[ Kaua'i Day Two ]

Kaua'i Day Two

Kaua'i is called the Garden Island, and for good reason. Its lush tropical beauty has been the scene for many a silver screen moment, and its natural beauty is its main attraction.

Kelly decided that on our first full day on Kaua'i that we would go hiking on the Kalalua Trail. Apparently she hadn't read The Ultimate Kaua'i Guidebook on this particular adventure as well as she had read other areas.

For if she had, I can tell you that our first hike would not have been here.

The Kalalua Trail is the most famous hike in Hawai'i. So famous, in fact, it's called the ultimate hike - 11 miles of switchbacks, hills, and beautiful scenery. We hiked 2 miles of it.

The first two miles of the hike lead to Hanakapi'ai Beach, which is only accessible by foot, air, or by boat. The views along the way to Hanakapi'ai are simply spectacular, though the going is rough. Rocks, mud, slippery wood made worse by the on-again, off-again rain drizzles. Most of this at altitudes of 1,000 feet and up.

All of this adds up to one helacious trail for a first-time hiker like Kelly, and I couldn't be more proud of her for making it to Hanakapi'ai Beach, and back again. Four tough miles that had even myself, a lad raised on camping and hiking, winded.

See for yourself...

	On the way to the end of the highway and the beginning of the Kalalua Trail, we stopped at a scenic overlook on the other side of Hanalei Bay for this shot of our hotel.
	Another great shot from the overlook of Hanalei Bay and the mountains rising in the background.
	Looking up Hanalei Bay out to sea.
	Under way on the Kalalua Trail, and this spectacular shot on the way up. Ke'e Beach, where the highway ends, is underneath the palm tree in the lower right.
	My beautiful wife on the way up. She does not yet know what she's gotten herself into...
	Looking up one of the mountains from the trail.
	Having come through a bit of rain, you can see how quickly the trail gets muddy.
	A great view of where we've come from.
	Looking up toward the peaks. No, the trail doesn't go that high...
	Looking down the beginnings of the famous Na Pali Coast, all of which is accessible only by foot, boat or air. One of my favorite shots.
	We've reached Hanakapi'ai Beach! One of the huge volcanic rocks that dot the coast line...
	Looking down Hanakapi'ai Beach.
	The water on Hanakapi'ai Beach was a lot rougher than it looks, as is usually the case on the North Shore of Kaua'i.
	Looking up the valley from Hanakapi'ai Beach.
	This natural stream coming down from the mountains was the big barrier between the Kalalua Trail and Hanakapi'ai Beach. You can see Kelly in the pink shirt beginning to make her way back across.
	Looking up at the big peak that overlooks Hanakapi'ai Beach.
	Another shot up from the beach.
	We took frequent rest breaks on the return trek. The weather had warmed considerably, and this point in the trail was a great resting place, with lots of shade and a cool breeze.
	An exhausted Kelly, wondering, "How much farther is it to the Jeep?"
	Looking back down the trail to Hanakapi'ai.
	A nice shot from the trail showing the multilayered nature of a tropical forest.
	A great shot of a rainbow on the way back. You can see it best in the lower left. More shots are coming from the regular camera...
	We made it!! The weary travelers back at the start of the trail.