KauaÊ»i – Hawaiian hiking paradise

I’ve finally done it.

Made the trekker’s pilgrimage to the volcanic island of KauaÊ»i (also spelled Kauai). My first trip.

There are more miles of hiking trails here than on the rest of Hawaiian islands combined. It’s the “Garden Isle”. The one used in the opening fly-in scene for Jurassic Park.

The most useful website I’ve found is Hawaii Trails:

Hawaii Trails – Kauai map

The second highest peak is Mount WaiÊ»aleÊ»ale near the center of the island, one of the wettest spots on Earth with an annual average rainfall of 460in (11.7m). The resulting floods have eroded deep canyons, including what Mark Twain dubbed the “Grand Canyon of the Pacific” — Waimea Canyon, 10mi (16km) long and up to 3000ft (900m) deep.

NASA

We’ll head first to Waimea. I’m using Robert Smith’s hiking guidebook:

Hiking Kauai, the Garden Isle