Waimea Canyon- Trail to Waipo'o Falls and The Chicken

 

We got up on Monday intending to do a long hike up Hapa Trail in the Poipu area.  We first thought we had found it but then we ended up in someone's back acreage and we came across a skinny horse who was more alarmed to see us then we were to see him.  We headed back and got back into the car to tried and find a trail marker.  We talked to a local and he said that it was through these particular gates so we again stopped our car and parked and got out and walked.  It ended up being just a walk and was not a hike, unless we still really had not found it.  It was still a very nice walk, I mean we were in Kauai, anywhere you look it can be scenic.

These large buds were a kaleidoscope of color covering a large tree.

We found a little outdoor restaurant called The Little Fish and got Acai Bowls filled with fresh tropical fruit to hold us over.  We continued to drive around the coast past Poipu Beach Park to see the Spouting Horn Park where a large lava tube has formed in the rock and when a swell comes in it blows out the hole and looks like a whale spout and sounds more like one too.

Darren decided to stay behind and meet some new friends

We drove back and stopped at the pier to check out the landscape and we were happy that we did this.  We walked out on an old lava flow right out to the water to see how it crackled and formed a perfect almost large paving stone deck over the water.

Tiny beaches are dotted along the coastline and fishermen are there too and we talked briefly to a few locals on the pier as they were filleting their catch.

Darren had not tried Shave Ice so we stopped by a pretty little stand called Riptides and ordered a hand formed shave ice treat for him and Libners partook as well.

Kim and Rich had a Luau booked at the Sheraton that late afternoon and evening so we headed home to relax as they got ready for the Luau.  On our second time in Honolulu my Mom and Dad took the whole family (20 of us) to one and we all got the pretty orchid lei placed around our necks.

Kim and Rich posing for a perfect photo the night of the Luau. 

The next morning we left for Waimea Canyon.  Along the way we wanted to see the Swinging Bridge of Hanapepe.  It was a bit scary to be on but even if it broke we could have survived the fall into the water.

I love this sign.

We continued on towards the canyon and even the drive up away from the Pacific Ocean is gorgeous and you can see other islands in the distance. 

At the first unofficial stops of the Waimea Canyon.  I still suck at taking Selfies.

This is a White Rumped Shama and it had the most beautiful song.  It was a large bird perhaps the size of a Blue Jay.  Other intriguing birds are the Cattle Egret which is a large white bird about 16 inches high and frequented the bushes at our resort by walking along the tops of the bush. I use my Lens button in my photos app a lot now to identify birds and name them.

Waimea Canyon is a huge canyon that you drive a long the top until you get to the highest and furthest point possible.  There are many lookouts and there are two state parks.  At the official lookouts you have to pay 10 dollars per car and 5 dollars per person which is good for all the other lookouts.  The scenery is jaw dropping and the breezes are lovely.  Some of the unofficial stops are bloody scary and 'scream death' if you slip, this is not my scene, I am not a risk taker and I usually stay behind the guard rails.

The views are stunning.

Heading towards a lookout.

We finished gawking at the Canyon on many stops and overlooks and we were itching to do a trail.  We chose the Canyon Trail to Waipo'o Falls.  We started along the trail and we encountered many people returning and telling us how hard and dangerous it was and that they had to turn back.  We continued on and met people who told us it was hard but worth it so we decided to trudge on and we were so happy and proud that we did walk down into the Canyon and eventually saw our goal the Falls.  Not gonna lie, it was an intense hike down and back up out of the Canyon and it took over 2 hours for us to complete it.

Darren back in the forest.

It was a really pretty hike up and down and down and up and highly strenuous.

This is us looking fresh as daisies in the Spring.  This was the first 5 minutes of the trail.

I think I see Rich hiding behind a rock?

As we are descending into the Canyon

Lots of boulders to climb over and through.

This is about a quarter of the way down the trail.  We are starting to look wilted and beginning to think that we should have listened to the other quitters that had turned back on the trail earlier.

We continued on and got to the cliff and we were rewarded with stunning soul-searching views. 

The plateau of the cliff.

These were highly unusual rock formations in the distance.

This was frightening to be on because if you slipped off you were a goner.

On the way down the cliff towards the falls.

 We were eventually rewarded after walking down the canyon after about 1 hour and 15 minutes and seeing the Waipo'o Falls.

After a rainfall these would have been even more spectacular.  It wasn't about the falls anymore it was more about completing this hike without needing a defibrillator.

We took some pictures and we were going to start back up the long hard trail up the Canyon when I spotted this colorful chicken who gracefully was posing for me in front of the waterfall.  I was talking to him and he was responding to me like we were on a Tropical Photo Shoot.  I thanked him and we started back up.  5 minutes into the arduous trail back up out of the canyon we noticed that the chicken was following us, literally following us.  We continued with the photos and continued talking to him and he continued to follow us like he was our best friend.  The only annoying thing was that when he kicked it into gear he could outrun us up the Canyon whenever he so chose to.  He would always wait until we caught up and then he would continue beside us as we kept him company and vise versa.  It really was hysterical and we had so many good laughs.

Our friend The Chicken.

I talked to him all the way and he stuck by my side for a good portion of the walk.  He would never let me touch him though.

The Chicken following Rich.

The Chicken posing beside Kim.

The Chicken escorted us back out of the canyon and ditched us right near to the end.  We missed The Chicken when he left us with a Cock a doodle do, somewhere in the forest to salute us that we actually finished the hike and no one was injured.  We were so glad we did it and I would highly recommend it for the beauty and the challenge of the hike.

That's me after I made it to the top of a very steep incline.

After we washed up in the State Park bathrooms we got back in the car and headed towards food.  We were all starving and we had spotted Paco's Tacos stand in Hanapepe.  I had a shrimp and a fish Taco and they were excellent authentic Mexican food.

After the tacos we headed into the Historical part of Hanapepe to do some shopping and looking around.  We popped into one store and I was reminded of the animated movie Lilo and Stich which was based on Hanapepe and 'Ohana' which means Family.

Gorgeous yellow blossomed tree in Hanapepe.

We headed back for the short drive home and we thought that we should go and check out the turtles because it was almost 6:00 pm and they start to drift into the shore at Poipu Beach around 4:00 pm.  When we arrived we spotted about 16 and then there were more to follow laboriously dragging themselves up onto the beach to rest their weary bodies.

These poor souls have to contend with so many stupid humans along the way just to rest on the beach.  One particular stupid man was in the water disrupting their daily migratory path up to the beach by getting in their face and sticking his waterproof camera under the water and filming the turtles swimming towards shore.  Part of me wanted to just go out and drown him just to give the Green Turtles some peace.

It was an absolutely glorious day even though we were exhausted from the strenuous hike but we were looking forward to another day in beautiful Kauai.