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Kalalau Trail

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barbara
barbara
First Reviewer
4 out of 5
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11
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11-11 of 11
Editor Pick

The Kalalau Trail

  • June 6, 2000
  • Rated 4 of 5 by barbara from Atlanta, Georgia
The Kalalau Trail

Despite heavy rains and misting, this was the favorite activity we indulged in while in Kauai. We took a rental car to the North Side of the island and were surprised at how different everything looked in this area. The vegetation was much more lush---the expected rain forest---and the drive itself was beautiful as we went by beaches and rainbows and jagged cliffs pumping out rushing waterfalls of white. We actually were able to drive all the way to the foot of the Kalalau Trail and park the car. This is state-owned land and all access is free. A very nice Hawaiian man keeping tally of the number of hikers going up the trail told us that there is actually a local movement to charge a modest entry fee to the trail to help with the cost of maintenance. With as many as five hundred people hiking through a day, this makes sense as the path needs up-keep. The beginning of the hike was on stones laid down by original Polynesian settlers forging access up the mountain. These stones were slippery in the rain so be careful. While steep, the beginning hiker should have no problem navigating up (coming down is a little harder). After only two miles we were rewarded with a great view of Hanakapi’ai Beach and knew this was a journey worth taking. Many people stop here and go back, but if you journey on, there are many beautiful things to see such as waterfalls and expertly sculpted coast line. Unfortunately, on the day that we were hiking, a river that crosses the trail was up so high as to be completely impassable. I regret not being able to hike (and camp out on) Kalalau Beach which is supposed to be absolutely breathtaking. Allow yourself time to enjoy a hike along the Na Poli Coastline during your visit to Kauai. There is a reason for the Kalalau Trail being the most famous hike in Hawaii, and an opportunity to walk on it should not be missed.

From journal A Week in Paradise

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