Waihee Ridge Trail
Maui, 4½ mile out & back trail, medium difficulty.
Elevation gain: 1,560ft (from 1,000 – 2,560ft)
Ascend the Waihee ridgeline trail up Maui's western peak of Pu'u Kukui and you'll be hiking above the sightseeing helicopter tours and admiring the lush rainforest valleys and coastlines beyond.
Hiking on the windward side of any Hawaiian island means wet weather, muddy conditions and the threat of heavy rains. This trail is subject to all these factors, but the wet weather means waterfalls are plentiful, the vegetation is greener and the cooler conditions make for a nice comfortable hike.
More information on this hike at Trailspotting.com.
Sleeping Giants
Kauai, 4 mile out & back trail, medium difficulty.
Elevation gain: 1,100ft (from 200 - 1,300ft)
Nounou Mountain rises from the leeward (Eastern) lands of Kauai. Local legend tells of a giant who feasted so much at a party in his honor that he laid down for a nap and never awoke, and since the hike up East Nounou Mountain trail takes you straight over his head and up his nose, you might want to cross you fingers that he doesn't wake up while you're around.
This is a nice little hike if you're in the area, and a great way of sampling some of Kauai's exotic plantlife and bird population.
Take time to view your surroundings, smell the air, listen to the wind - that's what slow travel is all about and walking down a road that leads to the ocean is a perfect place to start.
On a good day, the wind surfers just don't stop in Ho'okipa Beach Park... in and out, in and out...
On our way out to "our" beach, we passed the Mokuleia Beach Park. We watched several kite surfers as they played in the wind and surf.
Pathway through a tall grove of bamboo shoots on the Pipiwai trail
A 400-foot waterfall at the end of the Pipiwai trail. Beautiful.
The explosive tradition of Hawaii
Next time you decide on an island vacation to Hawaii, go first class...rent a multi million dollar villa, bring in a private chef, do yoga every morning by the pool, hire a professional surfer to teach you thrill of riding a wave, or hire a local expert o