Hey all! I finally made my way over to the island of Hawaii, the Big Island, and boy it did not disappoint!! The big island is so different from the other islands in a lot of ways. The big island as the name might suggest is much larger than the other three islands. It takes about 2 hours to get from East to West and their speed limit is significantly higher than the other islands as well, with speed limits in the 50's for the most part. The big island has 8 different climates throughout the island; including snow covered mountains, tropical rainforests, sandy beaches, and prairie fields. Once again I was expected the weather to be much worse than it was but it actually the warmest of the islands. The Kona side was close to 90 degrees everyday I was there.
I arrived Wednesday night and after having such a great experience at the hostel in Kauai I figured I would give it a shot in Kona, since it was going to be dark by the time I got the rental car, etc. I stayed at a hostel called Pineapple Park about 30 minutes from the airport and there was definitely a different vibe from the hostel in Kauai. First of all the woman running the place was like a Korean nazi. There were tons of rules and she was pretty uptight. In Kauai the guy working there was in his twenties hanging out and drinking with everyone. Also, the types of people staying there seemed very different as well. In Kauai the hostel was filled with solo travelers, the most would be two people traveling together. At Pineapple Park there were two big groups of friends traveling together, a group of guys from Canada and a group from Australia. There also were a couple of local people staying there because they were in between places. One being a family originally from Ukraine and they other being a guy named Jeff, who recently broke up with his girlfriend. I was friendly with everyone there chatting about what they have seen and done so far, but Jeff and I really hit it off. He was originally from Virginia and has been living in Hawaii for about 8 years. Surfer guy, a bit younger than me he lived on Kauai first for 5 years and then decided to move to The Big Island about 3 years ago when his sister decided to move to Oahu.
The next day Jeff offered to take me up to Mauna Kea. Mauna Kea is a dormant volcano that is actually the tallest summit in the world and currently has snow on it. The reason it is the tallest in the world even though Mt. Everest is actually higher is because a lot of it is below sea level. After having the Spark on Kauai and living out of that tiny little trunk, I needed to go back to a mid-size. The rental car prices continued to rise and I knew that out of all the islands the Big Island had the best development roadways, I figured a mid-size would be fine. Unfortunately, I think this is the most important island to have four-wheel drive on. A lot of the beaches and hiking trails are only assessable with four-wheel drive because there are lava rocks everywhere. Jeff had a Toyota Tacoma, which seemed to be a popular car throughout the island, that he did a lot of custom work on to help handle the rugged terrain. Jeff is a mechanic. He used to work at a dealership but now he runs his own business. He knows so many people on the island and their cars get destroyed living there, he seemed like his phone was constantly ringing.
We drove the nearly two hour drive up to Mauna Kea but unfortunately due to 70 mph winds we couldn't go all the way to the top. Still above the clouds we hiked up a small mountain and took some pictures. It was harder to breath up there for sure and was definitely much colder. We then went to his favorite beach Makalawena, or Maks, to watch the sunset. This required some serious off-roading. It was a pretty amazing extreme to be up in the cold mountains one minute and then watching the sunset at the warm beach the next.
The next day I woke up and was getting packed up to leave the hostel. I started talking to this girl at the kitchen table that said her and her boyfriend didn't rent a car because of how expensive it was and they wanted to know which way I was headed. When I told them I was headed to Hilo they asked if they could catch a ride to The Rainbow gathering. It was some kind of festival happening out in Pahoe. I said sure no problem but that I was going to be doing some sight-seeing along the way and they more than happy with that agreement since they just arrived to the island the day before. In previous posts I have discussed the term Wook, well these two definitely looked the part.
They both had disgusting dreadlocks and were extremely underweight. They explained to me more about The Rainbow Gathering where everyone joined together to help work and live off the land, play ukelele, and be at one with nature. They seemed like good enough kids. Both of them pretty young, the girl only 22 and her boyfriend 28. They were going to be staying on the island for a month and a half doing a work for stay program at a ranch. Both were circus performers from Nova Scotia, yes that's right, I said circus performers, who actually had been stuck in Vancouver for close to two weeks because of the strict travel policies Canada has. Before leaving the country they needed to know all the specifics of their trip and I guess there was some issue because they saw this trip as work rather than leisure and the two didn't have working visas. The first stop was a snorkeling beach where we spent a few hours, the two seeing the first sea turtle of their trip. After that we did some whale watching where they got to see their first whales and then headed down to South Point.
South Point is the southern most tip of not only the island but the entire United States. Driving down the road to get there was totally picturesque, but not at all what you would expect. It was like driving in the middle of Oklahoma with horses and cows and tall grass. There was a really cool cliff jump about 500ft that had a crazy cave you could swim to. The scariest part was trying to climb back up the ladder afterwards which was a rickety metal ladder that was just swinging back and forth as you tried your damnedest to climb up it.
After some crazy directions we made our way to The Rainbow Gathering where I dropped off my new Canadian friends for the weekend. When we pulled the car up a guy in overalls cheerfully said, "Welcome home." It seemed like an interesting group of people looking to spread love and good vibes but I was ready to get out of there and head to Hilo to spend the weekend with Keith and Sherri.
The three of us all went to high school together and Sherri and Keith got married about a year and a half ago and are expecting their first child, a baby girl in April. They spent the entire weekend taking me up and down the East coast of the island showing me all the highlights. Keith has been living on the islands for the past couple years working on Oahu and then The Big Island as a mechanical engineer. Sherri just finished up her doctorate in physical therapy and joined him out there over the summer.
We biked to the volcano on Sunday night for sunset. Unfortunately, Sherri couldn't come with us due to the toxic gases, it is not recommended in pregnancy. The bike ride was from the town of Kilauea, and was about 4 miles each way. We arrived right around sunset. The area was roped off and very crowded with people. Keith explained that he had been much closer in the past but ever since a section of land had fallen into the ocean around New Year's they had been much more strict as to where people were allowed to stand. We broke the rules anyways until a ranger came and yelled at everyone to get back behind the rope. It was incredible. To have had the opportunity to see an active volcano flowing into the ocean like that, it was unreal. It looked like a waterfall of hot lava shooting into the ocean at full force. The whole area looked like the apocalypse. Lava everywhere. People trying to rebuild their homes and putting up tiny houses on top of lava rocks. I couldn't imagine living there.
I was so impressed with the amount of knowledge Keith and Sherri had about everywhere we went, especially Sherri, since she has only lived there a few months. You could tell they don't just go see places, they truly care to learn about them. It was refreshing to be with people I felt like I could relate to. They both have great educational backgrounds, love to travel, and are passionate about fitness. I hope they had as much fun as I did with them. I truly left their house wondering why I wasn't better friends with them when I had the chance. It was so nice to stay with them but I didn't want to overstay my welcome so Monday morning it was time to get back to the hammock.
I decided I would head back to Kona, or the West side, for some more beach days and then end the trip back at Volcano National Park, hiking. The Big Island definitely has a much different vibe to it than the other islands. Being in Hilo I definitely noticed it wherever I went out with Keith and Sherri and I was a bit nervous to camp for the first time since I started this trip. The Big Island has a lot more locals than the other islands and their presence is strong at the beach parks where I would be camping. It's not that they seemed unfriendly but they didn't seem very friendly either. Camping on the other islands was filled with other people traveling from all around the world. This you could tell were people hanging out and living there. I took the advise of my tour guide Lucy from Kauai and headed to her favorite beach park, Spencer's, in Kawai Hae. I didn't really like the beach much at all because the water was murky and brown and I actually saw a shark in a cove nearby so I was scared to go in it. It was so hot sitting on the sand and not going in the water and there was practically no where to put my hammock up.
As the night grew darker I felt more and more uncomfortable being there. I decided to call Jeff and see what he was up, maybe he might meet me so I wouldn't feel so scared. He told me come to a different beach where he was hanging out with his friends. I really didn't want to pack up my stuff but he sounded so convincing and I really didn't want to be alone. Just as I was leaving the park I ended up in a ditch of lava rocks and practically popped my tire!! Thankfully I didn't but I was definitely stuck. I didn't know what to do!! Thankfully Jeff ended up coming to tow me out with his truck and he ended up staying at Spencer's with me. We spent the rest of the week together camping at his favorite beach Maks using his truck. During the day I would go do my own thing if he had to go to work. We hung out with all of his friends at the beach and I really feel like he opened up and told me a lot about his life and hardships in the short time we were together. I felt comfortable around him too. No judgement, no holding back. I told him everything about my life and what I was about.
On Thursday I decided to head back to National Park to do some hiking and see the volcano from the National Park side. I got there a little later than I originally wanted to because I left later than I intended and it is 2 hours away. When I arrived all the campsites, there were only 12, were already full. On top of that it looked like it was going to rain. I went back to the visitor's center to get more information about backcountry camping or cabins in the park. The woman suggested The Volcano Inn which was very close to the park and had great rooms and rates. The place was perfect! So cute with a delicious breakfast included in the morning and a 24 hour hot tub, you couldn't beat it! It ended up pouring that night which squashed my plans of hiking to the lava for sunrise. The rain cleared and I spent the day exploring the park and doing some small hikes. That night I went to The Rim restaurant which sat at the volcano's caldera. Although the lava was below the rim of the caldera it seemed illuminated the smoke in the air with a beautiful red color you can only see at night.
On Saturday, I woke up at about 3:30am to drive down to do the 10 mile round-trip hike to the lava flow and back. I timed it perfectly and arrived just in time for sunrise. This time I got extremely close to the lava flow. So close I could see "Pele's hair", or the glass fibers, all over the ground and literally hear the ground cracking below me. It was too early in the morning for rangers and a group of people had gone that close so I figured it was safe. I got up there took a few pictures and got the hell out of there because it did not feel safe. Thankfully the wind was blowing in the opposite direction so we didn't have to worry about toxic fumes but at any moment where I was standing could have collapsed into the ocean. Seeing the volcano not once but twice was definitely a highlight of this entire trip. I was so memorized by it. Science is incredible!
I headed back to Kona and spent my last afternoon at the beach watching Jeff surf and walking around the shops and restaurants in Kona. I had a really hard time saying goodbye to him. I have learned over the past two years to focus on me and keep my guard up. Despite what I know, its not always easy to do. The lone wolf doesn't want to be alone forever. There was definitely something about his goofy personality that made me laugh but his maturity, always wanting to know what I thinking and feeling, that I really appreciated. What it all comes down to is that the only relationship I know is the relationship I had with Chris. Although Jeff was only 28 he said he had been in relationships his whole life. I am excited to explore the dating world and figure out what my likes and dislikes are when I get out to San Diego.
I am going to write another entry in the next couple days comparing the islands and wrapping up my trip as whole but I did want to mention that on the Big Island I saw Monk seals, whales, and turtles! Maybe a dolphin but not positive so I am going to go with no....AROOOOOO!!!!
Instragram: lone_she_wolf
Wednesday, February 22, 2017
Monday, February 13, 2017
Kalalau Trail
The "Hippie Highway", the most beautiful hike in the world, the most dangerous hike in the world. Kalalau trail along the Na Pali coast. To be honest, I never heard of it. Come to find out people come to Kauai just to do this trail! Throughout my trip I obviously have been camping and went on my first backpacking trip to San Jacinto in California. After all the hiking I had been doing on Oahu I knew that I had to do this trip. I looked into getting a permit, but they were "sold out". I thought to myself, "What are they going to do to me once I am already there?" I figured it was worth the risk and I would take my chances. The park rangers I encountered thus far seemed to be pretty laid back. The night before at camp I asked around and most people said no one was even out there checking permits anyways. The trail was 11 miles one-way. The campsite I was staying at was a little over a mile from the trailhead and I decided that would be the best place to leave my car overnight.
I woke up Thursday morning and had to prepare my backpack for the two day trip. I decided if I was too tired or enjoyed it so much there was a chance I could camp there for two nights. My supplies included: hammock, sleeping bag, headlamp, flashlight, sweatshirt, raincoat, light pants to sleep in, my "slippers" or flip-flops to change into, 4 bottles of Dasani water and a water filtration system for refills, two apples, two oranges, and 4 sandwiches. By the time I had my pack set and had some breakfast it was already after 9am by the time I set out on the trail. No cell service on the trail so I wanted to make sure I took care of any last minute things, especially if I was going to be gone for for a couple days.
I already knew the first two miles of the trail because I had just done it the previous day. Some people had said the first two miles were the most challenging but I didn't think that could be possible. The first two miles of the trail has quite a bit of uphill with a river crossing right at the two mile mark. From there you can either go to Hanakapiai beach, Hanakapiai waterfall, or continue along the trail towards Hanakoa and eventually Kalalau. It is important to mention that any hike changes drastically when you add a backpack with weight to it. I thought I had lightened my pack significantly from my trip to San Jacinto but I still had heavy fruits and water bottles. I couldn't weigh it but I would say it was about 20 -25 pounds, close to 10 pounds lighter than San Jacinto. The weight didn't seem to bother me at all the first two miles, plus the extra mile from the campsite. I felt good, ready to go. One issue was that the day before on the waterfall trail my boots got pretty wet and were rubbing against the back of my ankles cutting them open. Since they were pretty raw from yesterday I had to double up on my socks to help prevent any further rubbing, which seemed to work really well.
Because of the rugged terrain with hills and valleys my pace was about 2 miles per hour. I know it sounds insanely slow! My plan was to break at Hanakoa for lunch, which was at the 6 mile mark. If for some reason it took me way longer than expected to get there or I was super tired you could camp at Hanakoa as well. The next four miles to Hanakoa after Hanakapiai beach was mostly a ridge line trail filled with switchbacks and overgrown with vegetation. I really felt pretty good at mile 6 and was fairly confident I could continue the rest of the way to Kalalau without any problem. It was only 1pm by the time I got to Hanakoa so I was making fairly good time and didn't find the trail, even with my pack, too challenging.
I knew between mile 7 and 8 was going to be the most challenging section with the dreaded "crawlers ledge". It was briefly described to me the day before that at the campsite as a narrow walkway but very stable and you had a mountain to hold on to for stability. Right around mile 6 and a half there was a very long switchback that was all downhill. It was also slanted downwards and mostly made of loose gravel. I grew increasing nervous and was going very slowly through this area. Most people had hiking poles or sticks with them on the trail. I did not and one slip could send you tumbling down the mountain especially with 25 pounds on your back.
Once through that section with my anxiety building there was a group of people headed back. I told them I was kind of scared of heights and that part was challenging for me. They told me the worst part was still ahead and to only go as far as I felt comfortable. When I reached "crawler's ledge" my anxiety was already heightened. When I saw how steep it actually was and I was standing on the edge of a cliff, I definitely freaked quite a bit. I held onto the mountain for dear life and slowly tip-toed my way along the edge, trying not to look down. I assumed that was worst of it was over and breathed the biggest sigh of relief. As I continued along the trail my anxiety did not subside. I still felt as though I was walking along the edge of a massive cliff that at any point I could slip, misstep, and there was nothing to catch my fall. A lot of mile 7 through 8 I walked extremely slowly and held onto the mountain side as much as possible.
Right around the 8 mile mark I got to a part of the trail known as the "red hills", which nobody bothered to mention the night before at camp. This area was basically steep loose red sand with nothing to grab onto to help you along it. The drop-off was dramatic and I started to lose it. I wasn't sure how I was going to get across. I slip all the time on loose gravel while hiking and with nothing to grab on to I would slip some 500 feet into the ocean, I began to panic. Should I turn around? No way!! I just got through the "crawler' ledge" I don't want to do that again. I began to pray and then went over the options. Crawl along the ledge? That would take too long and I wouldn't want to be in area increasing my chances of falling. Run across to get it over with? Hell no!! That would definitely increase my chances of a slip. I would just have to shuffle tip-toe my way across and hope for the best. If I slip try to dig my foot in and ditch my pack as quick as possible. 1,2,3, go! Once across my heart was beating out of my chest and I actually got choked up a bit. Thank God!! I was through it! I saw another group right after this and said, "Oh please tell me it's almost over?!" They said the worst of it was over but I still had about 2 miles. They did warn me that there was one more part of red sand that was a "challenging". My voice started to crack and I said thank you and was dreading this section, praying the whole there. Once I arrived it was totally not what I was expecting. It was a large staircase going downhill and was nowhere near the edge of the cliff...whew!
I arrived to Kalalau beach around 4:30pm and set up camp. The beach was beautiful with caves, a waterfall, and a gorgeous coastline. Unfortunately, my anxiety never really fully subsided. I felt as though I couldn't relax and enjoy myself. I also did not attempt to go find the hippie community that was living out there living off the land, hunting wild boars and goats. I was so physically and emotionally exhausted I went to bed pretty early. I also was confident I wanted to hike back the next day because I was apprehensive about the hike back and any impeding weather changes.
I was so uneasy I could only eat half of one of sandwiches I brought. At Hanakoa, I had one apple and one orange. The next morning I woke up super early and took a walk on the beach and had breakfast at the waterfall. Still not that hungry I ate the other half of my sandwich and an apple. I again set out around 9:30am almost 10am and was already feeling pretty sore and sluggish. I stopped and saw this couple I had seen the day before. I discussed my anxiety and they talked me through how accomplished I should feel and how freeing the experience has been. I gave them two of my sandwiches because they said they were low on food and I continued with confidence along the trail. Along the way giving myself words of encouragement and trying to stay positive. Feeling weak and tired I definitely took a lot more breaks on the way back. As the trail grew increasely difficult on the way back I kept thinking if you can do this without any problem you will be fine once you get to the scary parts.
All of a sudden I rounded a corner and saw the steep mountainous switchback that was right before "crawler's ledge" so it would have been right after it. I saw a barefooted hippie and said, "I did it already? It's over?" She said, "I've never done the trial before but it's all wooded up there." I couldn't believe it!! I had done the "red hills" and "crawler' ledge" without even knowing it!! Feeling so reliefed and grateful I thanked God for helping me and happily made my way through the rest of the trail. Still physically exhausted by the end I got a ride back to camp from a couple I met at the trailhead. The thought of going just 1 more mile seemed near impossible.
On Sunday, after a day of rest I went to the oldest church in Kauai to thank God for answering my prayers and protecting me through that hike. The final song played at church was, "Be not afraid". I totally lost it and cried again because the words go; "Be not afraid, I go before you always. Come follow me and I will give you rest. AROOOO!!!!
🌋🍾🌊🌺🐋🙏🌈🍍
Instagram: lone_she_wolf
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/user/cteijelo/playlist/1uNEjK1mra1y0s3gAkTEZ4
I woke up Thursday morning and had to prepare my backpack for the two day trip. I decided if I was too tired or enjoyed it so much there was a chance I could camp there for two nights. My supplies included: hammock, sleeping bag, headlamp, flashlight, sweatshirt, raincoat, light pants to sleep in, my "slippers" or flip-flops to change into, 4 bottles of Dasani water and a water filtration system for refills, two apples, two oranges, and 4 sandwiches. By the time I had my pack set and had some breakfast it was already after 9am by the time I set out on the trail. No cell service on the trail so I wanted to make sure I took care of any last minute things, especially if I was going to be gone for for a couple days.
I already knew the first two miles of the trail because I had just done it the previous day. Some people had said the first two miles were the most challenging but I didn't think that could be possible. The first two miles of the trail has quite a bit of uphill with a river crossing right at the two mile mark. From there you can either go to Hanakapiai beach, Hanakapiai waterfall, or continue along the trail towards Hanakoa and eventually Kalalau. It is important to mention that any hike changes drastically when you add a backpack with weight to it. I thought I had lightened my pack significantly from my trip to San Jacinto but I still had heavy fruits and water bottles. I couldn't weigh it but I would say it was about 20 -25 pounds, close to 10 pounds lighter than San Jacinto. The weight didn't seem to bother me at all the first two miles, plus the extra mile from the campsite. I felt good, ready to go. One issue was that the day before on the waterfall trail my boots got pretty wet and were rubbing against the back of my ankles cutting them open. Since they were pretty raw from yesterday I had to double up on my socks to help prevent any further rubbing, which seemed to work really well.
Because of the rugged terrain with hills and valleys my pace was about 2 miles per hour. I know it sounds insanely slow! My plan was to break at Hanakoa for lunch, which was at the 6 mile mark. If for some reason it took me way longer than expected to get there or I was super tired you could camp at Hanakoa as well. The next four miles to Hanakoa after Hanakapiai beach was mostly a ridge line trail filled with switchbacks and overgrown with vegetation. I really felt pretty good at mile 6 and was fairly confident I could continue the rest of the way to Kalalau without any problem. It was only 1pm by the time I got to Hanakoa so I was making fairly good time and didn't find the trail, even with my pack, too challenging.
I knew between mile 7 and 8 was going to be the most challenging section with the dreaded "crawlers ledge". It was briefly described to me the day before that at the campsite as a narrow walkway but very stable and you had a mountain to hold on to for stability. Right around mile 6 and a half there was a very long switchback that was all downhill. It was also slanted downwards and mostly made of loose gravel. I grew increasing nervous and was going very slowly through this area. Most people had hiking poles or sticks with them on the trail. I did not and one slip could send you tumbling down the mountain especially with 25 pounds on your back.
Once through that section with my anxiety building there was a group of people headed back. I told them I was kind of scared of heights and that part was challenging for me. They told me the worst part was still ahead and to only go as far as I felt comfortable. When I reached "crawler's ledge" my anxiety was already heightened. When I saw how steep it actually was and I was standing on the edge of a cliff, I definitely freaked quite a bit. I held onto the mountain for dear life and slowly tip-toed my way along the edge, trying not to look down. I assumed that was worst of it was over and breathed the biggest sigh of relief. As I continued along the trail my anxiety did not subside. I still felt as though I was walking along the edge of a massive cliff that at any point I could slip, misstep, and there was nothing to catch my fall. A lot of mile 7 through 8 I walked extremely slowly and held onto the mountain side as much as possible.
Right around the 8 mile mark I got to a part of the trail known as the "red hills", which nobody bothered to mention the night before at camp. This area was basically steep loose red sand with nothing to grab onto to help you along it. The drop-off was dramatic and I started to lose it. I wasn't sure how I was going to get across. I slip all the time on loose gravel while hiking and with nothing to grab on to I would slip some 500 feet into the ocean, I began to panic. Should I turn around? No way!! I just got through the "crawler' ledge" I don't want to do that again. I began to pray and then went over the options. Crawl along the ledge? That would take too long and I wouldn't want to be in area increasing my chances of falling. Run across to get it over with? Hell no!! That would definitely increase my chances of a slip. I would just have to shuffle tip-toe my way across and hope for the best. If I slip try to dig my foot in and ditch my pack as quick as possible. 1,2,3, go! Once across my heart was beating out of my chest and I actually got choked up a bit. Thank God!! I was through it! I saw another group right after this and said, "Oh please tell me it's almost over?!" They said the worst of it was over but I still had about 2 miles. They did warn me that there was one more part of red sand that was a "challenging". My voice started to crack and I said thank you and was dreading this section, praying the whole there. Once I arrived it was totally not what I was expecting. It was a large staircase going downhill and was nowhere near the edge of the cliff...whew!
I arrived to Kalalau beach around 4:30pm and set up camp. The beach was beautiful with caves, a waterfall, and a gorgeous coastline. Unfortunately, my anxiety never really fully subsided. I felt as though I couldn't relax and enjoy myself. I also did not attempt to go find the hippie community that was living out there living off the land, hunting wild boars and goats. I was so physically and emotionally exhausted I went to bed pretty early. I also was confident I wanted to hike back the next day because I was apprehensive about the hike back and any impeding weather changes.
I was so uneasy I could only eat half of one of sandwiches I brought. At Hanakoa, I had one apple and one orange. The next morning I woke up super early and took a walk on the beach and had breakfast at the waterfall. Still not that hungry I ate the other half of my sandwich and an apple. I again set out around 9:30am almost 10am and was already feeling pretty sore and sluggish. I stopped and saw this couple I had seen the day before. I discussed my anxiety and they talked me through how accomplished I should feel and how freeing the experience has been. I gave them two of my sandwiches because they said they were low on food and I continued with confidence along the trail. Along the way giving myself words of encouragement and trying to stay positive. Feeling weak and tired I definitely took a lot more breaks on the way back. As the trail grew increasely difficult on the way back I kept thinking if you can do this without any problem you will be fine once you get to the scary parts.
All of a sudden I rounded a corner and saw the steep mountainous switchback that was right before "crawler's ledge" so it would have been right after it. I saw a barefooted hippie and said, "I did it already? It's over?" She said, "I've never done the trial before but it's all wooded up there." I couldn't believe it!! I had done the "red hills" and "crawler' ledge" without even knowing it!! Feeling so reliefed and grateful I thanked God for helping me and happily made my way through the rest of the trail. Still physically exhausted by the end I got a ride back to camp from a couple I met at the trailhead. The thought of going just 1 more mile seemed near impossible.
On Sunday, after a day of rest I went to the oldest church in Kauai to thank God for answering my prayers and protecting me through that hike. The final song played at church was, "Be not afraid". I totally lost it and cried again because the words go; "Be not afraid, I go before you always. Come follow me and I will give you rest. AROOOO!!!!
🌋🍾🌊🌺🐋🙏🌈🍍
Instagram: lone_she_wolf
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/user/cteijelo/playlist/1uNEjK1mra1y0s3gAkTEZ4
Wednesday, February 8, 2017
Kauai
I can't believe I have already been here for 10 days! The time has really gone by fast. While with my mom I definitely got out of the camping routine and it was hard to jump back into it. Especially as I mentioned, everything had to planned out ahead of time. Well, as one might imagine, I didn't stick to the plan and it all worked out in the end. My opinion of Kauai has drastically changed from when I first arrived. I had some major life changing moments during my time here and I can't wait to share how I am feeling about my experience.
Maybe it was getting back into the swing of things or maybe it was because the weather was a bit colder and cloudier then I was hoping for but during my first couple days on Kauai I really convinced myself I was not going to like this island as much as the other two. The first two nights I was camped at Anahola Beach Park. It is on the East side of the island and definitely had a more local feel. It was pretty quiet with not many campers and lots of chickens and roosters. The other islands had them as well but Kauai definitely has the most. Despite being camped at such a beautiful beach the weather was definitely not beach weather so I spent the first part of my time on the island out on the trails, hiking.
On Tuesday I set out for a couple short trails near the campgrounds. The first was Nounou Mountain or "The Sleeping Giant" and the second was the Kuilau Ridge Trail. Neither were very challenging or very exciting compared to the hikes I had been on in Oahu, but enjoyable all the same. On Wednesday I was already headed to the next campground, Ha'ena which was the furthest North West of all the county campgrounds and also the closest to the Na Pali coast. I set up camp early and went on an 8 mile hike along the Na Pali coast to a waterfall called Hanakapiai. When I arrived to the trailhead I noticed it was actually the start of another trail Kalalau, an eleven mile one-way trail. It shared the trail with Hanakapiai for the first two miles and then they separated off. Hanakapiai was a great trail! Challenging at some parts, with multiple stream crossings to maneuver, and featured a gorgeous waterfall. The whole way back I knew I was going to have to do the Kalalau trail. I decided to write a separate entry discussing the Kalalau trail because it was such a powerful experience.
I returned from Kalalau Friday evening and could not imagine setting up camp again at Ha'ena. I decided to get a room at the Westin in Princeville where I took a hot shower, soaked in the jacuzzi, and did all my laundry, it was wonderful. The Westin is a sister property of the St. Regis so I able to use all the amenities at the St. Regis as well. Saturday was finally the first gorgeous day since I arrived so it was the perfect excuse to relax and soak up the sun. I took full advantage of the pool, beach, and coaktails. I was beginning to learn that just like the other islands there is a wet and dry side. A couple at the St. Regis was telling me they were there for 15 days and that was their first sunny day!! Doesn't sound very enjoyable to me. The south side is the "dry" side and it almost never rains. That was where I was headed but because I hiked the Na Pali coast I messed up my camping permit dates and only had a permit for Saturday night and wasn't leaving until Wednesday night. I was planning on going to a state park in Waimea canyon Sunday to Wednesday which I didn't need to book that in advance. I was concerned however because the forecast was calling for rain in the area on Sunday and Monday. I think part of me enjoyed that resort a bit too much as well. As I got further south and the sky grew darker not only with clouds but it was getting pretty late to be setting up rain tarps and all in the dark, I made the executive decision to get another hotel in Poipu, which is in the south.
The town of Poipu had great beaches and the resort had some great amenities as well, including a Super Bowl party starting at 1:30pm (and I thought games in California had early start times). Looks like I was staying for two nights! Definitely a Super Bowl of firsts for me. It was a great game to watch! I had a great time with a group of strangers having a free buffet and drinks all night. I guess the bartender liked me because my tab was $7 😉. It was awesome to have been able to stay at such nice places for a few days recovery from my epic voyage and enjoy some beautiful weather, however it was time to get back to the hammock before I broke the bank.
My original plan was to head to Waimea canyon and camp at the state park there. The forecast was right and it did rain the night before, heavy. The wind was pretty intense as well. The canyon was muddy and very cold. The campground there was empty, I didn't see a soul. I thought, "Why camp here and freeze alone when I can go camp 15 minutes away and be on the beach 20 degrees warmer." The canyon was at a much higher elevation and although it wasn't freezing compared to Jersey, it was cold to me, probably 50 at night. The canyon was gorgeous though. One thing about these islands that amazes me is how diverse the terrain is. I feel like the Caribbean is flat beaches, that's it. Maybe it is because for the most part anytime I went we just stayed at a resort the whole time?
I'm glad I left the canyon and stayed at Salt Pond campground instead. It was probably one of the nicest campgrounds I stayed at, besides Olowalu on Maui, which was private. I think it gets its name because it's like a baby beach, a protected cove with almost no waves and looks like a pond or lake. My hammock was set up right on the beach and about 50 yards from a monk seal. Talk about the best neighbor ever! It was another gorgeous sunset and a beautiful clear night under the stars. The perfect last night of camping on Kauai. Tuesday the campground closed for their weekly "maintenance" day. I don't think they really do much maintenance at the park but it is a way to keep people from living at a campsite full-time. As Wednesday was drawing near I was getting more and more upset about leaving. I decided that one thing I really wanted to do before I left was go on the kayak tour to Wailua Falls.
The tour was in Kapaa, on the East side. Another great thing about Kauai is that you can get to anywhere on the island pretty quickly. Since Kapaa was on the East I found a hostel close by since I had to go to one of their earliest tours since I was flying out in the afternoon. I spent all day Tuesday enjoying the beach based on the assumption that the Big Island will be colder and cloudier, but I've been wrong before...and then drove back over to Kapaa.
I haven't stayed at a hostel since the very beginning of my trip in Chicago where I got a private room because I was hesitant and I talked to no one! This time I stayed in a mixed dorm room with 8 other people of all various ages from 20 to 60!! I thought I was going to turn in early since I had the kayak trip in the AM but I ended up seeing a girl that I first met at that the rental car place and then saw on the Kalalau trail. I couldn't believe now here she was again! Needless to say a big group of us stayed up pretty late telling "stories of the trail" and our experiences on the various islands.
After watching the most gorgeous sunrise from the deck at the hostel I headed to the kayaking trip. It was a small group of myself, a couple in their fifties from Washington state, and a family from Northern California. The guide Lisa was actually second cousin's with the one woman. They had never met until a few days before. Lisa was a very interesting woman. Hiking with no shoes, playing her bongo talking about her life on the islands. It was a nice tour. About a 2 mile paddle down the Wailua river and then a mile hike out to the waterfall and then we turned around and came back. I really liked Lisa's energy as a person and she gave me so many tips about the Big Island, even though it had been over 15 years she had been there.
I am really going to miss Kauai, but I am looking forward to what's next! As much as I wish I could have stayed longer I received authorization from California to take my pharmacy law exam so I am anxious to get home and buckle down and start studying!
AROOOOOOOOO!!!!! 🍍🌊🌺🌈🌦😎🐋
Instagram: lone_she_wolf
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/user/cteijelo/playlist/1uNEjK1mra1y0s3gAkTEZ4
Trip thus far
Maui - all camping, minimal hiking, tons of turtles and whales, dolphins one day
Oahu - no camping, tons of hiking, one turtle, whales on the last day, monk seals, no dolphins
Kauai - half camping half resorts, half hiking half beaching, no whales, no turtles, monk seals, dolphins one day - I actually never went snorkeling so it's kind of hard to find turtles if you aren't looking
Maybe it was getting back into the swing of things or maybe it was because the weather was a bit colder and cloudier then I was hoping for but during my first couple days on Kauai I really convinced myself I was not going to like this island as much as the other two. The first two nights I was camped at Anahola Beach Park. It is on the East side of the island and definitely had a more local feel. It was pretty quiet with not many campers and lots of chickens and roosters. The other islands had them as well but Kauai definitely has the most. Despite being camped at such a beautiful beach the weather was definitely not beach weather so I spent the first part of my time on the island out on the trails, hiking.
On Tuesday I set out for a couple short trails near the campgrounds. The first was Nounou Mountain or "The Sleeping Giant" and the second was the Kuilau Ridge Trail. Neither were very challenging or very exciting compared to the hikes I had been on in Oahu, but enjoyable all the same. On Wednesday I was already headed to the next campground, Ha'ena which was the furthest North West of all the county campgrounds and also the closest to the Na Pali coast. I set up camp early and went on an 8 mile hike along the Na Pali coast to a waterfall called Hanakapiai. When I arrived to the trailhead I noticed it was actually the start of another trail Kalalau, an eleven mile one-way trail. It shared the trail with Hanakapiai for the first two miles and then they separated off. Hanakapiai was a great trail! Challenging at some parts, with multiple stream crossings to maneuver, and featured a gorgeous waterfall. The whole way back I knew I was going to have to do the Kalalau trail. I decided to write a separate entry discussing the Kalalau trail because it was such a powerful experience.
I returned from Kalalau Friday evening and could not imagine setting up camp again at Ha'ena. I decided to get a room at the Westin in Princeville where I took a hot shower, soaked in the jacuzzi, and did all my laundry, it was wonderful. The Westin is a sister property of the St. Regis so I able to use all the amenities at the St. Regis as well. Saturday was finally the first gorgeous day since I arrived so it was the perfect excuse to relax and soak up the sun. I took full advantage of the pool, beach, and coaktails. I was beginning to learn that just like the other islands there is a wet and dry side. A couple at the St. Regis was telling me they were there for 15 days and that was their first sunny day!! Doesn't sound very enjoyable to me. The south side is the "dry" side and it almost never rains. That was where I was headed but because I hiked the Na Pali coast I messed up my camping permit dates and only had a permit for Saturday night and wasn't leaving until Wednesday night. I was planning on going to a state park in Waimea canyon Sunday to Wednesday which I didn't need to book that in advance. I was concerned however because the forecast was calling for rain in the area on Sunday and Monday. I think part of me enjoyed that resort a bit too much as well. As I got further south and the sky grew darker not only with clouds but it was getting pretty late to be setting up rain tarps and all in the dark, I made the executive decision to get another hotel in Poipu, which is in the south.
The town of Poipu had great beaches and the resort had some great amenities as well, including a Super Bowl party starting at 1:30pm (and I thought games in California had early start times). Looks like I was staying for two nights! Definitely a Super Bowl of firsts for me. It was a great game to watch! I had a great time with a group of strangers having a free buffet and drinks all night. I guess the bartender liked me because my tab was $7 😉. It was awesome to have been able to stay at such nice places for a few days recovery from my epic voyage and enjoy some beautiful weather, however it was time to get back to the hammock before I broke the bank.
My original plan was to head to Waimea canyon and camp at the state park there. The forecast was right and it did rain the night before, heavy. The wind was pretty intense as well. The canyon was muddy and very cold. The campground there was empty, I didn't see a soul. I thought, "Why camp here and freeze alone when I can go camp 15 minutes away and be on the beach 20 degrees warmer." The canyon was at a much higher elevation and although it wasn't freezing compared to Jersey, it was cold to me, probably 50 at night. The canyon was gorgeous though. One thing about these islands that amazes me is how diverse the terrain is. I feel like the Caribbean is flat beaches, that's it. Maybe it is because for the most part anytime I went we just stayed at a resort the whole time?
I'm glad I left the canyon and stayed at Salt Pond campground instead. It was probably one of the nicest campgrounds I stayed at, besides Olowalu on Maui, which was private. I think it gets its name because it's like a baby beach, a protected cove with almost no waves and looks like a pond or lake. My hammock was set up right on the beach and about 50 yards from a monk seal. Talk about the best neighbor ever! It was another gorgeous sunset and a beautiful clear night under the stars. The perfect last night of camping on Kauai. Tuesday the campground closed for their weekly "maintenance" day. I don't think they really do much maintenance at the park but it is a way to keep people from living at a campsite full-time. As Wednesday was drawing near I was getting more and more upset about leaving. I decided that one thing I really wanted to do before I left was go on the kayak tour to Wailua Falls.
The tour was in Kapaa, on the East side. Another great thing about Kauai is that you can get to anywhere on the island pretty quickly. Since Kapaa was on the East I found a hostel close by since I had to go to one of their earliest tours since I was flying out in the afternoon. I spent all day Tuesday enjoying the beach based on the assumption that the Big Island will be colder and cloudier, but I've been wrong before...and then drove back over to Kapaa.
I haven't stayed at a hostel since the very beginning of my trip in Chicago where I got a private room because I was hesitant and I talked to no one! This time I stayed in a mixed dorm room with 8 other people of all various ages from 20 to 60!! I thought I was going to turn in early since I had the kayak trip in the AM but I ended up seeing a girl that I first met at that the rental car place and then saw on the Kalalau trail. I couldn't believe now here she was again! Needless to say a big group of us stayed up pretty late telling "stories of the trail" and our experiences on the various islands.
After watching the most gorgeous sunrise from the deck at the hostel I headed to the kayaking trip. It was a small group of myself, a couple in their fifties from Washington state, and a family from Northern California. The guide Lisa was actually second cousin's with the one woman. They had never met until a few days before. Lisa was a very interesting woman. Hiking with no shoes, playing her bongo talking about her life on the islands. It was a nice tour. About a 2 mile paddle down the Wailua river and then a mile hike out to the waterfall and then we turned around and came back. I really liked Lisa's energy as a person and she gave me so many tips about the Big Island, even though it had been over 15 years she had been there.
I am really going to miss Kauai, but I am looking forward to what's next! As much as I wish I could have stayed longer I received authorization from California to take my pharmacy law exam so I am anxious to get home and buckle down and start studying!
AROOOOOOOOO!!!!! 🍍🌊🌺🌈🌦😎🐋
Instagram: lone_she_wolf
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/user/cteijelo/playlist/1uNEjK1mra1y0s3gAkTEZ4
Trip thus far
Maui - all camping, minimal hiking, tons of turtles and whales, dolphins one day
Oahu - no camping, tons of hiking, one turtle, whales on the last day, monk seals, no dolphins
Kauai - half camping half resorts, half hiking half beaching, no whales, no turtles, monk seals, dolphins one day - I actually never went snorkeling so it's kind of hard to find turtles if you aren't looking
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