Hawaiian monk seals are highly endangered. The largest colony lived on a nearby island-- these two had crossed onto Kaua'i for a holiday...
Waimea Canyon is called the "Grand Canyon of the Pacific". Unfortunately, we could hardly see it with all the incoming vog.
Nene's! Hawai'i's state bird.
Setting off on our 10 mile loop to try to get a glimpse of the famously beautiful Na Pali coastline. The heavy vog came in later in the afternoon as was expected, but we did manage to see some of the coast from the trail along the cliff.
Waterfall where a woman slipped off the top to her death. Plenty of signs warned us not to get anywhere close to the edge or the river. So of course, Mario wanted to go for a swim and we slipped around the fence upriver for a bath.
Mais cachoeiras...
We joined up with Arika's friend Elisha (from Gainesville, FL). He was working in Kapa'a. He showed us the local sites. That evening he brought us to a perfect camping site and we cooked up a marvelous barbeque.
Honalei-- a cove that is world famous for its awe-striking beauty. Remember Puff the Magic Dragon? Well, Honalei didn't rhyme as well as Honalee...
We joined a 3 day Ethnobotany field course that was organized by students from University of Hawai'i. Kawika, native Hawaiian, was Arika's friend and colleague and he is the director of the beautiful Limahuli Gardens where the course took place.
Mikioi is a native Hawaiian whose family originally owned and founded the gardens. After listening to generations of story telling, Mikioi knew how to tell a story, and she knew alot of stories about the surrounding valley.
Second day of the field course we volunteered at the garden by participating in preparing the lowi's which are a traditional agriculture system of taros-- the Hawaiian staple food.
Making sugarcane with a Thai sugarcane press.
Beach at the head of Kalalau trail
On the last day of the field course, Mikioi led us on a hike to the waterfall in the back of the canyon.
Setting off on our 22 mile hike up Kalalau trail along the world famous Na Pali trail. We walked 11 miles the first day. Stayed 3 nights at the stunningly beautiful beach at the end. We walked back 5 miles and stayed a night by the waterfall relaxing. Then 6 miles back to Limahuli Gardens, a fabulous dinner and a hot shower and a soft bed.
The most deadly beach on the island
Sketchey part of the trails where hikers have fallen to their death.
Do you see the squirrel eating the banana?
End of the trail! Woo-hoo! Just at sunset...
This beach is famous for being the last place where traditional Hawaiians lived. The last of them left for the city in the early 1900's. Now there are a bunch of hippies living there-- or trying to live there. They get raided every year in May by the police who descend in helicopters and destroy all of their things.
Hippie traded us two slipper lobsters for an apple and two granola bars.
Note the traditional lowi's that are now over grown.
The mountain sits like a crown on the valley. Its a magnificent site when you first arrive...
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