Kukui Trail Hike

This is Kukui Trail, trail head. This hike has an extreme elevation change of over 2000 feet.  Elevation gains are too extreme, especially with the time involved. Plus, the amount of water needed. Toting a gallon would be a requirement. A few snacks would also be needed. It was about 10 AM when this hike was started. Note the "START" marker lower center of photo.

Overall trail condition is very good. Careful foot placement is needed in many trail areas. Loose surfaces can be slippery. As from the photo, the sides are steep. It would be very difficult to get back up. What makes these hikes enjoyable is the peace and quiet, bird sounds, wind blowing through the trees. 

On the way back up, zoomed as much as possible to that tree, centered at the top of picture frame. That is the top most end of the trail. When ascending, the time was around 10:30, sun getting high, still a nice breeze. Each area of shade was helpful for a quick rest. In this case, two minutes uphill, a minute or so rest and repeat.

Koke'e Park highway 550 offers many good views of Waimea Canyon and from many angles. Hiking Koke'e trails offer yet another angle view of the canyons features. Sunshine illuminates various valleys that make viewing unique.

The goal was to hike down 15 minutes, a period of rest, then head back up. Sometimes hiking is all about numbers, how far, how long, how high. Many other Internet sources document this particular hike's extremes. Those are worth the read. It is just as hard as those sources have documented.

 Overall, this was an enjoyable hike. Clean air, bird songs, cool breeze, quiet. A few other hikers were on their way back up. They also looked bushed. It is totally possible to go all the way to the canyon floor and back up in a day. Another source said it took 2 hours to get back up. That sounds like an accurate time. Suggest starting out as early as possible.

Waimea Swinging Bridge

Waimea Swinging Bridge Repair. There had been a rock slide at Waimea Swinging Bridge a few months ago (late 2021 or early 2022). These are a few photos of the repairs that were done. The new lumber shown depict the extent of what was damaged. Construction company really did a good repair. From those other rock slide photo's, the rocks had filled in this area, totally demolishing the foot path and damaging vertical column integrity. 

Similar to Hanapepe Swinging Bridge, this is also a cable suspension bridge. Below is where the structural bracing is bolted into a concrete form. They have used long bolts and steel mounting brackets to mount those thick wood supports to the concrete form. New cables, new hardware, new lumber. Interesting to see how this was put together. Built to last a long time. Waimea Swinging Bridge is a special place.

Looking from the other direction, this shows the other point of view. The morning sun is shining in this direction. Rock slide made this impassible. Those right hand side cliff's have been there since ancient times. Menehune ditch flows along the bottom of the rock wall.  

Waimea Swinging Bridge is a special place. It allows residents on the other side of the river access to Menehune Road, which in turn is access to town, maybe 1.5 miles down river.  It's very peaceful here. If it is getting too hot, just walk over in the shade. If getting too cool, walk over in the sunshine. Breeze off the river keeps things very mild.

Hanapepe River Levee Walk

February 2022. A previous blog entry presented Waimea River Levee Walk. Hanapepe river also has a levee. With some spare minutes, thought to do a follow up to that walk. This levee is very well maintained and from the photo's, the grass has been recently cut. This was a first time walk. I understand the residents privacy concerns. There was ample foliage that serves as a natural visual privacy barrier.

This was in the mid-morning, and in February. The temperature was mild and just a little breeze. Doing this at noon in the summer would be a lot different. Came across this little fellow. Friendly little pup. He is from the area and was just out on his morning stroll also. It's best to not offer food because he is someone's dog. But if he had come over, certainly a pat on the head or a back scratch would have been ok.

The river flows very slowly. Normal tropical water birds frequent the area, though none are in the photos. These hills are formed in layers and are volcanic. On and adjacent hillside workers have tagged (with paint) certain area and are installing mediation steps in regards to rock slides. Thousands of years of weather, rain, the elements, it is part of natural evolution of hillside rock slides. Rock slides has now become a factor in all future hiking adventures.

Below is looking back at Hanapepe Bridge.

This was a first time walk along the levee. It was a peaceful and wonderful experience. There was no one out at this time in the morning through there was a family coming across the bridge as I was leaving. 

Hanapepe Swinging Bridge

Hanapepe Swinging Bridge is located on Kauai and is the "Biggest Little Town". It spans Hanapepe river. Connecting a quiet and rural side of the river to where the shopping and businesses are located. This provides residents and guests an "over water foot path short cut" instead of a long walk to cement bridges located down river. This is a cable suspension bridge suspended by two wooden towers. Notice the steel cables fastened into the concrete base. These cables are firmly planted and very secure.

Though this looks like the bridge, it is a ramp leading up to the bridge entry way.  The sides are an open wire type of arrangement, fastened to vertical 2x4's. The handrails are 2x6's slightly angled inward. This ramp is surprisingly sturdy. Notice the years of wear and use. This is a classic island patina.

Beginning the walk across the bridge, we begin our walk across from the business side to the more 'rural' and 'quiet' side. It is also quite weathered. Similar to the boarding ramp, the sides are also open wire type of arrangement, fastened to vertical 2x4's.  In some places, open wire sections have been compromised. The handrails are also 2x6's and slightly angled. It's best to walk slowly and confidently across the bridge because it will sway and bounce. It's ok to stop in the middle and take in the the sights and enjoy clean island air.

Below shows the far side of the bridge and the wooden towers holding up the steel cables. There has been some recent maintenance as the lumber looks to be in a good state of repair. The red dirt is simply awesome. Be sure to have your personal items secured. If they fall, good chance it will be hard to retrieve. If it is electronic, well, sorry to say, it's gone.

Hanapepe is a very nice town. It used to be quite bustling. There were a few gas stations, movie theater, pool halls, shoe store, small outlet store, an old style pharmacy (comic books, soda fountain, lime aid [tart]), hardware store and famous 'Saimin Corner", $1.90 for a bowl. Since then, the community has preserved the charm the best way possible. Though some of the stores are now touristy art studio's, a few small breakfast and lunch places, car parts store, craft's. It is a wonderful place to visit and shop the art studio's. They have good prices!