there, simply gorgeous.




We drove clear to the end of the road, which ends at Ke'e Beach. It tends to be a busy place and we weren't sure we'd find a close parking spot. Not that it really mattered! We WERE getting ready to do an 8 mile hike, what's another mile?! The lot at the beach was full and we had turned around ready to head to the overflow lot when a car sped out of a spot right beside the bathrooms and directly across from the trailhead! Nice!

Here is a couple of the signs at the Kalalau Trailhead, telling about the hike we were getting ready to do. We hiked two miles on the Kalalau Trail to Hanakapi'ai Beach, then 2 miles back the Hanakapi'ai Valley Trail to the Falls. It's a very rugged trail and rather strenuous, but oh so worth it for the views!



All smiles and full of energy....ready to get our backsides kicked by the trail! (9:00am)

When I saw the trail ahead I was hoping it wouldn't be like that the whole way. It was worse...in a LOT of areas.....

A view back at Ke'e Beach

Rugged and yet lush...mountains above Ke'e Beach.

Our first view of the Na Pali Coast...amazing! We'd think we had a beautiful view, then we'd hike further and find another one and say, "Oh, that's even more beautiful!".

{whistle!} Nice view!

If you look close, you can see a Catamaran along the coast.

Straight down off the trail. Pretty much straight up on one side and straight down on the other. Beautiful water......

Check out that skyline! I couldn't get enough of the rugged and yet lush beauty. Our Creator is so....creative!!! Also, here is the 'easiest' section of trail...no rocks/roots but steep downhill and up on the way back...in the blazing sun. This section of trail can be very treacherous if it's rainy, though. Locals were RUNNING down the trail...BAREFOOT....with their boogie boards, heading to the beach! Now I know that this view doesn't make you cringe thinking of bare feet. However, most of the trail was rocky. We were glad for our hiking shoes and poles!

Hanakapi'ai Beach! Almost there! This picture...ahhh....the clouds, the mountain, the beach, the water, the coast line.....WOW!

Crossing the stream before the beach. The first of many times to cross this stream. (10:45am)

We sat under the shade on the lava rocks and rested. We sat there for about 30 minutes, enjoying the waves, the breeze, and some snacks. Our backs were drenched with sweat already. We took our packs off, hoping to dry out a little. I seriously thought my 'hydration bladder', which was holding my 2 litres of water, was leaking! Inspection revealed that it was indeed just sweat!


Getting ready to head up the Hanakapi'ai Valley Trail. (11:19am) Cool trees....we learned later they are called 'walking trees'. More about these on day 4.

A view up the valley. This 'flat' area is a helicopter landing pad for emergencies. The trail cuts to the right of this area and heads into the forest--you can see the trail sign by the trees on the right.

About a quarter mile in from the beach we came across several clumps of this HUGE bamboo! It was 3-5 inches in diameter and 40-50+ feet tall!

Lots of people had carved their names in it....we did too!

Our first view of the falls. You can't even see it all!


I wasn't sure on the height of the falls, but I found the following info at the World Waterfall Database...

Hanakapiai Falls is yet another tall, thin waterfall on Kauai's Na'pali Coast. We're aware of no official measurements, but it appears, based on topographic data, that the falls may top 1600 feet. The most commonly seen portion of the falls, the final tier, drops 410 feet. The upper portions of the falls are not visible from the ground."

Wow! All we knew is, it's a BIG falls!

This is the view from what we called the 'WOW Factor Spot'! We were tired, but happy! (1:00pm)

It was such relief to rest! The last half of the trail is pretty much climbing up and over boulders. We stopped for about an hour to swim, eat and take in the beauty around us. Our sweat-drenched shirts had a chance to dry out in the sun! Our shirts are merino wool. They supposedly wick sweat and keep you cool in the heat and warm in the cold...AND they won't stink! Hmmm, we certainly put them to the test, and they worked! More on this later :0)


One last 'good-bye' view on the way out. (2:40pm)

Another great little swimming hole.

Ahhh! Back out to the beach, our hike is 3/4 done! (4:00pm) By this point I was not feeling well. My body was saying 'enough!'. We rested for a half hour and ate some snacks before tackling the last 2 miles--mostly uphill--in the blazing sun.

Here, we are leaning into a VERY strong wind! Ke'e Beach is in sight! Just a few hundred feet back the trail I was pleading for God to send another breeze. I was completely wiped out, there was very little shade and every once in a great while we'd get a small, short breeze. It was all uphill climbing and I had to make a LOT of little stops. I was lightheaded, weak, and SO hot! The Father whispered in my heart to keep going, and when we reached this spot it was WINDY! We had to take out hats off or we would have lost them! Thank You, Lord, for answered prayers!

Back at the trailhead! (6:00pm) All smiles....and completely worn out! We met Chad and Rachel, pictured with us, on the way in to the falls...soon after we passed the bamboo. We crossed the stream without getting our feet wet...they did! They said they were gonna follow us after that because we had to zig-zag back and forth across the stream a lot! We enjoyed spending the rest of our day/hike with them. They were on their honeymoon and don't live too far from us! Sorry guys, for being such a wimp and needing so many breaks on the way out!

Cave by the road at Ke'e Beach.

We never got tired of the view!

Another rainbow in the evening! It was a double too!


We drove back a road heading inland, where several houses were nestled. Again, wouldn't it be a bummer to have to live there?!



When we arrived back at the Resort, it was nearly dark. We got dinner at a BBQ stand in the Coconut Marketplace there....Teriyaki beef kabobs for Eric, Broiled Mahi wrap for me....very yummy!

Then we got cleaned up and soothed our tired muscles in the spa. Oh my, did those water jets feel good! I about fell asleep in there!


Oh yeah, the shirts? We did the sniff test after sweating in them ALL DAY.....no odors! Definitely passed the test! Eric even wore his again the next day, just to see if it would get smelly!!! It didn't... So if you are in need of some great hiking/etc shirts we definitely recommend 'Icebreakers'!


And that concludes day 3 on Kaua'i!