When we finished this hike, we all agreed that the 2.5 mile trail to the first tunnel was the toughest terrain we had ever hiked in our lives. We averaged a whopping .9 miles per hour. I think I've crawled between pubs in Georgetown faster than that.

Due to time constraints, we didn't make it through the third tunnel, but it was quite an experience anyway, and I recommend going even if you only traverse one or two tunnels.

The first mile or so of trail was an unbelievable slog of mud, oftentimes so overgrown that you had to squat down at the same time you were trying to avoid filling your shoes with water and muck. Just when you'd think that the worst was over you'd round a bend and the trail would disappear again into a three-foot high natural culvert of branches on three sides, while below was jungle slop laced with detritus and all manner of bugs.

It was a lot of fun.

You can read about the tunnels in the Ultimate Guidebook, so I won't spend a lot of time on background here. I spent a fair amount of time worrying about how I might fare once inside the tunnels and ironically they turned out to be the easiest part of the hike. The 3/4-mile long first tunnel does in fact have a pin-prick of light visible when you enter, assuring you that there is an exit and you may not be sloshing to your doom.

The headwaters of the Hanalei River, which we arrived at after the second tunnel, could be many stretches of river on Kauai or Maui for that matter. But then you look up at the misty ridgeline leading up to Mount Wai'ale'ale, argueably one of the most sacred places in The Islands, and you realize that the nearest people are probably about 10 miles downstream and, well, it all suddenly seems pretty cool.

We didn't see anyone at any point on this hike, only a couple of ATV-ers around the trailhead road.

Hike Photos

Comments on The Ultimate Kauai Guidebook©, 5th Ed. — pg. 197
I managed to lose the pages on this hike during the hike itself. I usually tear out the relevant pages and bring them along, rather than hauling the whole book. My pack is heavy enough, what with water, camera, food, rain gear, etc. So I'll try to point out from memory some differences I noticed. And if you find my pages, send them back to me, OK?

There was no specific mention of how overgrown and difficult the trail is, especially the first mile. The second tunnel entrance is actually about 8 feet above the stream bed level and is a vertical climb. When we were there, a very thin line had been tied to help you navigate the climb. We found that getting back down was harder than getting up.

The book also doesn't mention that the second tunnel has an immediate branch to the left, or that it has two bends that make the correct direction (straight) hard to verify until you've commited to quite an exploration. There are also two places where triangle-frames of beams "hold" the ceiling up. The water-logged and spongy feel to the beams did not inspire confidence.

Leave yourself a LOT of time to make the drive to the trailhead. It took us a good 45 minutes from Kapa'a. If you want any hope of completing this hike, I suggest you leave the trailhead no later than 7 am and plan on moving quickly. If you do make the end, let me know and send pictures!