Kauai Holoholo

We gathered Mateo from the house and picked up Mari at the airport to continue our holoholo weekend.

Approaching the 40′ cliff as we walked on Keoneloa Beach which got its more popular nickname from a wooden boat that was wrecked at the water’s edge until Hurricane ‘Iwa destroyed the shipwreck in 1982.

We take such signs very seriously. Do we have our serious faces on?

360 view of the group on top of Makawehi Point.

I briefly considered taking the plunge but forgot my speedos at home. My name is not Harrison Ford.

Hope the sandstone cliff doesn’t collapse due to our combined weight. Some of us could stand to lose a few pounds. Not pointing fingers.

Going back down the cliff or we could have opted to take the Maha’ulepu Heritage Trail that meanders two miles along the coastline towards Punaloa Point and is punctuated by rugged sea cliffs, secluded coves, dunes, tide pools, sculpted lava formations, native plants, and petroglyphs.

Quan found a tunnel but failed to connect it to the end.

Walking the “long sands” back towards our cars.

Parked our cars on the muddy road and walked clockwise to the cave.

We stayed on the foot trail to avoid the horse droppings which were quite unavoidable after all.

The bridge that leads to a farm of African tortoises, which ironically are used to control non-native weeds.

Low crawling on plastic sheets was the price of admittance.

Standing up in the largest limestone cave in Hawaii.

The group standing at the entrance to the sinkhole which was once a lake and is now a repository of over 10,000 years of island history.

Scott pointing out the banyan tree that used to be against the cliff that they used to climb down back in the “old” days.

Entering the South Cave, that took over 400,000 years to develop from a sand dune into stone.

Further passage was restricted to permit certain endangered species to thrive and flourish, such as the blind Kauai cave wolf spider.

Providing illumination on the “bacon” stalactites on the cave’s ceiling. The docent informed us that many of the stalactites were broken off by free love hippies that used to inhabit this area years ago.

Looking out into the sinkhole that has served various purposes over the years from graveyard, farm and now being restocked with native plants. The only thing missing is the kanaka maoli.

What goes in, must come back out.

Group photo at the top looking into the emerald amphitheater.

Catching a view of the two-tiered falls dropping 800′ into Waimea Canyon on our way up to Koke’e State Park.

We all piled into Scott’s truck and took off on the jeep road not meant for AWD cars. The girls riding in the back of the pick up truck, if Senate Bill 1410 passes, will be a thing of the past.

It’s amazing what a non-working amber light can do to blur the line between official and not official.

Look at the little one! Another one bites the dust.

Praying for clear skies and no rain on our hike to the swamp. It would be answered for the most part, in our favor.

Walking on the composite planks which served to keep our feet relatively dry and insulate our mark on the environment.

The group passing through the crossroads.

Stepping down into the worlds’ highest rainforest fed by the runoff from Mount Wai’ale’ale, one of the wettest spots on Earth.

One accepted the inevitable while the other chose to delay it as long as possible.

Quan offering a helping hand to Mari to cross the tributary. She still got wet.

Where is that boardwalk when you need it?

The original redwood planks that were laid down in 1991 have seen better days.

Tessa reaching the limit of her flexibility in an effort to stay dry.

Jen decided to test the waters so to speak. Unintentionally. Now we all know how deep the mud in the swamp is.

Quan offering a helping hand. Does she work for First Insurance or Allstate?

Walking across the shallow bog.

Everybody finding their own way as they navigate around the open mud pit. Nobody wanted to pull a Jen.

Walking through the montane wet forest that are home to 21 endemic species found only in the center of this plateau.

Group photo at the Kilohana vista which sits at an elevation of 4,030′.

Waiting and watching the clouds drift in and out of the views of Hanalei and Wainiha Valleys.

Running reflections.

The group washing off in Kawaikoi Stream.

What goes down, must go back up.

Catching the sunbeams filtering down into the forest.

Who needs the boardwalk?

Going up the last hill to finish our 6.6 mile hike in this ethereal and enchanting place. Post hike meal at Wong’s Chinese Restaurant, home to the original Lilikoi Chiffon pie.

Day 3
We woke up with the chickens to eat chicken poop. Memorable way of remembering our breakfast.

The new recruits of Engine 2. God help us all.

Feed them and they will come.

Group photo with the largest navigable river of the island behind us.

We tagged along with Engine 2 to get a sneak peek at the temple that has been 29 years in the making.

Looking out at part of the 328 acre sanctuary that was founded in 1970.

Touring the grounds and seeing a monk on his way to smash non fruits into juice.

We all were graciously gifted a 32 ounce bottle of Indian mulberry juice. Studies have shown that noni juice may improve joint health, increase physical endurance, increase immune activity, inhibit glycation of proteins, aid weight management, help maintain bone health in women, help maintain normal blood pressure, and improve gum health. If you can get past the smell and taste.

Farm to table. Everybody also got an organic heirloom tomato. This was better than a farmer’s market. Of course a boomerang video had to be made of our free edible berries.

Walking in the drizzling rain to the San Marga Iraivan Temple.

The temple is constructed entirely out of white granite that was imported from India. The details that the craftsmen carved from blocks of granite are simply amazing. We were told this is the first all granite temple being built outside India in 600 years.

Piece de resistance: It took them three months to carve a rolling ball in this creature’s mouth from a single block of granite.

Walking outside to view a family of elephants carved out of black granite. These animals are sacred to the Hindus as they are a living incarnation of Ganesh, one of their most important gods.

Mirror reflection or just got the legs crossed the other way?

The drizzling rain made the statues of the temple builders “sweat.”

Our guide holding up a chain that was carved from a single block of granite.

The actual crew of Engine 2 with our gracious host, Yoginathaswami at the conclusion of our very informative and enlightening tour. Wait, who’s minding the store?

We grabbed bites to eat from Konohiki Seafoods and made our across the 125′ suspension bridge that was first built back in 1948 and rebuilt in 2018.

The bridge used to connect the plantation camp with the shops, schools and churches on the other side of Kapaia Stream.

Shadows in the sun.

A small micro man-made earthquake shook the bridge on our way back out. I think only the gecko got scared off.

We pulled up to the pier just as a local fisherman pulled a 25 pound Kahala out of the water using akule as bait. Ciguatera toxin anybody?

Group photo at the end of the cement pier that was constructed back in 1920 to help facilitate the transfer of sugar from the mills to the ships that was transported here on railroad tracks that terminated at the pier.

Shut down in 1950, the pier is now used by fishermen and out of island people testing to seek their balance on the concrete beams.

Waiting for the airplane to fly over. Timing is everything.

Is it Kapa’a or Kapaa’a? Who wants to reenact the scene with Nicolas Cage and James Caan from Honeymoon in Vegas? Better luck asking the Nenes.

Rocking in paradise.

Statue don’t hit back.

Quan in the nosebleed section. I think they would attract more spectators if they clean up the place a bit.

Love hurts. Especially when you score zero in the game. I don’t think we will be invited back.

Group photo in front of the largest fishpond on the island that was thought to have been built back in the 15th century. Alakoko Fishpond is being gradually restored back to its native state by eliminating the invasive mangrove trees and reintroducing native fish back into the ecosystem such as ‘ama’ama (mullet) and awa (milkfish).

We stopped nearby Kipu Ranch where a monument to Mr. Rice, born in Hawaii from missionary parents and was later appointed Governor of Kauai in 1891 by Queen Lili’uokalani and ironically helped to overthrow her monarchy two years later in 1893. I inquired at the nearby Outfitters Kauai office whether the high peak of Haupu in the distance is hikeable. The answer was it’s too steep and crumbly. Hold my Coca-Cola.

Our last stop on our whirlwind tour was at a park and golf course in the town of Kalaheo.

We were being stalked by a chicken that followed us through the Japanese Garden.

Need to eat my Wheaties.

Dry fountain makes for a good photo shoot.

View of the South and West shores from the bluff overlook.

The Hawaiian guillotine.

We dropped in at the landmark restaurant to get a hot bowl of noodles and split a whole lilikoi chiffon pie. Much better than the last place. The flight back home was hit hard by a triple whammy of heavy rain, lost cargo documentation and a missing ground crew. Should have flown Southwest. A big thanks to Scott for his gracious hospitality during our amazing weekend and everybody for their fun company.

Photos taken by Jen Odence, Mari Saito, Quan Haberstroh, Scott Dea, Tessa Bugay and yours truly. Not necessarily in order.

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. One should also always let somebody know of your hiking plans in case something doesn’t go as planned, better safe than sorry.

Tagged as: ahukini pier, alakai swamp trail, hokuala, kapaia suspension bridge, kauai's hindu monastery, kawaikoi stream, Keoneloa Beach, kilohana vista, kukuiolono park, makauwahi cave reserve, Makawehi Point, menehune fishpond, Shipwreck Beach, sloggett road, wailua river overlook, waipoo falls