12 May 2015_May 12 2015
(Version française lower)
It was early that morning that we set off to rediscover the Napali coast, but this time we went further, until we came across this huge waterfall nicknamed Hanakapi'ai. Accompanied by my son Édouard and two Quebec travellers, André and Noémie, we walked 8 miles through lush green vegetation. The hike starts at Ke'e beach, we are aware that several streams and rivers will have to be crossed and that the trail will be muddy and slippery but we are well prepared and the enthusiasm is there. The intermittent rain will follow us all day long but it is hot so it's not that unpleasant.
All along, we stop to admire the idyllic scenery and to take pictures, I have brought with me my Pentax 6x7, some movies. Provia 100 iso along with my usual Canon 5DMy bag is not too light today but the external atmosphere makes me forget my burden. Édouard is busy taking a few shots with the GoproHe's happy to come because we haven't seen that fall yet, and he has a little extra day off from school as a bonus. The Kalalau trail is zigzagging, it's a good adjective to describe this famous and coveted trek, it is sometimes difficult to concentrate elsewhere than on the ground because the path is unpredictable and quite daredevil in places..
Some exotic flowers adorn the surroundings, gigantic trees suddenly appear before our eyes. First stop, Hanakapi'ai Beach. When we arrive, a landscape completely different from what I had seen with my family before, a Zen garden of stacked stones, there are stones everywhere, the stones are perfect, they are round and oval, everything is rounded and smooth, it's an impressive sight. More pictures and a little rest, we take a little snack and here we go again...
We now follow the Hanakapi'ai river in the Hanakapi'ai valley, in the distance, huge bamboos, it looks like in Asian countries. A smell of putrefaction invaded suddenly the place, we're looking for the beast, a few steps through the trunks of bamboo and just there, the skin of a boar lying on a branch, the local hunters left us a small, ephemeral remnant, a sign that Hawaiians are entrenched... in their nature and that their culture is still alive and strong. Further on, a task red attracts our curiosity at the foot of a bamboo, is it a flower? No, it's a mushroom, a new discovery... for us.
Soon we will be At the top, we hear the spill of the waterfall, several times we have to cross the river on wet rocks. Ne are not aloneand several others. hikers also want to see this famous waterfall, young and old alike are present all the way down the trail. Bonjour. You speak French? A Tahitian with his Jack Russell... greet us kindly. We see finally the gift of our quest, this great source of pure water that is the waterfall! A humid and foggy atmosphere accompanies it. The heat has now given way to coolness, André is the only brave one to experience swimming in his enormous reservoir.
After a few minutes on the spot, the return journey begins.we'll take our dinner a little lower to avoid getting too wet.The descent will be faster, in one go, without photo or stopover. Our ankles and calves are now more fragile, the descent is often more difficult than the ascent but we all arrive at the same time. safe and sound. A green coconut and its precious liquid are waiting for us when we arrive. à Ke'e beach is a small reward for accomplishing this unforgettable feat....
Aloha Napali!
English
It is early that morning we left to rediscover the Napali coast, but this time, we want to reach further, to meet this huge waterfall called Hanakapi'ai. Accompanied by my son Edouard and two charming Quebecers André and Noémie, we walked 8 miles through a green and lush vegetation. The hike begins at Ke'e beach, we are aware that many streams and rivers will be crossed and the trail will be muddy and slippery, but we are well prepared and very enthusiastic about it. Intermittent rain will follow us all day, but it's warm today, then it is not so unpleasant. All along, we stop to admire the idyllic landscape and to take pictures, I brought with me my Pentax 6x7, some films Provia 100 ISO and my usual Canon 5D, my bag is not too light today.Goal I does not have time to complain and the external atmosphere makes me forget my burden. Edouard cares to take some shot with the GoPro, is happy to come because we have not yet seen this fall, and it has the added bonus of getting a free day school. The Kalalau Trail is zig zag style this is a good adjective to describe this famous and coveted trek, it is sometimes difficult to focus elsewhere than on the ground because the path is unpredictable and rather reckless in places. Some exotic flowers adorn the surroundings, gigantic trees suddenly unfold before our eyes. First stop, Hanakapi'ai Beach. Upon arriving, a completely different landscape from what I had seen with my family before, a Zen garden stacked stones, it's everywhere, the stones are perfect, they are round and oval shape is rounded and everything smooth, it is a good show for us. Still photos pics and a little rest. We already hungry, we take a small snack and here we go again.... We now walk along the river Hanakapi'ai in the valley of the same name, in the distance, gigantic bamboo, it is like in Asian countries. A smell of putrefaction suddenly invaded the place, we seek the beast, walking through the bamboo trunks, right there, the skin of a wild pig or boar lying on a branch, local hunters have left us a small remnant ephemeral, sign Hawaiian that are rooted in their nature and their culture is still alive and strong. A red spot attracts our curiosity at the foot of a bamboo, is a flower? No it is a fungus says Andrew, a red mushroom-shaped flower, a new discovery for us. Soon we will be at the top, we mean the fall of the spill, many times we have to cross the river on wet rocks, we are not alone, several other hikers also want to see the famous falls, young and old are all present along the trail. Hello, you speak French? A Tahitian with his Jack Russell greets us kindly. Here! Finally, we perceive the gift of our quest, that great source of pure water that is falling! A wet and foggy atmosphere accompanies it. André is the only brave to experiment swimming in its huge reservoir, the heat has given way to the freshness and we are too chilly to confront. After a few minutes there, the return begins, we will take our dinner a little lower to avoid getting too wet, the descent will be faster with a stroke without a snapshot or stopover. Our ankles and calves are now more fragile, the descent is often more difficult than the climb, but we're smiling, unharmed. A green coconut walnut and is precious liquid expect us at our arrival at Ke'e beach, is our reward for having accomplished this memorable feat. Charming NapaliI will come back a next time because every time, you surprised us with your difference and your splendor. Aloha Napali...