Our breakfast was eaten downstairs at the Tip Top Café, which was separate from the motel, a fact that was made clear upon check in. Now I know why. We then drove to find the secret tunnel, but found out that we didn’t know the password. So we found ourselves driving back towards Waimea.

Trailhead

We parked on the highway adjacent to the “Grand Canyon of the Pacific” to begin our first hike of the day.

Help yourself

Don’t mind if we do. Thank you.

Iliau Nature Loop

We started counter clockwise on the loop that was populated with descriptive signs of the native plants dotting the trail. Photo by Ferlino Carinio.

Kukui Trail

Only 2.5 miles separated us from the canyon floor. All downhill.

Kukui Trail

Passing through several hunting areas as we came down the switchbacks.

Kukui Trail

Are the logs meant to retard erosion or prevent hikers from falling off the trail? Perhaps both.

Kukui Trail

The trail soon widened and took on more of a exposed nature as it lead us down into the canyon carved from water and volcanic collapse.

Kukui Trail

I guess this hiking stick does come in handy. Photo by Ferlino Carinio.

Kukui Trail

The forest of kukui trees granted us shade from the now withering sun.

Kukui Trail

We noticed a pack of goats that ran the hills above us, determined not to become camp vittles. Other hikers also passed us on their way back up, they had the right idea of starting early in the morning to avoid the afternoon heat.

Missing the nui

Passing by the Wiliwili Campsite.

Waimea Canyon

The original plan was to hike out to Lonomea Camp, but not knowing the way; we headed straight for the river to be greeted by a cloud of mosquitoes.

Waimea River

Ferlino set up his hammock by the river that is fed from the Alakai Swamp.

Waimea River

Group photo in the middle of the river that drains one sixth of the island before it dumps into the Pacific Ocean.

Camp Wiliwili

We didn’t linger long as the mosquitoes were not fun company. Photo by Ferlino Carinio.

Kukui Trail

Time to pay the piper, as we made our way back uphill …

Kukui Trail

… 2,200′ of elevation in 2.5 miles.

Company

A visiting hiker from the West Coast, briefly kept us company on the trail.

Kukui Trail

He had a beach and ice cold beers waiting for him, so off he went.

Recycle

What one taketh, one giveth back. Photo by Ferlino Carinio.

All pau

Who said you can’t be in two places at one time?

GPS Tracks

Our hike must have been covered by the new math GPS as I got 4.55 miles, so we somehow lost .45 miles along the way.

Note: I have been made aware that some hikers have been using my blog as a hiking guide and getting lost on the trails. Please note that this blog was made to document the hike for the crew(s) that did it. That is why some of my comments will seem to have no relevance or meaning to anybody outside of the crew(s) that hiked that trail. My blog was never meant as a hiking guide, so please do not treat it as such. If you find inspiration and entertainment from these hikes, that is more than enough. If you plan on replicating these hikes, do so in the knowledge that you should do your own research accordingly as trail conditions, access, legalities and so forth are constantly in flux. What was current today is most likely yesterdays news. Please be prepared to accept any risks and responsibilities on your own as you should know your own limitations, experience and abilities before you even set foot on a trail, as even the “simplest” or “easiest” of trails can present potential pitfalls for even the most “experienced” hikers.