Hiking Hawaii

“I'd like to plan a trip to Hawaii for a 5-6 day backpacking trip. I'm not sure where I'd like to go - considering the Naapali Coast. I'd like to go a bit further than this. Does anyone have any suggestions - and is anyone else interested in doing such a trip?

Rob”

“Go to Maui and Kauai. Kauai has a beautiful canyon called Waimea Canyon and there is a hike there, but I didn't do it when I was there. You can fly straight into Maui w/a side plane trip to Kauai. Both island are less developed than Oahu where everyone tends to go.

Keep in mind that the weather will be very hot for hiking, so you would have to go early in the day. I never hiked there, but I have in Virgin Gorda, that's one of the British Virgin Islands.

Also, get into snorkeling. It will be a shame to go there and not do it, especially if you get into snorkeling later in life and realize you passed up a great opportunity by not doing it while you were in Hawaii. Even if you can't swim, you can snorkel. The fins keep you moving and you will not sink. It's astounding to watch the colorful fish in their homes (coral). You can always hike in the U.S., but you can't always see these colorful fish, so that's why I invest my time in snorkeling while I'm there.”

“Hi Rob! I've only been to Kauai and it was so fun! Didn't go backpacking, but plenty of dayhiking, snorkeling (LH is so right about the snorkeling!), kayaking on the Honalei (sp) river into the ocean, surfing with a kayak, seeing Puff the Magic Dragon, staying in rustic cabins right at the base of a mountain (can not remember the name right now), hiked above the Napali Coast (looking 3,000 feet almost straight down! A helicopter looked teenie), etc.. etc.. etc... I can dig out more information if you want.”

“I have been to Maui about 4 years ago - and did TONS of snorkeling. I had no idea I would love it that much.

The intent here is for a rather inexpensive trip - fly in, transportation to and from the trailhead, and 5 days or so in the wilderness.

Hey LH... how you been? When are we going to get together for another trek? I went out this past weekend - watch the Winterfest thread for pictures in a few days.

Rob”

“State and National Parks used to be free.
County Parks were $1 per night. The rates could still be the same. You should be able to find plenty of information on the net. Here's two links.

Camping in Hawaii

Camping in Hawaii
”

“My boss lent me a book on hiking on Kuaui. Looked like a hiker heaven.”

“5 or 6 days is not nearly enough to really get a taste of Kauai, so you might want to do your home work first. There is far too much to see. I suggest checking out the book Kauai Trails by Kathy Morey. Walks, strolls and treks on the Garden Island.
There is an abundance of campers in Kauai at any given moment. There are also squatters and homeless living in tents on public beaches and in the wilderness. Permits for camping are required in most but not all cases. They are even required for day hikes in some areas. You might want to research and choose your routes and campsites and then reserve your permits.
Department of Land and Natural Resources
Division of State Parks, Kauai District
3060 Eiwa Street, Room 306
Lihue, Kauai, HI 96766
808 274-3444

It rains on Kauai, keep your gear dry. The Kalalau Trail along Na Pali can be precarious in some places so bring boots. Watch for flash floods. There is wild water everywhere but you MUST treat it for parasites. Dress light but be prepared for slightly chilly weather depending on what part of the year you visit, especially if your clothing gets wet. Do not plan on camp fires; dry wood is hard to find there. Bring a stove. Be mindful of the riptides and currents there as they are extremely dangerous. Watch out for falling fruit (I've seen avocados the size of nerf footballs plummeting from the trees off trail) and if you have a fear of chickens I suggest you get thearapy for it before your trip; they are everywhere.
All this may make Kauai sound like a crappy destination but that is not my intent. Kauai is breath taking and unique, and for me, a spiritual experience. But just like anywhere else we 'packers trek it can quickly become uncomfortable and even treacherous. But if you plan properly and research adequately first you will have a wonderful time. I promise you.
Check into Na Pali, Waimea Canyon, Nualolo Trail, and Alakai Swamp among other places. Again, 5 or 6 days will seem like only a few moments once you've been to Kauai.
Have a good trek.
Don't do anything stupid.
And keep your powder dry...”

“I second what lipstick hiker wrote. I did a very similar trip and it was awesome. I have been to the islands on 5 occasions and that was by far one of the best times I ever had. Have fun.”

“My wife goes to Hawaii every year as we have a bunch of relatives there. She keeps telling me I'd like it, but not to fond of volcanic islands in the middle of no-where.”

“robertr, do I know you under another name? If you are camping and not paying for rooms, why not stay longer?

I'm not positive, but I think it may have been on Hawaii or it could have been the carribbean where they would only let you stay so many days in one particular campground, then you had to move onto another one.”

“Thanks for all the good information.

Lipstick, I was going by rob_ritchey, but apparently forgot my password and therefore opened a new account. I don't plan to stay longer because I get 3 weeks of vacation a year. 10 days of that will be reserved for the Tahoe Rim Trail, 1 week to Hawaii possibly, and a few days for 3 daw weekends to do extended hikes in California and the Northwest.

Rob”

“Big Island has Trails. Volcano hiking also. Been there done that. Definetly will go back but not this year, headed to Alaska, and Hawaii next year 06 .
FRIDGE”

“You can also do some submarine dives at OAHU.
I kissed my wife when we were 180 feet down and told her that will be the deepest kiss you will ever get!!!!!!!!!

Honestly Hawaii is a place I could live out my life. I am seriously thinking about the move in 3 to 4 years. Fridge”

“I'm going to maui in July and currently trying to talk my soon to be wife into doing 1 overnighter there. It'll be our honeymoon so I can't really ask for more. from my research and what I've been told maui is supposed to be one of the better islands for hiking and specifically the eastern side of the mountain. Probably what will happen is that I'll end up taking all of my gear and going by myself for a day hike while she's being pampered at the spa. Then she'll probably sight that in our divorce papers. oh well.”

“srperry, I'm not sure if I understand your post. You will be on one of the other islands and want to do an overnighter on Maui? Where are you honeymooning at? It really isn't worth it to go for the day. If you haven't made plans already, I would spend more days in Maui. I can't imagine why your wife wouldn't want to go to Maui for a few days.”

“My mother-in-law is leaving tomorrow for Hawaii. She is doing one of those Perillo tours. She loves to do tours and get background info on where she is going, not that there is so much background info on islands, except for the Arizona monument.

For me, I need to be free to wander, no cruises or tours for me.”

“I actually went to Maui for my honeymoon - despite my interest. I guess that should have been warning enough LOL. I was more interested in Kaui, but my wife at the time wanted to go to Maui. It did offer a good variety for both of us.

We did do some hiking - the Seven Sacred Pools and into the Bamboo Forest a few miles near Hana. We also did a little bit on the NorthEastern side of the island. It was beautiful.

Now that I'm single again - I'm free to roam as my heart desires. Damn, this is great - I'll never go back LOL

Rob”

“Lipstick: I'm going to maui for my honeymoon and am trying to talk my fiance into doing 1 over night camping/hiking trip instead of staying in our hotel that night. No i'm not going to go to hawaii for 1 night. I'll be there for about a week.”

“robert--where are you located? Hopefully, you are somewhere on the west coast-- going to Hawaii for only a handful of days when you are from the midwest or east coast really sucks--you spend 1/2 of your time trying to beat the jetlag and stay up later than 8 pm.... LOL

Sounds like a great trip, though. Thinkbubelz & I travelled to Hawaii in 1999-- we stayed on the Big Island (Hawaii) and on the Kona Coast--we got a chance to visit Volcanoe national park, but it took so long to get to the top of the mountain that by the time we got there, the sun had started to set! the difference in elevation was quite a shock, as the temps vary quite a bit from the coast... :-)

Have fun, and I agree- the snorkeling is a lot of fun and quite magnificent (as long as you don't get seasick on the boat)....”

“robert--where are you located? Hopefully, you are somewhere on the west coast-- going to Hawaii for only a handful of days when you are from the midwest or east coast really sucks--you spend 1/2 of your time trying to beat the jetlag and stay up later than 8 pm.... LOL

Sounds like a great trip, though. Thinkbubelz & I travelled to Hawaii in 1999-- we stayed on the Big Island (Hawaii) and on the Kona Coast--we got a chance to visit Volcanoe national park, but it took so long to get to the top of the mountain that by the time we got there, the sun had started to set! the difference in elevation was quite a shock, as the temps vary quite a bit from the coast... :-)

Have fun, and I agree- the snorkeling is a lot of fun and quite magnificent (as long as you don't get seasick on the boat)....”

“srperry, okay, now I understand. Wouldn't that be a lot of extra stuff to carry for just one day camping? I can see her not wanting to do it if the campground did not have showers, because a woman's hair, especially if it is long can become a tangled mess after being in the water, then the sea water also dries out the skin.

I had thought about camping in the carribbean, but hubby did not want to, but I had to have a shower to rinse my long curly hair or I would have looked like a rastafarian the next day.”

“Pink,

Yep, I'm in California. Despite the jet-lag, I'm sure it would be worth it. I work in the medical field - so sleep deprivation is a common everyday occurrence (but not as bad as it used to be)

Rob”

“yes lipstick it would be alot of extra stuff but I'd get to do what I love in one of the most amazing places on earth, so i think it'd be worth it. as far as her hair goes, isn't that true of every hike you go on? I mean, we'd only be like 5 miles from our hotel, she could clean up once we get back. Since my first post we've discussed this and I think that we're just going to day hike.”

“If you're hiking in Hawaii, I'd definitely say go to Kauai. I have hiked The Kalalau Trail along The Na Pali Coast. It’s one of the great hikes in the world. Kokee State Park looks down on The Na Pali Coast from above and has some great hiking trails. Waimea Canyon is a beautiful spot that you can see from the lookouts. Kauai has the best beaches and it has some great restaurants.

I have hiked into Haleakala Crater on Maui. That’s an awesome trip. The Hana Highway is a must-do-in-your-lifetime trip. That’s where the Seven Sacred Pools are. And that’s only one of the many interesting things to do along that road. If you went there before you've probably been there done that.

The Big Island has Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea. There are lots of great hikes on the big island (or so I’ve read) but I’d want to do Mauna Loa. Imagine hiking up to an active volcanic crater above 13000 ft in Hawaii! That would be one awesome trip.

You probably can’t go wrong. But as someone who actually went to Hawaii to hike, I’d definitely recommend The Kalalau Trail. Get your permit as soon as you can. A year in advance isn’t too early and six months in advance is probably too late (depending on what days you want to hike).”

“Also, you gotta love those macadamia nuts!”