Below, some of the signage on the Wai Koa Loop Trail.
We would not have found this place, but fellow hikers suggested that if we wanted a nice level walk this would be it. At that point, all of us over 70's were gasping for breath at the top of a 1250 foot elevation climb that we had covered in less than a mile....a pretty strenuous climb and we were all trying to be dignified and disguise our panting and sweating. So...a flat loop walk sounded attractive.
The next morning was brilliant, clear skies, not a breath of wind. With our pals Gail and Wendy off we started on what we thought was going to be a gentle loop walk through the advertised mahogany forest. ....maybe a mile or two..a walk through the park. Ha ha!!!
We had stumbled upon the most amazing journey through 500 acre Anaina Hou farm which has opened its doors to the community, not only to walk through acres of mahogany trees (the largest forest in the USA), but where there are community garden plots, dog parks, a grotto around an ancient stone dam AND the businesses which you see listed on the signage above. It has all been developed through the vision of Bill Porter (ETrade). What a gift and inspiration to the people of Kauai to move towards sustainable gardening and food production.
Just look at this avenue of trees! It was all rather discombobulating.....we imagined fight scenes in some action movie with creatures on stilts running through the trees, becoming trees, transforming into trees again to confuse the bad guys!!! If you peer through the row of trees in the picture above you can see the "window" of light, that one never seems to reach no matter how far you walk!
Along the FIVE mile walk we met and chatted with a man who had grown up in this neighbourhood and was home on a sentimental journey. He told us that when he was growing up here all of this acreage was in sugar cane. He was looking for a waterfall at the edge of the property. In the pictures above you can see what has been developed around that old stone dam...a tranquil place for meditation or a picnic. A rope swing hangs over the pool. Wish we had brought our bathing suits.
The Wai Koa Loop Trail has inspired us to continue to find a Kauai beyond the shopping malls, commercial luau's, ATV off road adventures and 1/2 price mai tai's.
Look closely to find Bruce at the centre of this picture, scrambling over rocks and the slippery red dirt of a steep mountain trail up Nounou Mountain..the Sleeping Giant.
We are probably a little nuts to do this...but for us the rewards are worth all the huffing and puffing!
And it feels so good on the descent!
This is a "tree farm"...planted by the early missionaries....Norfolk Pines ...row on row.
Only one more week to go on this most amazing adventure!
It's amazing what treasures we can continue to find even in a place we thought we knew so well, especially inside ourselves. Happy treasure-hunting!
ReplyDeleteAlways nice to know that our blog has resonated with at least one reader. Thanks Liz!
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