Place and Time

I am sure that there are many stunning island scenes in the world that I have not seen (for example I have never traveled to the South Pacific).  But, for me it is hard to imagine anything more majestic than the views of Waimea Canyon looking out from the center of Kauai (Hawaii) out across the Na Pali Coast. This I understand was the primary location used for the filming of Jurassic Park.

A close second is the Kalalau Trail that runs along the Na Pali Coast. 

While the Waimea Canyon views are accessed from the South Shore of Kauai, The Kalalau Trail is accessed from the North Shore, past Hanelei Bay and Ke'e Beach. You are hundreds of feet up from the shore line below, often looking straight down. The trail is uneven and twists and winds in and out of jungle area as it follows the fingers of erosion that characterize the Na Pali Coast.  If it rains (which it does often), the trail can become slick with red mud.  Armed with good hiking shoes and poles, we followed the trail for miles including a spur in to the jungle area to find a cooling waterfall and pool.  

An interesting footnote, about this picture.  We were still a mile or so from the trailhead at Ke'e when this picture was taken. Then it dawned on us that the sun was setting and we had no flashlight.  I can tell you that it gets totally dark on that trail once the last reflections of the sun drop below the horizon. If we had not happened upon a couple with a small flashlight we would have had to spend the night on the trail.  Parts of the trail were very treacherous and wet with the beach looming hundreds of feet below. It took us about 3 hours to go the last mile and a half.  Once back safely in Hanelei, a Mai Tai never tasted so good.

Below:  The red mud of the Kalalau Trail and Ke'e beach as seen from high on the trail.