The last time we were on The Garden Isle, my wandering eye saw a peak in the distance and curiosity got the better of me, so I asked about it and was told it was not doable due to the mountainous terrain. Hold my Coca-Cola. Thanks to Nandor for the tracks and Scott for the advice.

Konohiki Seafoods

We landed on the oldest island in the inhabited chain and caught a shuttle to our Turo ride. Dropped off our stuff at Scott’s house and got a bite to eat before driving out to Koloa.

Makauwahi Cave Trail

Parked our car over a rock on the road and started our hike down the dirt trail.

Makauwahi Cave Trail

Looking down into the largest limestone cave found in Hawaii.

Haupu Loop Trail

If it looks like a duck, walks like a duck, quacks like a duck, then it probably is a hiker.

Haupu Loop Trail

That’s where we are going!

Haupu Loop Trail

We soon left the beaten trail to plunge through suffocating dried guinea grass and climbing over termite eaten posts, rusted cattle gates and barbed wire.

Haupu Loop Trail

Pushing our way through the field of shoulder to head high grass.

Haupu Loop Trail

Breaking out into the relatively exposed ridge. Thank goodness.

Haupu Loop Trail

Going up the pine needle covered slope.

Haupu Loop Trail

Where the cattle used to roam.

Haupu Loop Trail

Ferlino jumping off the puka rock. No suitable trees around for climbing I guess.

Haupu Loop Trail

Crossing over a washed out area.

Haupu Loop Trail

Hugging the side of the grass covered cliff that plunged straight down into the forest.

Haupu Loop Trail

We dropped lower down to contour around as the vegetation above was impassable.

Haupu Loop Trail

Breaking out into the exposed ridge only to realize that we were still on the other side of where we wanted to be.

Haupu Loop Trail

Looking up to the 2,297′ summit of Haupu. Not this time. We’ll be back.

Hoary Head Mountains

Trying to make out what they call Queen Victoria’s profile with her raised finger. Hawaiians called it Hinaiuka, after a beautiful ali’i named Hina whose beauty was unmatched and to memorialize this, her profile was carved into the mountain.

Haupu Loop Trail

Looking out towards Kipu Kai Beach.

Naluakeina

Group photo at the 1,321′ peak.

Haupu Loop Trail

Contouring our way around the ridgeline.

Haupu Loop Trail

A little bit of rock climbing lay ahead of us.

Haupu Loop Trail

Watching the others climb down the small rock wall.

Haupu Loop Trail

Following the narrow dike down.

Haupu Loop Trail

Ferlino taking in the splendid views from the ridgeline of Poipu and surrounding areas.

Haupu Loop Trail

Climbing and contouring our way around the rocks that punctuated the ridgeline.

Haupu Loop Trail

Found a pair of unusual yellow bottle brush looking pods or fruits.

Pu’u Pihakapu

Group photo at the 733′ peak with the summits of Haupu and Kawelikoa behind us.

Haupu Loop Trail

A goat crossed paths with us. These feral ungulates were first introduced to Kauai back in 1792 by Captain Vancouver of the British navy. With no natural predators, the goat population exploded exponentially.

Haupu Loop Trail

Going down the grassy and rocky trail with Ha’ula Beach and Kawailoa Bay in the background.

Haupu Loop Trail

Hopped over a fence and slid our way down the pine needle covered trail.

Haupu Loop Trail

We followed the trail down to the beach where we saw a family camping and fishing on the shoreline.

Haupu Loop Trail

Ferlino climbing out of the beach.

Ha’ula Beach

Looking back at the secluded beach tucked away in a cove and surrounded by sand dunes and sea cliffs.

Gillin’s Beach

Passing the isolated Mahaulepu Beach on our way out. Gillin’s Beach is another name for this beach as Elbert Gillin built his beach house back in the 1940s until it was destroyed by Hurricane Iniki in 1992. The house has since been rebuilt.

All pau

Climbing up our last hill to end the day in the mountains.

Brennecke’s Beach Broiler

Enjoying the South Shore’s most popular shave ice. Well, that’s what their website said.

Poipu Beach

Hawaiian Green Sea turtles always draws a crowd wherever they show up. They are like the celebrities of the reptile world.

Poipu Beach

Watching the sinking sun.

Kenji Burger

Post hike meal at my namesake restaurant. No discount.

GPS Tracks

Our loop hike to the base of Mount Haupu covered 7.55 miles through the E-W ridges that separates Poipu from Lihue. Good scrambling but no ascent with fun company. Somebody still needs to hold my Coca-Cola.

Photos taken by Aileen Agustin, Ferlino Carinio, 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.