Hanakapi'ai Falls...Misson Accomplished

A word of warning. This is a LONG post, lots of pictures and descriptions, but it was an awesome way to spend our Valentine's Day. For those of you coming to visit...this hike is highly recommended by the murray ohana.

The other night as we were lying in bed, Jason and I started talking about some of the things we STILL haven't done here on Kauai. You would think that after several years of being here that we would have done everything. Some things haven't been as easy with little kids. We've gone up the beautiful Kalalau trail several times, but never made the trek up to the Hanakapi'ai Falls we've heard so much about. So after a few months of feeling a little out of commission I decided I was ready for a little adventure. Yesterday we woke to wind and a little rain...not the perfect beach day...but a great day for a hike. After a slow morning of eating heart shaped pancakes, a couple stops at the store and waiting in traffic in Kapaa we finally got a late start at the Kalalau trail head. It was almost 1pm when we started and the sun sets about 6:30pm. We knew we would be pushing it to make it back before dark.


Here we are at the trail head...A BEFORE photo

Here we are at the trail head six hours later after finishing the hike... muddy sweaty, sore, tired and in the dark.

Some things aren't maintained too well here on Kauai, this trail sign is a good example. For the best known hiking trail in Hawaii...you'd think they could do a little better.

Aidan found this trekking pole at the beginning of the hike and we ALL used it at times.
View of Ke'e beach from the trail

Those tree roots ARE the trail

Right here at this one point in the trail the wind was blowing us so hard that you felt a little like you were going to get blown right off the trail. Aidan was hanging on to a rock for dear life. As soon as we got past this one spot the wind wasn't as strong.

Aidan in the stream with Hanakapi'ai beach in the background

Helping Sadie cross the stream.

First glimpse of the falls.

Cole sliding down the stream

There was a tiny bit of climbing involved.

Aidan picking wild raspberries...we also found the most delicious strawberry guavas along the trail.

Although Jason had to carry Sadie from the beach up to the falls we ALL made it!

Jason was the only one to take a dip in the pool under the falls....the rest of us were too cold...it rained A LOT.

The kids taking a break in the bamboo on the way back.

The bamboo was pretty cool.

Did I mention mud?

The sun is setting.

We were also treated to a rainbow on the way back. It's getting darker.
Just one movie...of the boys sliding down the stream.

ALL PAU!