Hundred-foot waterfalls, scenic coastlines, pristine beaches…all can be found on The Garden Isle that is Kauai, the most laid-back of all the islands of Hawaii. It is also one of the places on the planet that gets the most amounts of rainfall yearly. Everywhere we go is  lush and green…grass even grows on sand! This trip really allowed us to connect closer with nature and also made us realize how much we lack that bond in our every day lives in Montreal.

Our little GoPro probably didn’t meet its full purpose before this trip. Kauai is all about outdoor activities and incredible scenery. But I have to say again that nothing captured by the camera can come close to seeing it with your own eyes…Nevertheless here is a (feeble) attempt to document the unbelievable landscape.

Hiking:

Kalalau Trail:

My favourite by far of all the treks we have done. Ever. As there are no roads on the west coast of Kauai, hiking the Kalalau trail is the only up-close and intimate way to experience the Napali Coast. The entire trail is 11 miles long but it takes little under 30 min to get to the rewarding views, and those keep you company the whole way. Most visitors will turn around after they reach Hanakapi’ai Beach, about two miles from the trail head. We deviated from the main trail after the beach towards Hanakapi’ai Falls, which are located another two miles in-land. The entire journey will take us 8 hours. I would recommend this hike for people in decent shape as there are many watercourses to cross, ranging from small streams to thigh-deep rivers. While it is not necessary to be an experienced hiker, the path is rocky and muddy and, as it rains very frequently, can be very slippery.

 

 

• Tip: One thing I was very grateful to have were my Keen sandals. These amphibious shoes provide decent support for the hike and also dry quickly after having been in water. The mud pools are less fun but at least they can be washed easily. Hiking poles are also a good idea, although we have found many wood sticks along the way that did a good job all the same. 

  

  

 

Mala’ulepu Heritage Trail: 

Scenic coastal hike that is about 4 miles round-trip. It has little elevation so is suitable for less experienced hikers and kids. The walk is along the rocky cliffs  facing the ocean, making for an incredible backdrop and invigorating smell of ocean breeze. The trail head is adjacent to the Grand Hyatt Resort, so you start the hike alongside high-end golf courses, meticulously sculptured bushes and well-tamed gardens. Hang on as once passed the first few minutes, the natural beauty fills the space completely.

 

Waimea Canyon: 

Aloha!  to the Grand Canyon of the Pacific, these red cliffs and green valleys were carved out when the solidified lava was eroded by huge flows of water throughout the years. Many trails can lead to spectacular views. We’ve done the two most popular ones: Cliff and Canyon trails.

Upon researching, there are many starts to those trails, which was a bit confusing. Finally, we have settled to start at the junction of Highway 550 and Halemanu road, where there is an inconspicuous rocky dirt road that leads to the trail head. You can park your rental car on the opposite site of the highway, or if you have an agile 4×4, you can drive down that dirt road to save you about 0.8 miles of walking (But hey! Hiking is what we’re here for!)

Both trails start off at the same point and split after. Cliff is a short 10 min walk one way to a beautiful lookout, while Canyon is a 2 mile trek up and down in elevation to finally lead you to the Waipoo falls. The falls themselves are nothing outstanding, maybe because we’ve seen so many of these elsewhere on the island, but the trek itself has wonderful views of layers upon layers of red rocks that make the Canyon.

 

Seeing and Doing:

The Lighthouse: Located on the north shore, Kilauea point is the place to go for bird watching or to try your luck for a glimpse of a humpback whale between January and April. We weren’t that lucky as the lighthouse was closed for repair but the peninsula still makes for a post-card perfect photograph.

 

Kayaking the Wailua river: One hour of kayak on the Wailua River and half an hour of hiking lead you to the Secret Falls, an ideal place for lunch with a view. We rented two double kayaks for 60$US apiece and they came with all the necessary equipment like life jackets, dry bags and foam mats to load them onto your rental car. Many companies offer the service and they are all located near the drop-off point on the river. We went with Wailua Kayak Adventures and were very happy with their service. You can experience the same thing with a guided tour if you wish, but we felt the itinerary is pretty straight-forward so we just free-styled it. However, your guide will certainly be able to provide far more information about the surroundings!

 

Queen’s Bath: Feeling like royalty? This tide pool on the north shore of Kauai gets filled with sea water during high surf when the waves come crashing to the shore. It is risky to bathe in there during winter when the waves can make you hit the rocks or pull you out to the ocean. Otherwise, in the calmer summer months, it used to be a bathing place exclusive to royalty. So if you’re feeling especially precious today, take a dip in those crystal clear waters. You’ll have to share because this natural pool is also the home of different fish species and sea urchins.

The trail to Queen’s bath (about 10 slippery and muddy minutes) is unmarked on Google Maps, maybe that’s why few tourists were present. It starts at the junction of Kapiolani Loop and Kamamalu Loop (see map below). A small wooden sign can be seen at the top of the stairs leading down. It seems Kauai is the land of hidden wonders…

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Kauai Coffee Company: Biggest coffee plantation in the whole USA, millions of plants spread over thousands of acres. As it was not harvest season, we could not see much of the fruit. Still, a quick pit stop to sample their coffees and learn about the coffee making process was enriching.

 

It was an incredible week of adventures but there were also relaxing moments. Next post will be about Kauai’s beaches, both popular ones and hidden gems…and of course, our sampling of Hawaii’s unique cuisine.

Huge thank you to my travel buddies Mister F, Lady F and Ric for their contribution of amazing photographs and for making this trip so memorable!