celebrating my Hau`oli Lā Hānau

On my birthday eve, Lexi, Danny and I headed to the north shore to start the birthday celebration off right.  Lexi and I were not sure where we were going but knew it was going to be an adventure.
After arriving to our destination, we took all the gear and headed down the trail.  There we were on a twilight deserted beach.  Danny started a fire as Lexi and I spun around in circles, ultimately falling over, while looking up at the luminous stars.
Setting up the camp was done with quickness, after we settled around the fire.  While sitting there we could hear the tide getting higher, running over the rocks to the left.  As a precaution we decided to move the tent to higher ground.  Good thing we did because in a matter of minutes the tide crept up as it washed away our fire, so much for having to worry about putting it out.  Even though it was the rainy climate north shore we decided to leave the rain guard off taking our chances.  Seeing the stars through the the netting was a relaxing way to fall asleep.  The picture above was the view we woke up to at 6:30 in the morning, an amazing way to start your birthday if you ask me.  Technically Lumaha'i Beach does not permit camping so as the early morning beach runners arrived we packed up camp more quick than what we put it up.
We grabbed all the gear and headed up the trail, we still had to drive more north for our next destination.

Ke'e Beach is the furthest north you can get by car.  The start of Kalalau Trail, which runs along the Na Pali Coast, begins at this beach.  The earlier you go to this beach the better, the parking lot and trail fills up with people quick.  Two miles into the trail we come upon Hanakapi'ai Beach, but we continued on to our first goal which was to go to Hanakapi'ai Falls.  This trail went more inland into a valley instead of following the Kalalau Trail along the Na Pali Coast.  Before I leave I hope to do the full trail which is 11 miles along the coast to a beach and to camp overnight.



While heading to the falls there came a section which we passed through a bamboo forest.  I found this really exciting since I am here working for a company that sells bamboo clothing, sheets, towels, etc.  To think that you can make clothing out of this stuff, put bamboo flooring in your house and eat bamboo shoots in your stir fry shows how versatile this grass is.  Who knew...bamboo!
The trail passed back and forth between a river as the water path led us to our desired destination.  As we rounded the final corner we could feel the mist from the falls slightly moistening our faces. And there it was the most beautiful falls I have seen.  To put it in perspective Hanakapi'ai Falls is 300 feet tall, you definitely do not want to be caught here during a flash flood.  The next thing we did only made sense, jump into the falls.
The surrounding valley was shaded and jumping into chilly water was something I had to second guess, I figured when in Rome.  We swam behind the falls and it was quite an experience.  After getting out of the water goosebumps settled in my skin.  We hung out at the falls for little bit, breathing in the misty algae aroma.
We headed back down stopping at Hanakapi'ai Beach for a break.  This is a dangerous beach and it is not advised to swim here, locals do it but they know the waves.  While we were there Danny knew of a cave at the north end of the beach, only it was covered up with sand.  But of course we dug it out as I grew weary of the ocean tides getting higher while in the cave, we made it out alive to my despair.
Finishing the round trip eight mile hike we were ready to get into some water.  We got in the car and a two minute drive later we arrived to the blue room.
This is a cave that has fresh water and is very refreshing to swim in.  Taking a waterproof headlamp is a good thing to have while in this dark cave.  It was very eerie swimming in this cave as you could see shadows of dark objects underneath you while a crazy man, Danny, is screaming in the low cave ceilings.
Ending the day adventure we stopped at Bubba Burgers where I had myself a Kauai grass fed beef teriyaki pineapple burger, delish.

January Kauai Adventures

Kuilau Trail  is one that I have done three times now and hope to do many more.   The trail can get a little muddy but so can most of the trails here in Kauai since there is a few rain showers here and there.  The first time I went on this trail I ran it and my new Asics got a bit muddy, I had to get over the mud if I was going to move on.  This island is so green, hence the name the Garden Isle, I love it.

Had a few casts into the ocean when I was at a gathering on the beach but caught no fish, good thing there was other food.  I wish that fish was more accessible here and not at tourists prices.  I have found a few fish shacks that sell local fish and not at a crazy price.

 Polihale Beach is one of the best beaches here on Kauai.  The beach is on the west side of the island, which is the driest section of the island.  The white sand on this beach goes on for a bit longer than other beaches on the island.   At the north side of the beach you can view one of the ends of the Na Pali coast (picture to the left).

The sunset on the west side of the island is the best since it is where the sun sets, go figure.  I love sunsets and have been able to see a decent handful here but the view from this beach is the best.

As the sunlight in the sky disappears the stars come out to play.  The moonlight takes a little longer to reach this beach.  Since it is darker the star gazing is amazing at Polihale.  I have never seen so many luminous stars, it was breathtaking.  I would like to have the ceiling in my bedroom be designed to resemble to the night sky that can be seen from Polihale.

Wailua Falls is about a 15 min drive from me but still I have only swam here once.  My friend Danny took me and as many times as he is going to say trust me, one day I will.  Hiking down to the waterfalls you pass by postings that advise you to not go it's "dangerous".  I think what those signs mean is if you are a tourists who does not know what they are doing and are not somewhat physically fit then do not pass.  Once down there we went behind the waterfall, which felt like a hurricane and jumped in.  My adventure side is definitely getting tested out here in Kauai.  Once I do an adventure to make sure I don't die then I will do it again once I know what it's like.  Unfortunately there are some things out here I will not get to try since they have been blocked off to the public because of the deaths that have happened, such as some certain waterfalls.  Tourists that come here see others do these risky things and think they can do them too.  What they don't realize is that the one's doing these things are locals, someone with a local or a physical person who has done their research on the areas.  Kauai has been listed as one of the best adventure vacations to go on so there has recently been more adventurous types flocking to the island, it is no longer a secret.  

Na Pali Coastified

 As seen in Jurassic Park when the helicopter flies over the island, I give you the Na Pali Coast.  My rafting adventure on one of the most scenic coastlines in the world was one I will never forget.

The whole time I felt as if I was in some type of other world.  It's the type of beauty that you see and it looks as if it's just a painting, that it doesn't even exist.  The pictures do not even justify this amazing creation.

The beaches are sacred along the coast in which you are not allowed to land on them, except for those Hollywood types that pay to film at different spots along the coast.

There are a few sea caves that we backed into on the raft.  This was a very exhilarating part of the trip.  As the waves came into the cave it would raise the raft higher up on the sea cave walls, it took a very skilled raft driver to pull on these moves.

Jumping into the ocean and swimming by the coastline was unforgettable.  I still struggle with the idea of sharks so that was a little nerve racking but what are the chances of that happening.  

Toward the middle of the trip when we were about to turn around and head back I started feeling the sea sickness coming on.  As the boat was staying in place the waves making the boat move up and down made me a little wheezy.  We took a break for lunch but I could not eat mine, let alone could I watch other's each their own lunch.  I lost it and as some would say I "tossed my cookies".  I was excited to head back, I was not as sea sick when the boat actually started moving, and moving it did as sped through the ocean.  At the end of the trip we did some whale watching as I was able to view for the second time a breaching whale.  At the end of the trip I was sure glad to be back on stable land as I stuffed my face with my lunch since I was not able to eat on the boat.

I will possibly do this trip again before I leave but will take some precautions so that I do not get sea sick again if I do go.