Kalalau... Take 1

Kalalau, wow!  It's a language that only ones who have been there can speak.  For anyone who has been there and truly spent anytime out there it's almost like you have this forever bond with them.  When you come out of the valley, you have this glow and can spot a fellow "family member."  Everyday I was falling in love... with Kalalau.  The smells, the sounds of phantom helicopters, generators, being able to hear the rough ocean over the ragging river... oh the power!  Things that I never knew could happen, did!  The first time we went out we were out for ten days.  My pack weighed about 50lbs, Anna's about 40lbs and Dylan's who knows, probably about 70lbs or so, he's an ox.  The second time we went out there, it was just Dylan and I and his pack was about 80 and mine was 60.  This time, I was super ready and couldn't wait to get back out there.  We met up with some of the people we had met when we were headed out of Kalalau the first time, what a treat it was to see them too!  Made my heart jump a little with just that much more excitement to get out there!  I am going to leave it at that and if you want to know more stories, well... you'll just have to ask.  I'll let the photos tell the story...

The Beginning

The toll is wrong...  On our way out of Kalalau there was another notch added, but not here.
A woman from NY was swept out to sea and lost her life.

Hanakapi'ai River... when it was low

Smoke Rock where I saw my first circular rainbow and a gorgeous sunset.

Dylan took a quick photo of Anna and I bathing in the absolute glory of the sunset!!!

Dylan getting us ladies and himself some drinking water for the trail on Day #2 hiking to Kalalau

There were so many points on the trail where it was STRAIGHT down!  One slip....  see you later!

Crossing Hanakoa River I slipped and got my boots wet...  letting my feet breath a little and twist out my socks at any chance!

This is where shit got real...  more so on the way out

Anna was very focused at this point

The flat green spot... yeah, that's where we were going

So tiny we are and straight down that is!!!

When we were about 2 miles from this point, I forgot about thirst, forgot about hunger, forgot about being tired, forgot about all that weight on my back...  I just felt this amazing rush over me and just went for it!
So worth it!!!

Learned how to properly cut sugar cane...  IT WAS SOOO GOOD!  Great energy boost too when hiking around.

I never went anywhere without my trusty machete 

Apple Bananas Anna and I  found while foraging  

Beautiful Sisal

Anna chopping up some fresh basil surrounding herself with our beautiful bounty from the day.

Waterfall at the end of the beach.

Sea Caves at the end of the beach.

I fell asleep while on the Heiau to the sound of the wind and waves, basking in the sun.  Never have I had it rain on my back and have full sun on my front.  I was sleeping on my side, my head on my backpack, my arm resting along the flow on my hip, and not one drop of rain touched the left side of my arm.  It was the strangest thing!  When I woke up to turn and dry my back, I was surprised with this beautiful rainbow!

I had a special bond with this dog, his owner was pretty cool too, but I had more in common with the dog...

Beautiful sunset.  

The Labyrinth...  No David Bowie or muppets, sorry.

Lilikoi/Passion Fruit

Anna and I enjoying a lovely swim after meeting up with Dylan and I on a serendipitous day!

Found this fella and kept him outside my tent to keep away the bad spirits...  Let's just say, it worked.

My tracks going to and from the water.  I never swam the first time I was there.  The waters were so strong and the waves unreal.  I wasn't going to test her power!

Another beautiful shot.  There are Orbs in so many shots and especially around this area.  Not sure why and I'm not questioning it.

If you only knew how HUGE those waves really were!

LOVE

Second time I went out...  This was one of my most favorite places to go...  Especially when there were rough seas!!!

Path by the beach always had some nice tomatoes to munch on.

Enjoying the sunset.

I banged up my toes pretty good first time.

Our last meal in Kalalau.  Quinoa, squash, garlic and all kinds of Kalalau treasures...  Interesting morning with the company that was there!  

After arriving in Hanakoa (6 mile) right as it was getting dark and in a torrential downpour, we were greeted by smiling faces and a hot fire.  We were SOOO happy!  That day we saw the Coast Guard helicopter and a couple jet skis looking for the woman that was washed out to sea.  We didn't know that and I was worried the whole way that something happened to a girl that we met out there.  Knowing/hoping that it wasn't her, I kept repeating over and over, she's ok, please be ok, she's ok, please be ok, whatever is going on, let everything be ok.  When I saw the girl I was worried about...  I SQUEEZED her so tight and was glad to see her smiling/gleaming face!  The group of amazing people we met that night, we made freshly roasted coffee, straight from Hanakoa!

This is where a Jagermeister bottle comes in hand to grind down the coffee beans.  This coffee... you have no idea how unbelievable it truly tastes.  Especially when drinking it in the presence of great friends/ new family!

You can see the red coffee fruits contrasted with the roasted beans.  Oh and the beans where collected by two girls from... MAINE!!!  I love those little ladies and they are super dear to my heart!

Family photo.

I do LOVE me some hands!

Hanakapi'ai River.  It was a crazy current and this was further upstream.  You don't mess with mother nature.

Peanut Butter noodles with tuna and Curried mashed potatoes with dried peas, corn and I think either veggie chili or refried beans...  It was AWESOME!  Dylan went in with 2 women... and came out with 5 women!  What a man, huh?!?  Talk about a team builder for all of us.  We all took care of one another and the conditions were unreal!  I am so proud of all of us and the connection that we made!  We stayed in Hanakapi'ai for a night and left early in the AM.  Per "coconut wireless" we heard that there were reports of 10 people stranded in Hanakoa... They have no idea the great time we had...  That was us, the smart ones that didn't try and push through...

THE END!!!