Solo on the Nu'alolo

“About two weeks before Christmas I was on a three week business trip that ended on the island of Kauai. Coming in from Singapore I arrived two days before the meeting I was attending. Soooo, what better way to kill some time in Hawaii then to take a hike.

The Nu’alolo trail is located in the Waimea Canyon area on the southwest side of Kauai. I would have gone for the more famous Kalalau Trail but the drive to that side of the island takes about 3 hours from where I was. Instead, the Nu’alolo trail comes out on a ridge above the Na Pali Coast, way above. The weather was pretty typical for this time of year. It was about 75 degrees and partly sunny. However I did get rained on twice during the trip. Quick rainstorms that lasted about 2 or 3 minutes then disappeared leaving only the humidity and mud behind. I guess the rain is pretty common anyway. The wettest place on earth (445 inches per year), Mount Wai’ale’ale is only about 10 miles away.

The good news is that the trail begins by going downhill, the bad news is that it is a loop trip. And down it goes. Losing about 2000’ in 2 miles through mud. In some places the trail was a ditch about 3 feet wide and 6 feet deep. Managed to stay upright the whole way but did do some rather exciting boot skiing in a couple of places. As you descend the ridge the vegetation changes from dense almost jungle like rain forest to a more arid open terrain. One thing you notice right off are the birds. I really didn’t see a bunch of them but the songs were ever present. After about 2 ½ miles is a ridge crest that offers the first views of the deep blue Pacific Ocean.

At 4 miles is Nu’alolo Point. The scenery here is just amazing. The ridge terminates at the point and drops a very sudden 3000’ to the beach below. The cliffs are just awesome and stretch as far as the eye can see. From here you look North along the full length of the Na Pali Coast, a great kayaking destination during the summer months. From here, there is a trail that traverses the cliffs to another ridge north of Nu’alolo. The trail takes you along some breath taking scenery and vertigo inducing exposure. This is not a trail for your average tourist. Combine slick red mud with a trail chiseled out of a rock and dirt face 3000’ above the beach and you have a rather intimidating romp in front of you. The trail heads north and after clearing the worst of the cliffs, turns inland through the upper reaches of the Nu’alolo Valley and an awesome waterfall.

The next stop is the Awa-‘awapuhi Lookout. Not really a look out but another point of land much like Nu’alolo Point. From here you can look south over the Nu’alolo Valley and the point that you just left some three miles away. Here was the first “wildlife” of the trip. A small heard of wild domestic goats and a very territorial wild rooster live on the ridge end. Yes, I said a wild rooster. Seems that a typhoon some years back pretty much decimated the island scattering chickens all over the place. Many of them remain free and wild to this day. I suppose the same happened to the goats.

Okay, so all the news wasn’t bad on the way out. The 4 miles back to the main road is all uphill making for a much more gentle climb out then the elevator I took on the way in. After about two miles I was caught in a very welcomed down pour. After arriving back to the Waimea Canyon road it is another 1.5 miles back to the trailhead. So, I stuck the thumb out and would you believe it, the first car stopped and gave me a ride. Man you gotta love those island folks.

All in all this was an awesome hike. It seemed a bit strange to wear shorts and sweat your butt off in December but hey, who’s complaining. I’ve never been much of a low land hiker. I prefer the high elevations to the valleys. But, this hiked actually made me appreciate the finer things that tropical climates have to offer. Oh, and with the exception of the two folks who so kindly took my picture, I had the whole place to myself.

Here's some pictures”

“I thought I'd posted this already. Wierd... eh

Anyhow, That looks like a great spot, that you found. It's one island that I haven't checked out, yet. My sister keeps telling me that it's great. Maybe I'll hit you up for a few details, next time I see you.”

“Yeah Hodgeman you did post earlier. I had a technical problem with the link for the pictures. If I was logged into the site then the link would allow anyone to log in as me! The only way Matt could fix it was to delete the thread and have me repost.

It's funny but Kauai is the only island I've been to. If you plan on going I'd highly recommend the gudie book The Ultimate Kauai Guidebook by Andrew Doughty & Harriott Friedman. It has lots of great information on all kinds of outdoor and indoor activities.”

“A business trip to Kauai, hmmmm, sounds like a tough job but I'm sure somebody has got to do it!

Nice report and pics!”

“Thanks Chas - Now that I know I'm not 'losing it' completely, I'll make a note of that guide book”

“I am soooooo jealous--”