We’ve found time to do some great hikes!

Hike 1: NOUNOU (Sleeping Giant) on the north side of the island

A drizzly day with a mucky trail ... slippery red mud

Pondering our next move

We decide to push on towards the top

At the top, with rain, no views, and a bit of lightning ... we decide to head back down after the obligatory “summit” photo

Hike 2. KALALA TRAIL (NaPali coast)

This is an 11-mile backpacking trip along the NaPali coast. We did the first part as a day hike, then diverted off the main trail and hiked in to a waterfall.

These signs at the trailhead could tend to discourage a person from starting the hike!

Mud, sticks, and rock at the start of the trail ... but then the views begin ...

Roger’s neon-green shirt allows him to blend in with the trees.

As we approach the beach, a sign warns of dangerous currents, and tallies the number of people who have been killed here.

The trail is full of warning signs!

From the beach, we turned inland towards the waterfall, another two miles, hiking through lush jungle and crossing the river back and forth a few times.

Fragrant guava fruit was all over the trail.

Intricate patterns on the tree trunks

First view of the waterfall

Quick break and photo-op

Dark and cool at the bottom of the waterfall

We had gotten an early start in the morning ... by the time we started our hike out, the sun was higher and it made for beautiful photos of the jungle and the NaPali coast.

... like hiking through a botanical garden ...

Views of the coast and the aqua-colored water

Beautiful hike!

Hike 3. WAIMEA CANYON (Cliff trail)

This is Kauai’s version of the Grand Canyon. It’s possible to drive up to several viewpoints, and then do some hikes around and down into the canyon itself.

Syl, Ed, and Gloria at one of the viewpoints.

Down the Cliff Trail to a different viewpoint

The usual ... mud and warning signs

We saw lots of these guys soaring on the thermals in the canyon. They are a Hawaiian endemic.

By afternoon, the fog has rolled in ... mornings are clearly the best time for hiking!

Hike 4. ALAKAI SWAMP

The Alakai swamp is located at about 4000 ft and is accessed from the end of the road leading through the Waimea Canyon. The high elevation has protected many of the plants and animals from the invasive plants and animals that are so prevalent everywhere else.

Morning light

Surprise! Mud ....

Boardwalks stretched across boggy wetlands

This wooden staircase into a ravine has over 200 steps!

Coming into the swamp .... open and sunny, with a unique array of plants.

Before they installed the boardwalks, hikes reportedly had to struggle through thigh-deep mud.

A telephone pole in the distance is a remnant from years ago when they attempted to build a road through this swamp. It was unsuccessful; machines got bogged down in the mire and some were abandoned here.

Viewpoint from the end of the trail, looking down on the coast near the start of the Kalala trail. No road connects these two halves of the island; the terrain is too rugged.

Hiking back ... now warm and sunny

... with more great views ... a fabulous hike!

Thanks to Scott and Terry for preceding me on this one -- your pics inspired me to do it!  :-)