Hiking & Camping

Kauai is an adventurer's delight. The island's greatest tropical beauty isn't easily accessed (more than 90% of Kauai is inaccessible by road); you have to head out on foot and find it. Trails range from a 10-minute nature loop from your car and back to check out Mother Nature without too much fuss, to several days of trekking requiring stamina and fitness. Those interested in seeing the backcountry -- complete with virgin waterfalls, remote wilderness trails, and quiet meditative settings -- should head for Waimea Canyon and Kokee Park or for the Na Pali Coast and the Kalalau Trail. Most trails are well marked and maintained, but occasionally, after a heavy rainy season, markers are down and the vegetation has taken over. Always ask about a trail before you go.

Camping on Kauai can be extreme (it's cold at 4,000 ft. in Kokee) or benign (by the sea). It can be wet, cold, and rainy, or hot, dry, and windy -- often all on the same day. If you're heading for Kokee, bring rain gear, warm clothes, T-shirts, and shorts. (You will use everything.)

For more information on Kauai's hiking trails, contact the State Division of Parks, 3060 Ewa St., Lihue, HI 96766 (tel. 808/274-3446; www.hawaiistateparks.org); the State Division of Forestry and Wildlife, 3070 Ewa St., Lihue, HI 96766 (tel. 808/274-3077 or 808/587-0166; www.dofaw.net); Kauai County Parks and Recreation, 4444 Rice St., Lihue, HI 96766 (tel. 808/241-4460; http://www.kauai.gov/default.aspx?tabid=515); or the Kokee Lodge Manager, P.O. Box 367, Waimea, HI 96796 (tel. 808/335-6061).

Kayak Kauai, a mile past Hanalei Bridge on Highway 560 in Hanalei (tel. 800/437-3507 or 808/826-9844; fax 808/822-0577; www.kayakkauai.com), is the premier all-around outfitter on the island. It's staffed by local experts who keep track of weather forecasts and sea and trail conditions; they have a lot of pertinent information that hikers, campers, and other backcountry adventurers need to know. Plus they have guided hiking tours starting at $81 per person. If you don't plan to bring your own gear, you can rent it here or at Pedal 'n Paddle, in Hanalei (tel. 808/826-9069). If you want to buy camping equipment, head for Ace Island Hardware, at Princeville Shopping Center (tel. 808/826-6980).

Guided Hikes -- You can join a guided hike with the Kauai chapter of the Sierra Club, P.O. Box 2577, Honolulu, HI 96813 (tel. 808/538-6616; www.hi.sierraclub.org), which offers four to seven different hikes every month. The hikes vary from an easy family moonlit beach hike to a moderate 4-mile trip up some 1,100 feet, to 8-mile-plus treks for serious hikers only. The club also does guided hikes of Kokee State Park , usually on weekends. Because there's no staffed office, the best way to contact the chapter is to check the website; outings are usually listed 3 to 6 months in advance, with complete descriptions of the hike, the hike leader's phone number, and what to wear and bring. You can also check the daily newspaper, the Garden Island, for a list of hikes in the Community Calendar section. Generally, the club asks for a donation of $5 per person per hike for nonmembers, $1 for members. It also does service work (clearing trails, picking up trash) on the hikes, so you may spend an hour doing service work, then 2 to 3 hours hiking. Last year, the club took three service-work trips along the Na Pali Coast trail to help maintain it.

During the summer, Kokee Natural History Museum (tel. 808/335-9975) offers "Wonder Walks," a series of guided hikes throughout Kokee State Park for a donation. This is a great way to learn more about the unusual flora and fauna in this high mountain area and to meet new people. Space is limited, so you have to call in your reservation. Hikers are advised to eat lunch before the hike and to bring light rain gear, water, snacks, sunscreen, protective clothing, and hiking boots. The hike leaves promptly at 12:15pm.

Hawaiian Wildlife Tours (tel. 808/639-2968; www.hawaiianwildlifetours.com) is environmental education in action. Biologist Dr. Carl Berg will take you out into the woods and down to the shoreline to see Kauai's native and vanishing species, from forest birds and flora to hoary bats, monk seals, and green sea turtles. His personalized tours last from 1 hour to a week and are tailored around the season and weather, your physical abilities, and what you want to see. He leads tours to Hanalei taro fields to see wetland birds, to Crater Hill to see nene geese, to Mahaulepu to see wildflowers in the sand dunes, to Kilauea Lighthouse to see oceanic birds, and much more. Rates are $50 per couple, per hour.

Other options for guided hikes include Princeville Ranch Adventures (tel. 888/955-7669 or 808/826-7669; www.adventureskauai.com), which offers various hikes on 2,000 acres of private property, such as a 3-hour hike to a waterfall (plus another hour spent swimming) for $129; and Kauai Nature Tours (tel. 888/233-8365 or 808/742-8305; www.kauainaturetours.com), which offers a geological-history excursion, a tour of Kauai's environments from the mountains to the ocean, and a Mahaulepu coast hike. All Kauai Nature Tours are led by scientists and range from $125 to $140 for adults and $95 to $115 for children ages 7 to 12.

A Warning About Flash Floods -- When it rains on Kauai, the waterfalls rage and rivers and streams overflow, causing flash floods on roads and trails. If you're hiking, avoid dry streambeds, which flood quickly and wash out to sea. Before going hiking, camping, or sailing, especially in the rainy season (Nov-Mar), check the weather forecast by calling tel. 808/245-6001.

Hiking Safety

According to a survey done in 2000, 78% of the hikers in Hawaii were from out-of-state. At the same time, Hawaii's search-and-rescue teams are responding to more and more calls from injured, stranded, or missing hikers. The best thing you can do to avoid becoming a statistic is to get Na Ala Hele's (the State of Hawaii's Trail and Access Program) free brochure, Hiking Safety in Hawaii (from the State Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Forestry & Wildlife, 1151 Punchbowl St., Room 325, Honolulu, HI 96813; tel. 808/587-0166; or print it off the Web at www.hawaiitrails.org). This free brochure could save your life. It has comprehensive lists of trail safety tips and equipment you'll need; describes what to do in an emergency; and contains other information you should know before you lace up your hiking boots.

If you are not an experienced hiker, consider hiking with a commercial operator, or join a Sierra Club hike. If you have experience hiking, keep these tips in mind when venturing out in Hawaii:

• Remember you are a guest in Hawaii and treat the land (especially sacred cultural areas) with respect by following posted signage on the trail. Always start your hikes with clean (well-scrubbed) boots, so you don't unintentionally carry seeds into the island's fragile environment.
• Practice courtesy when on a multiple-usage trail. The signs will let you know who to yield to (hikers generally yield to horseback riders, and bikers yield to both hikers and horses).
• Plan your hike by informing others where you are going and when you should be back. Learn as much as you can about the hike (the conditions you will encounter and the degree of difficulty) before you set out.
• Hike with a partner. Never go alone. Dress in layers to protect yourself from Hawaii's intense tropical sun, carry light rain gear, have a brightly colored jacket (not only for weather, but so that if you get lost, people will be able to spot you), and bring a hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen. If you are hiking, you should wear hiking boots with traction and ankle support.
• Check the weather. Call tel. 808/245-6001. The bright, sunny day can dissolve into wind and rain, and you don't want to be caught in a narrow gully or streambed where flash flooding is possible.
• Carry water (2 liters per person per day), a cellphone, and a daypack (holding a whistle, sunscreen, insect repellent, a small flashlight, food, and a basic first-aid kit). Don't drink untreated stream water; leptospirosis (a bacterial disease transmitted from animals to humans, which can be fatal) is present in some streams.
• Stay on the trail and stay together. Most hikers are injured wandering off the trail or trying to climb rocks.
• Watch the time. Being close to the Equator, Hawaii does not have a very long twilight. Once the sun goes down, it's dark. Be sure to allow enough time to return from your hike, and always carry a flashlight.
• If an emergency arises (for example, if an injury or illness prevents someone from walking, bad weather hits, it's too dark to see, or you become lost or stranded), call 911 and ask for fire/rescue. Tell them what trail you are on and what happened. Make yourself visible with either bright clothing or a flashlight, and use the whistle. Stay calm and stay put. Keep as warm as you can by getting out of wind and rain and by layering clothing to maintain your body temperature.