If you’ve been following along with the adventures of Angie Away for any length of time, you might be aware that hiking is never, ever at the top of my bucket list. Instead it often happens that I’m peer pressured into it, as was the case with the epic Tongariro Crossing in New Zealand and the overnight jaunt to Mt. Sinai in Egypt. I rarely enjoy the actual act of hiking; it’s only in hindsight, with a few weeks between me and the pain, that I can finally appreciate the experience in full.
That’s why it defies reason that I would do the Hanakapiai Falls Trail on Kauai… again!
Hiking in Kauai – The Hanakapiai Falls Trail!
That’s right, again. It’s my second time attacking this hike, which the Sierra Club ranks as one of the world’s most challenging. Peer pressure and sibling rivalry always seem to get me, as my little brother all but told me I HAD to do the hike this year. In 2008, after we completed the 8 mile quest the first time, I famously said, “You know, I’m glad we did that, but I’m NEVER doing it again.”
Fast forward four years and there I was, at the beginning of the trail, muttering under my breath about just how much I was going to hate every moment of it. Stupid waterfalls…
Nine minutes of uphill climbing later, I was lamenting how it had only been 9 minutes.
Seriously, I’m a hideous hiking partner.
Speaking of hiking partners, the whole reason I agreed to attempt the Hanakapiai Trail once more is because two of our friends from home have joined us in Kauai and it’s only fair to show them as much of the island as possible. But I don’t have to like it…
Fortunately, I was able to convince my brother NOT to hike the whole Kalalau Trail – a daunting 22 mile round trip that includes an overnight campout. Instead, we opted for the Hanakapiai Trail, the first section of the larger journey, which diverts up to a beautiful waterfall.
The hike is split into four parts – 2 miles of up-and-down cliff path to Hanakapiai Beach, a treacherous beach you shouldn’t even think of swimming in; 2 miles inland through rocks, river & jungle to the towering Hanakapiai Falls and their freezing pool below; and then the reverse back to the trail head.
The trail may be tough, but the payoff is most definitely worth it.
What a waterfall!
As you near the falls, the temperature begins to drop from 90 to about 65 degrees – it’s downright chilly – but it feels like heaven after the 4 miles you’ve just hoofed through the jungle.
Finally, the halfway point!
I remember thinking how much easier this Hanakapiai Trail hike had been this second time. Perhaps it was because Kauai has been unseasonably dry, thus I wasn’t sliding all over the place like the first time; but also, I think my experiences in New Zealand and Egypt helped put things in perspective.
After a dip in the ice cold pool below the falls, and a break to soak our feet, eat clementines & trail mix and polish off almost all of our water supply, it was time to head back. We were making good time and should’ve been able to get back to our condo right on schedule. After all, our friend Cathy had a flight to catch that evening, and she still had to shower, pack and drive all the way to Lihue.
I don’t know if we’d dehydrated our brain cells to the point of delirium at this point, but somehow, we all agreed it would be much faster if we left the Hanakapiai Trail on the way back from the waterfall and instead, hopped from rock to rock in the actual river itself. It seemed easy enough – we’re all relatively young & spry – and wouldn’t a straight line to the ocean be faster than a meandering jungle path?
It was one of the dumbest ideas ever.
Hopping from small, pleasant rock to rock was only possible here and there; the majority of the experience included scrambling up and over giant boulders and bushwhacking – literally, bushwhacking! I whacked at bushes! And they whacked me back. – in the jungle to make our way down.
There were many times when I’m sure it looked like I was playing Twister – right hand on large boulder, left foot on small, moss-covered rock, walking stick in left hand pressed into riverbed… I fell a few times, and Cathy twisted both her arms pretty painfully, but no one smashed their head on a rock – miraculously enough.
After we’d already lost sight of the Hanakapiai Trail, we realized what a bad decision it had been, but we couldn’t turn back up river to start over. We had to keep going and hope that the trail crossed the river once more.
In the meantime, Cathy & I both fell into the drink multiple times, soaking our tennis shoes and making it too slippery to jump from rock to rock anymore. If not for our walking sticks, I can’t say we would’ve made it out before dark – real talk.
(Oh, and I ripped my running shorts clear up the back seam. So you’re welcome, everyone who was walking behind me… )
Once we found the path again, we still had another 90 minutes of hot hiking on the cliff path, and the uphill portions were absolute torture after the insane river rock adventure we’d just had.
Instead of getting back to the car at 1:30 like we planned, in time for lunch, we finally dragged ourselves off the Na Pali Coast at 6 p.m. We looked like we’d done the 22 mile Kalalau Trail.
Completely bedraggled, starving, soaking wet, suffering from dehydration headaches and shaking, exhausted muscles, we made it back to our rented Nissan Versa, and left that stupid trail once and for all.
I am never doing it again. For real this time.
The day after the hike we all laughed at how our pictures look like a great time, but completely skip the treacherous parts and conveniently, the parts where I was shrieking, “I GIVE UP. I WANT OUT NOW!”
Tips for Hiking in Kauai on the Hanakapiai Fall Trail
1. Leave early for the Hanakapiai Fall Trail!
Parking is a beast and all the good spots close to the trail head fill quickly. The last thing you want is to have to walk a mile before you even start the official hike. Shoot for a 7 a.m. start.
2. Bring more water & food than you think you’ll need.
Whoops. We really botched this one. There is no food or water along the way, so you must plan ahead. We expected to be back at our condo by 3 p.m. and we didn’t get back until 7 p.m. We’d all run out of water hours and hours before. The last stretch nearly killed us. Don’t let that happen to you!
3. Bring extra socks.
There’s a very good chance your feet will get wet as you cross the river multiple times on the way to and from the falls, so bring an extra pair of socks to change into when that happens.
4. Bring music.
Once I switched on my iPod to my Running playlist, I stopped noticing the time and managed to have a bit more fun.
5. Bring a walking stick.
I’m only 5’3″ and I can’t imagine doing this hike without a walking stick. I know others my size who have preferred to go sans stick, but I literally wouldn’t have made it without one!
6. Don’t bring a baby.
I mean… I can’t believe I even have to say this. There were SO many people on the trail with babies – like, newborn babies. If I had a baby, the last place I’d bring it would be the slippery, steep cliff paths of the Na Pali Coast. There’s just no reason to put yourself or your kiddo in danger, and this hike is famous for the injuries it produces. Just last week, a young girl slipped and smashed her head on a rock, and had to be helicoptered out – that is, after she was dragged by her mom to a convenient spot. There’s no easy way out – if you get hurt badly, you’re really in trouble! If you have kiddos but are set on doing the hike, hire a local sitter – don’t subject your little nugget to the jungle.
7. Don’t hike and fly.
On top of choosing the most difficult path possible, we were also hiking under the pressure of Cathy’s 9:30 p.m. flight. Don’t stress yourself out by saving the hike for the last day… it’s not worth it!
PIN ME FOR LATER
“I whacked at bushes! And they whacked me back!” This literally made me laugh out loud. Great story, even if it was a bit painful:)
Glad it made you laugh! Thank you for reading =)
Wow, sounds dramatic! Glad your friend made it to her flight. This whole thing is probably partly my fault… when Alex and I did the hike I got us lost on the trail coming down the stream, which probably contributed to you guys deciding to find an alternate!
I have to admit I did laugh audibly when I saw the photo of you plopped in the water, fully clothed 🙂
*shakes fist in your direction*
I also forgot to mention Alex did the first four miles barefoot… he’s insane!
I only did the hike to the first beach, so 4 miles round trip, but I did it all barefooted…and with no water. I wanted to go up to the falls, but I was short on time (and water) so I’ll have to do it next time.
Oh wow – I can’t even imagine trying to go back through the boulders on the stream. That is INTENSE! I’m glad you made it safely! My husband and I did this hike last year when I was 6 months pregnant…I was in great shape, but the last uphill/downhill bit about did me in. http://brian-and-jessica.blogspot.co.uk/2011/11/aloha-day-5-on-kauai.html
I can’t IMAGINE doing this hike pregnant! Good on you!
Man, sounds like a hell of an experience! Deciding the river would be a quicker path sounds exactly like something I’d do though. At least the pictures are pretty and you have a very interesting story to tell!
As always, there’s a good story once it’s all said and done… just glad it’s over! Thank you for reading!
Okay, had I had that experience I’d be grumbling too! The trail and waterfall look beautiful but never leave the path! It might seem like a faster route but you just never know what you ‘ll encounter.
This is really interesting, You’re a very good blogger. I’ve joined your feed and look forward to reading more of your excellent post.
Ummm that’s crazy! I did the waterfall hike in 2012 and lovvveedddd it but definitely stick to the trail! It was hard to tell at some spots what was trail or not but I did not want to get lost in there! The waterfalls are spectacular though. Favorite hike ever. We are going back next week but with baby and won’t be going near this hike (plus the trail is closed currently I saw)
I saw there was a harrowing rescue this week – thank God for the Kauai firefighters who saved all those people on the trail! It’s awesome when it’s safe, but a really dangerous place when it’s not. Walking DOWN the riverbed was one of my dumber life decisions…
Hi Angie! This is crazy! You’re so right — these pictures make me want to try this, because it looks like you’re all having such a great time! I can’t believe you did it twice!!
This post made me laugh out loud 🙂 Just got back from Kauai where my husband and I hiked up to the falls and I pretty much thought I was going to die. I couldn’t walk for three days afterward. And there was a guy at the falls with a baby strapped to his back!!! Insane!
Hiking always gives such beautiful views and nature look at all that nature, but oh the price of actually doing the physical stuff to see it. Thanks for sharing your funny (and hopefully now funny to you) experience and the beautiful pictures, it makes me want to hike this trail now.