New Years in the Swamp

So I had an awesome week at home with family and friends, and was fortunate enough to go to the Eagles-Bears game, and get in a day on the slopes with the boys.  I got back to Kauai just in time to miss the bitter cold front… hope everyone is staying warm! I decided to celebrate New Year’s Eve at EST, so 7pm HI time.  I woke up bright and early New Year’s Day for a hike with my co-worker John.  The Pihea-Alakai Trail started at the top of the Waimea Canyon, about a 45 minute drive from my house.  The first leg was along the ridge of the mountain, offering some spectacular views of the canyon and ocean.

Shortly thereafter, the trail got steep (downhill) and muddy, as we traveled into a more swampy area.   At times, there was boardwalk on the trail, which provided a nice break from the otherwise challenging terrain.  I got lucky enough to see a few native forest birds here and there, although never long enough to snap a picture, as they are quick and seem to avoid human interaction.  But here is an example of one of the more unique species.

Along the way, we also saw some old Telephone poles, which are remnants of a World War 2 communication system.  After about 4 miles (2 hours), we reached the end of the trail, and were treated to a great view of Hanalei Bay, which is all the way on the North Shore of the island.  All that was left was the 4 mile trek back…

I went fishing a few times this week, and on Friday I actually saw a whale (tail only) and a sea turtle from my spot on the rocks.  I also caught my first Ulua fish.  They can grow to be HUGE as seen in the picture below, but mine was just a little baby so I had to throw her back.  Either way, it’s always exciting to check a new fish off the list.

There was a big showing from Eagles fans at Kalapaki Joe’s on Saturday, so it was fun to watch the game with my fellow Philadelphians, although the outcome was obviously not what we all hoped for.  This week, I plan to book a trip to the Big Island for the end of the month, so more adventures to come. Mahalo for reading, until next time!