We got up with the Roosters this morning, had breakfast at the condo and headed to Waimea Canyon. It was about a 2 hour drive from where we are staying all the way around the island. The road is windy and busy through the populated areas. Once entering the canyon, the view are amazing on the windy uphill road.
We stopped at a few viewing points along the way, one being right by our condo we are staying at, Hanalei Valley Lookout. It is a very familiar sight as we have a large canvas photo of it in our bedroom that we look at every day.
Next look out was at Hanapepe Valley Lookout. This is where you can really start to see the canyon, and the red faces of the cliffs. Interesting fact, the canyon is unique geologic history, as it was formed not only by the steady process of erosion but also by a catastrophic collapse of the volcano that created Kauai.
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| Roundabout on our way! |
Once in the park we headed to the first overlook, Waimea Canyon State Park. The washrooms were gross but the views were amazing. The red cliffs and the Waipo'o falls were pretty cool, although they haven't gotten rain in 1.5weeks so the waterfall wasn't as full as we remembered the last time being here.
We headed up the windy and narrow road to Pu'u Hinahina Lookout, and the trail head for what we came to do..hike the canyon, it was drizzling a little, so we put on our rain jackets (to quickly carry them the entire way..)
We packed up with a few snacks and lots of water to head on our trek on the Canyon Trail. The trail was 1.8 miles (one way) and the map said Moderate.... but wow it was challenging at times. These prairie legs were burning in all the ups and downs. But the reward was pretty amazing. We stopped at Cliff Trail which was a short 1 mile to see the cliff. You know you are high when you feel like the helicopters are at eye level as they fly in the canyon.
We hiked up and down the canyon to get to the mini falls and then to the top of the Waipo'o Falls. It was pretty amazing views, but don't fall off the edge....
We stopped at the top of the falls to have a snack, before heading back. The entire way back Lola couldn't stop thinking of the huge hill they have to climb at the end of the trail (the trail starts by going down a long way...). But we made it and it was amazing.
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| The waterfall from above..... that was a straight drop down. |
Back at the car we headed to the next stop to have our packed lunch Kalalau Lookout. There was only 1 picnic table, so we had a couple join us who had retired and moved from Massachusetts to New Hampshire. we didn't get their names, but they asked us a lot of questions about where we were from and if there were any easy trails anywhere. The trail they did at the next stop was very muddy, the guy was mud from shoes to bum. We enjoyed our lunch, and then checked out the lookout.
Last stop at the top of the hill was Pu'u O Kila Lookout. It is the rainiest place in the world (says the sign). The view from here were pretty neat with the rainforest and the ocean, and the deep canyon.
We headed back down and stopped at the first look out on the way, as the sun was out and we knew it would be a little different of a view. The best part was seeing across the way where we hiked too. That was satisfying.
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| That Hill and top of the waterfall is where we hiked! |
We drove down the winding road, where the views were very different as you come down you see the flats and the ocean.
Next stop was Poipu Beach. The waves were still pretty big, and we were pretty exhausted from our hike, so we just sat on the beach and enjoyed the animals.... yes... we say a Hawaiian Monk Seal, as it was leaving the beach and headed back to the ocean, as well a Hawaiian Green Sea Turtles. We took turns going to look at the turtles beached and protected. The volunteer there told Lola that there were 6 now, likely 20 coming by dusk and over 100 at night. So we had to stay for the sunset and to see how many turtles came.
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| AA told Lola to bring the Binoculars to see them closer! |
The sunset was beautiful!
As we looked back at where the turtles were congregating for the night, there were 19.....
We came back after supper and there were 45! It was so amazing. When it is dark you can't shine your flash light as it hurts their eyes, so they had a red flash light to show you. AA couldn't believe it but it was so amazing. Also the stars were also so bright as there isn't a lot of street lights around.
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| Those aren't rocks...they are turtles. |
We drove a few minutes up the road to Kalapaki Joes for supper were we enjoyed our fish.
Lola drove back home, she was a little nervous as it is so dark and there are a lot of winding roads, but made it safe and sound.
It was a great day, and we were sure tired (that is why Lola is blogging the next day).
Lola.
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