Na'pali coast

Kaua'i time! A lot of our activity here has been focused on the famous Na'pali coast--the lush, rugged western coast of the island that is known both for its extreme beauty as well as its inaccessibility, with no roads running along the miles of steep cliffs where they meet the ocean. First, we approached from the north, hiking the first two miles of the Kalalau Trail (which takes the most adventurous hikers 11 miles south along the coast, a trip of several days, to roughly the half-way point of the remote coastline...which I will have to come back for someday!). The views were g.o.r.g.e.o.u.s. and afterward, we got to bury our tired but happy feet in the sand and enjoy the sunset from the beach at Ha'ena State Park.

The next day, we attacked from the south. Though attacked is really the wrong word, as I was cowed in amazement at what is probably the most vast, hauntingly beautiful beach I've ever seen, at Polihale State Park. This is also on the list of places to return to for a repeat, longer visit next time I can get to this part of the world.

Finally, on the third day, we climbed the road past Waimea Canyon (more on that in the next post) into Kohe'e State Park to look down on the central part of the coast (the Kalalau Valley) from above 5,000 feet. By that point, I'd exhausted my mom with 10 days of hiking and water sports so she went back to the car to nap after checking out the view, while I hiked for another mile or so along the mountain ridge along a hilariously steep, muddy, slippery path, the likes of which I haven't seen since Madagascar. So worth it for the unbelievable vistas, though.