Hanalei Valley Hike
I’ve been on the Hanalei Okolehau Trail before but its been so long I’d forgotten how beautiful it is. I also was not aware of how far the trail actually goes. The trailhead is accessed by driving up the Hanalei Valley road (Ohiki Road) located at the one lane bridge as you drive down from Princeville towards Hanalei. When you get to the one lane bridge, you’ll see the Hanalei Valley Road off to the left. Turn onto the road which heads back into the valley. Please go slowly as the road is narrow and borders the Hanalei National Wildlife Refuge area. The trailhead is a short distance down the road and has a parking area. Here are pictures going back into the valley. The Hanalei river is on the left.
Taro fields are on your right.
This trail is pretty much all uphill and offers spectacular views. It is not for the faint of heart or those unaccustomed to hiking. It is fairly well sheltered from the sun as you ascend to the first lookout point, which took me about 15 minutes. Here is the view looking out over what seemed like the whole world towards Hanalei Bay. Spectacular.
The trail continues on, again all uphill, with several photo opportunities as you climb higher.
Here’s a photo from even higher up where I found some sort of reference point for the Coast Guard. It is located about 1.25 to 1.5 miles in and is on a small plateau that offers amost 360 degree views. If anyone can tell me what this reference point is, I’d certainly appreciate knowing.
Here is the view looking towards Kilauea-
And finally a view looking back across the mountains-
I turned back at the Coast Guard marker but a friend told me the trail actually goes on quite a distance, although the trail itself becomes more obscure and overgrown. Views become even more amazing. It took me another 20 minutes from the first outlook to get to the Coast Guard market. If you’re up for a strenuous hike, you will be well rewarded with views on this one.
Aloha,
Elaine Schaefer
808 639 2935
sold@hawaii.rr.com
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