For our third outing we had planned to travel inland to scope out some of the more obscure hiking on the island.  According to our guide book, the access road, a 4WD road, was usually accessible via the average highway car, as long as the weather was cooperative.  We followed the winding mountain road into the jungle toward the center of the island until we encountered a rutted Jeep trail which looked like it would probably have swallowed my Xterra whole.  The Dodge Avenger was not up to the challenge.

Disappointed, we decided to head across the island and take a gander at the much ballyhooed Na Pali coast.  In hindsight, the limitations of our wimpy rental car were a blessing in disguise.  HIking the entire length of the Na Pali coast is said by some to be one of the best hikes in the world.  The coast is a ragged jumble of rainforest and mountain which tumbles into the ocean at spectacular jagged angles around every turn.  The entire trail is 11 miles long, stretching across steep cliffs, over rivers, across beaches and through the jungle culminating in the Kalalau Valley.  The Valley is know for being a veritable hippie commune, boasting a sizable population of semi-permanent residents living off the fat the land – literally, hunting, fishing, farming gathering and bartering with hikers.  It was like something straight out of Alex Garland’s The Beach.  

Unfortunately we did not have time to to make the entire 22 mile round trip to this mystical land, so we opted for a short hike (2 miles) along the coast to the Hanakapiai Stream, which we then followed another 2 miles inland toward a stunning waterfall, which my humble point and shoot would not do justice to.  After a late start due to our Avenger defeat early in the day, we had to to hustle if we were to make it to the waterfall and back before dark.

No amount of writing can sum up the splendor of this place (and even then, it’s difficult), so without further ado, we switch to photos!

Some interesting zoology shortly after we started.

We catch some exciting glimpses!

Stunning!

Gear List

The North Face Chugach 12 Backpack – 753cu inThe North Face designed the Chugach 12 Backpack for the minimalist backcountry skier or snowboarder who wants just enough space for critical avy gear and tools. Your shovel and tools slide nicely into the surprisingly large tool pockets, and you can stash your skins or crampons in the bottom pouch to keep them conveniently organized. With The North Face’s integrated Hinch tuck-away system, you can strap your skis or snowboard to your pack and hike up without suffering from any bouncing. The Bombastic auto-airbag fabric will take quite the beating, so don’t hold back when you shred up that fresh pow.

Oakley Hijinx Polarized Sunglasses Matte Black/Gray, One SizeThe Oakley Polarized Hijinx sunglasses’ wrap-around frames and polarized High Definition Optics offer advanced protection from high glare conditions like boating, driving, or snow sports. Oakley’s unique polarizing process maintains visual clarity by biding the polarizing layer at the molecular level–you basically get the best optics technology offers. These impact resistant O matter frames fit medium to large face sizes. Oakley’s tapered XYZ lens technology gives you distortion-free vision at all angles of vision–even at the periphery of the lens. In addition to polarized lenses, these Oakley shades feature darker lens tints give you a neutral contrast that excel in high glare conditions like water sports or skiing. Sqaure O metal icons embedded in the Polarized Hijinx’s temples add a distinctly Oakley touch of style.

REI Flash 18 PackUltralight and ultra-versatile, the updated REI Flash 18 Pack cleverly converts into a stuff sack simply by turning it inside out. All-purpose daypack is handy in town, on trails and for short hikes away from basecamp; turn it inside out to create a stuff sack that helps organize gear inside a big pack. Lightly padded stretch-mesh shoulder straps move freely. Removable back panel pad doubles as a sit pad; hipbelt and sternum strap can also be detached. Sternum-strap buckle doubles as a safety whistle. Interior zippered pocket secures keys and other small items. Hydration-compatible design has a hose exit port and an internal sleeve to hold a hydration reservoir (sold separately). Updated drawcord closure is designed to fully cover the top opening when cinched tight. The REI Flash 18 Pack also has 2 daisy chains that let you attach items on the front.

Merrell Chameleon 4 Stretch Hiking Shoe – Men’s Merrell gave the Chameleon4 Stretch Men’s Hiking Shoe a neoprene ankle collar to make it quick to put on, easy to take off, and keep the scree from getting in and rubbing your feet raw. Not stopping there, Merrell also added a stretch lace system to get you strapped in quickly and on your way. After all, you want to hike, not mess with your shoes. Once you have these shoes on your feet you’ll be happy for the well-vented by still durable uppers which take on anything from scorching hot temps to thick, bouldery trails.