Hawaii Waterfall Mystique

June 13, 2020

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Hawaii has so many beautiful waterfalls! Hawaii Waterfall Mystique awaits! Hawaii also has so many amazing attractions, let’s be real! ADVENTURE AWAITS! The beaches, the SNORKELING SPOTS, the views, the SUNRISES & SUNSETS, the food, the fruits, the flowers, the coffee, etc. This post is focused on the waterfalls!

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“Water is the most perfect traveller because when it travels it becomes the path itself!”
― Mehmet Murat ildan

Waterfalls are God’s creation at its finest! They are filled with power, a mysterious never ending supply of water, and significant erosion possibilities. Waterfalls breathtaking beauty call to us to explore, gaze at, and soak in the mystique of their great power!

“Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls; all your waves and breakers have swept over me.” ~PSALMS 42:7

I am going to take you on a hike we enjoyed in Hawaii to discover a beautiful waterfall. It was significant work, but well worth the effort to have this waterfall revealed to our senses! Below are random, beautiful waterfalls we discovered on the Island of Kauai. Remember the opening waterfalls on the TV show “Fantasy Island?” Well, maybe I’m dating myself, but theses are the falls that were used for that TV show. I was impressed! Are you?

HAWAII WATERFALL MYSTIQUE – Waterfall hike to Hanakapi’ai Falls

This by far is our MOST memorable waterfall hike!! To enjoy our favorite waterfall hike to Hanakapi’ai Falls you must be on the island of Kauai in Hawaii. You must drive all the way to where the road ends on the furthest tip of the north shore at Ke’e Beach Park. This drive is no hardship! Gorgeous, simply gorgeous is the lush, tropical north shore of Kauai! You will travel past world famous Anini Beach (home to many celebrities) through iconic Princeville (known for golf courses), and Hanalei (magical land of “puff the magic dragon”) to get to your trailhead destination! Here you will find the trail head off to the left-hand side of the parking area. We have learned from previous hikes here to start early! It will take easily 2 hours to hike down the coast to the beach and another 1-2 hours (depending on the trail conditions) to hike in-land to the waterfall. Plan easily 4 hours in and 4 hours out if you are attempting to see the waterfall. Try to avoid the heat of the day on this hike and be sure NOT to start the hike out too late in the day!

The Kalalau Trail is eleven miles of switchbacks, hills, and beautiful scenery. We have DAY DREAMED taking the requisite time to actually hike and hammock camp our way down this full eleven mile trail and back! WHAT AN ADVENTURE THAT WOULD BE! Apparently, a half mile past the end of this trail is the most beautiful HONOPU BEACH (known as the most beautiful beach in Hawaii-some say in ALL the Pacific!) The only legal way to access this beach is by swimming there from the end of this trail (we have read that the current will be against you on the swim back…BEWARE AND ONLY ATTEMPT THIS WITH FINS, AND IF YOU ARE A VERY STRONG SWIMMER ON A CALM DAY WITH NO WAVES.) In late summer, Kalalau Beach extends closer to Honopu and people walk on the rocks and sand most of the way. We have never attempted this, but have only read about it! I’m not sure I would try this, but I’m a chicken about risky ocean things!

We have hiked this portion of the trail on three different trips to be rewarded with the waterfall at the end. Each time is just as amazing as the last! It can be a real adventure!

It is a great way to view the Na Pali coast if you don’t like to paddle or if the surf is raging as it does here frequently, much to a surfers delight!

The hike is approximately 2 miles down the ocean coast to a gorgeous beach where we typically stop for a backpack picnic lunch and hydration. At this point the trail continues on further down the ocean coast (a proper camping permit is required past this point) OR you can turn inland for another two miles to locate the most amazing Hanakapi’ai waterfall that I’ve ever experienced!

Proper footwear is an issue on this hike! Be prepared to cross streams. I recommend KEEN sandals for hiking with quick dry abilities. Bring a backpack with emergency items such as a flashlight, matches, a simple first-aid kit, plenty of water and energy snacks or a light lunch!

FLASH FLOODS ARE REAL! USE CAUTION! Every so often on this trail a helo-pad can be observed…apparently tourists tempt fate on this hike and employ poor judgment on swimming in rip tides or challenging a fast moving stream prone to FLASH FLOODS to cross and find themselves in perilous situations….NOT GOOD! BE SMART!

My little energizer bunnies were ready for a water break and renewing energy snacks at the 2 mile mark before heading 2 more miles in-land. Signs can be observed listing how many deaths have occured at certain points along the trail as a reminder to make good decisions! BE WISE!

The portion of the hike that turns inward is a beautiful discovery of tidbits of Hawaiian history. We discovered obvious terraced farming attempts now a bamboo gone wild area. Old rock chimneys from perhaps someone’s home gone-by.

There are several false trails at this point. It is probable to miss the easiest river crossings. It is an obvious valley, so don’t wander far from the stream that you are basically following up the valley towards the falls.

You will hear the falls before you see them. Then the waterfall will provide you a peak of view before it comes into full splendor!

We rewarded ourselves with an icy mountain water swim in the pool under the falls!

A waterfall is a part of a river or stream where the water flows over a steep drop, often landing in a plunge pool below. The massive amounts of falling water create an interesting pull on swimmers that get too close to the pounding water. Be careful and watch for falling rocks from above!

Waterfalls are created as streams carrying sediment erode to form cliffs and ledges. The speed of the stream gains strength and becomes stronger as it nears a waterfall, increasing the amount of erosion. The movement of the water at the top flattens rocks at the edge. The plunge pool at the bottom gains size as rushing water and sediment further erode it.

We ALL jump in to cool off from the heat and humidity of hiking here! It is shockingly cold from the mountain stream run-off! This rejuvenates us and helps to prepare us for the return hike that awaits!

This adventure was exhausting and exhilarating all at the same time! I highly recommend this exploration to others! Where is your favorite waterfall located? Comment below to share your experience! ALOHA!

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Inspirationally Yours,

Barbara

BIO: https://www.inspirationaltraveladventures.com/about-us/

ABOUT ME

A 1993 graduate of Michigan State University, Barbara earned a BS in Social Science Pre-Law. She is a Business Manager/HR Director. Her passion is travel, discovering new places, experiences, cuisine, cultures while enjoying temperate climates. Barbara is a newly transitioning empty-nester who became a travel blogger. She’s a great photographer, talented writer, and has a great family to highlight in her high school/college athlete football sons.

WEBSITE: www.inspirationaltraveladventures.com

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