| Kawaikini (Waialeale) Mountain/Rock |
Contribute  Loading...
Children Loading...
Geography Parents Loading... Mountains & Rocks
| Kawaikini (Waialeale)   | 
| Page Type: Mountain/Rock Location: Hawaii, United States, Oceana Lat/Lon: 22.06200°N / 159.50000°E County: Kauai Elevation: 5243 ft / 1598 m | Page By: Don Nelsen Created/Edited: May 17, 2002 / Jan 3, 2008 Object ID: 150983 Hits: 13568 Loading... Page Score: 77.69% - 34 Votes Loading... Vote: Log in to vote |
OverviewPage adopted April 25th, 2006 and (still) under re-construction.
Kawiakini is the highest summit on the central volcano on the Island of Kauai, and is one of the most scenic mountains in the world, not to mention the wettest place on earth.
Summit of Kawaikini from the NW
Waialeale ("rippling waters" in Hawaiian)is the name given to the small lake at the northern end of the summit rim, the highpoint near there where the official rain guage is located and a common name for the mountain as a whole.
The volcano itself is long extinct, and millions of years of erosion have contributed to its rugged beauty.
The rain keeps the summit shrouded in clouds most of the time and makes it (officially) inaccessible by foot. To the east are dramatic waterlogged cliffs, which were used as backdrop in Jurassic Park, South Pacific and many other movies. The access to the summit is further guarded by sheer cliffs on the south and the north side and to the west are the thick jungles of the Alakai Swamp. The ancient Hawaiians were able to reach summit by climbing a ridge from the northeast, but the most realistic approach is to slog through the Alakai Swamp, starting on existing trails of Kokee State Park.
At the summit, the ancient Hawaiians built an alter, which still remains. There is also a modern rain guage at the top, used to verify the "Wettest Spot on Earth" designation (about 450 inches a year). The rain guage is serviced by helicopter, which is also how most tourists view the peak.
The tourist industry has taken to refering to the semicircle of cliffs along the summit rim as "The Blue Hole" and "Waialeale Crater" but this is an erosional feature and not a crater or remains of a crater.
Summit Approach via Alakai Swamp
With the summit guarded on three sides by cliffs thousands of feet high consisting of wet, slippery and loose volcanic rock, the only possible approach is through the forbidding Alakai Swamp. A trail once existed up what the ancient Hawaiians called "The Great Ridge of Kane" from the NE to make offerings to Kane, the god of creation and fertility. The last documented ascent of this trail was about 1902 and the route has long been lost to the jungle and landslides.
Another trail was built to service the rain guage about 1911, but after the hurricane of 1959 and the advent of helicopters, that trail was abandoned. A couple of additional hurricanes in 1988 and 1992 finished the job. The route of the trail still appears on some maps but only exists beyond the mid-swamp bogs as a workable "trail" in a few short sections and is very difficult to follow. A more viable route has recently been forced through the swamp and will be described in detail in a soon to be added trip report.
There are remains of a small Heiau (altar) on the shores of the small summit lake, Waialeale (rippling waters), and there is some evidence that present day Hawaiians somehow reach this spot and make offerings. Currently (Feb. '06) there is a small wooden carved figure at the shores of the lake.
The way via the Alakai Swamp is about 13 miles, most of it through wet, muddy jungle terrain and over and under fallen trees, the result of two major hurricanes in 1988 and 1992. Summit via Ridge RouteAccording to the Ultimate Kauai Guide, the ancient Hawaiians reached the summit by climbing a ridge from the northeast.
Contributor snwburd writes on May 19, 2002...
The ridge that the Hawaiians climbed in days of yore can be reached by trail to this spot. It is called the Tunnel Trail, and can get you to the gauging station a short distance SE of the map point. The actual map point is in a tunnel that was carved into the mountain in the 1920's, but the ridge above can be climbed to the summit. Or so I've read. It's a bit more than 2.5 miles one way, but almost 4,000 vertical feet of climbing. Access to the Tunnel Trail is via State Route 580 (Kaumoo Road) from Wailua. The road is paved at the beginning but becomes muddy dirt where 4WD is recommended. More details are found in Blue Hole route.
CampingA campground is available in Kokee State Park. Permits for it must be obtained at the State Parks office in Lihue (by mail or in person), before you arrive at the park (info). The camping fees are very reasonable campared costs of most other lodging. At Kokee you need to be prepared for cool nighttime temperatures due to the high altitude.
On the eastern side of the mountain, camping is said to be illegal, which technically rules out any multi-day hikes. However, there is plenty of wilderness to hide in, and apparently not much in the way of enforcement.
Flora and FaunaThe entire Hawaiian island chain once had a complex and unique ecosystem that had developed in virtual isolation over millions of years. With the arrival of the first Hawaiians about 1500 years ago and especially with the arrival of the first Europeans in the 1770's major changes have occurred. Just a few examples: Something like 85% of the endemic bird population has been wiped out, hundreds of invasive plant species have been introduced, displacing native vegetation, and many non-native animals have arrived, endangering native species. (more later)General Advice for KauaiWithout a doubt, the best guidebook for exploring Kauai is the Ultimate Kauai Guide. It is has excellent maps, great photos and detailed info for waterfalls, trails, beaches and everything else an outdoor enthusiast might want. It includes maps and info on Kokee State Park trails and two trails on the eastern side of Waialeale - the Jungle Trail and the Tunnel Trail. (If the authors did not invent these the trails themselves, they were probably the first to record them.) If you get this one guide, you won't need any other. Be sure to see their website for updates and additional info. (This is an unpaid endorsement, honest.)
Lodging prices on Kauai are generally atrocious, but there are plenty of state and county campgrounds at very low rates, and a couple of cheap motels in Lihue. See this page for advice. Also, a good on-line source to locate lodging is Vacation Rentals By Owner: VBRO.com I've used this for visits to kauai, Maui and The Big Island and have never been disappointed.
Lihue has a well-stocked Wal-Mart which is a haven from high Island prices (while no doubt sucking the life out of downtown Lihue). It has lots of camping and snorkling equipment, as well as Philippine-made "Hawaiian" souvenirs, at low mainland prices. Lihue is also blessed with every conceivable form of fast food, including 99-cent specials, and most of the basic services of stripmall America. If you depart from these well-worn trails, however, expect high prices.
Nearly all natural attractions on Kauai, such as beaches, waterfalls and state parks, are free. There is so much to see and do on Kauai, there seems no compelling reason to attempt any strenuous hikes on your first visit -- like Waialeale or the Blue Hole. Just hang loose.
External Links Images
|
|
