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The Trip

We explore the diversity of Kauai through a variety of hiking excursions. We'll hike the stunning ridgetop trails of Waimea Canyon (the Grand Canyon of the Pacific). We'll see the dramatic cliffs or "pali" from both sea level and high atop their ridgelines. We'll stroll along an endangered beach and dunk our bodies into the turquoise Pacific. Our days include a combination of shorter walks and more strenuous hikes. Our longest day is a nine-mile hike through the Alakai Swamp, which often offers both brilliant sunshine, warm tropical rain, and thick fog -- sometimes changing within minutes. We will also indulge in the slower pleasures of a tropical paradise -- a snorkel, a snooze on the beach, a scoop of local ice cream, or simply a novel that has been calling your name.

Itinerary

You will be picked up at the Lihu'e airport and transported back to our local accommodations for the week.

The daily weather will determine which hike or swim we will do, as rain conditions around Kauai vary considerably. Some hikes have cliff-top views with the beaches 4,000 feet below. White Tailed Tropic birds often grace the vista. On another day we will hike along the shoreline with the towering cliffs above us. As a Sierra Club trip, we will also have a service component. We may remove invasive plants or prune excess growth as we hike along the trails. We may join the local Sierra Club chapter and help clean up a beach. Swimming and snorkeling cap off nearly every day. If there is sufficient interest, a surfing or stand-up paddle-board lesson can be arranged (optional).

Getting There

Please note that the trip begins on Saturday, May 26 at 3 p.m. and ends on June 2nd, with departures for the airport after breakfast.

Accommodations and Food

Our cabins are one-room affairs and will be shared with other participants, split by gender. You will have minimal privacy; so kindly take note! Toilet and shower facilities are nearby, but are not within each cabin. Each cabin does have a small sink.

We plan to 'eat local' and participants should be prepared to experience the melting pot cuisine of a tropical Pacific island, home to many cultures. Island foods are fresh and healthy for hikers. In typical fashion, participants will take turns assisting our cook in meal prep and cleanup.

Trip Difficulty

We will hike between five to nine miles a day. The trail surface varies, and participants should be ready for slippery mud and some scrambling sections -- much like the jungle gym scrambling you did in elementary school. Because of the tropical temperature and humidity, consider our 9-mile hike to be the equivalent of a 12-mile hike at home. Except for the beach hike, nearly every hike has elevation gain/loss. Swimming and snorkeling will be determined by each person's desires.

Equipment and Clothing

Pack lightly. Bring lightweight layers that dry quickly. Kauai is casual. There are coin-operated laundry facilities on site. A day-pack is required and trekking poles are strongly recommended. A good book, swimsuit, shorts, sunscreen, sturdy walking shoes, a wide-brim hat are all essential. A sense of humor is always helpful. The detailed packing list will be sent upon signup and acceptance.

References

• Brennert, Alan, Honolulu. Highly recommended.
• Carlquist, S., Hawaii: A Natural History.
• Daws, Gavin, Shoal in Time: A History of the Hawaiian Islands.
• McDonald, Gordon, Volcanoes in the Sea.
• McBride, L.R., Petroglyphs of Hawaii.
• Michener, James, Hawaii.
• Morey, Kathy, Kauai Trails.
• Sohmer, S.H. and R. Gustafson, Plants and Flowers of Hawaii.
• Zurich, David, Hawaii Naturally.

Conservation

Sierra Club sponsors outings so members may experience new places, people, and activities. Specifically, we aim to heighten awareness of the global environment and encourage participants to take action to protect our shrinking world and all its inhabitants. On this trip, we will concentrate on Kauai and its local issues, often translating them into our own community's issues. We will also learn about Hawaii's land conservation issues.

Sierra Club National Outings is an equal-opportunity provider and will operate under a permit from the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources.

Trip Price

See the How to Apply for an Outing section for more details on registering for this trip and details about our Reservation and Cancellation Policy.

The payment of a deposit does not confirm you as a member on the trip. Participants must be approved by the trip leader. After signing up for this trip, you will be sent a confirmation packet containing approval materials (Participant Approval Questionnaire, Medical Form, Liability Release Form). Each applicant (including those on the waitlist) must fill out these forms and promptly mail them to the trip leader. The leader will review the approval materials and notify you of your acceptance in a timely manner.

Staff

Leader:

Erin Grey, a native Californian, thrives in the outdoors. She brings her life-long passion for the people and the outdoors to the tropical trails of Kauai. As a mother of three teens, Erin has logged hundred of hiking and paddling miles as an assistant scout master for the local boy scout troop. She is certified as a wilderness first responder and volunteers for CALESAR, a Bay Area search and rescue organization.

E-mail: eringrey@usa.net

Assistant Leader:

Jill McIntire has been leading trips to Kauai for many years and considers Kauai to be her favorite island. As a birder, she especially enjoys time spent in areas not yet altered by flora and fauna from "outside" the islands.

E-mail: jillmcin@lmi.net

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General Notes About Sierra Club Trips

• Carbon Offsets
• Carpooling
• Electronic Devices
• Equipment
• How to Apply for a Trip
• Leader Gratuities
• Liability Release and Assumption of Risk
• Medical Issues
• Non-discrimination Statement
• Participant Approval
• Reservation and Cancellation Policy
• Seller of Travel Disclosure
• Travel Insurance
• Trip Feedback
• Wilderness Manners