Our Anniversaries Trip - Day 5 - Hike in the jungle

9/27/13  Friday

Our fifth day of our anniversaries trip began with another look at the sun rise then we drove to the trail head for the Maunawili Falls Trail.  This was to be an easy 3.2 mile hike to the falls.  Not bad, Dayle and I have hiked 20 miles in a single day.  But this trail is in a rain forest and the trail turns out to be about 85% thick mud.  so this short hike that should normally take a little over an hour, took three hours.  If were were not using walking sticks we all would have fallen in the mud many times. Part of the reason why our little hike took so long is because we made a wrong turn and this very muddy and not well marked trail.  We had gone to withing 1/4 mile of the falls and took a wrong turn.  We we hiking and getting all wet and muddy, and eaten up by mosquitoes and having such a good time until we asked a young couple who was walking towards us, "How much further?" And the young lady replies, "You're almost out."  We all snapped, "Out!" She said, "Yes, the parking lot is just ahead."  Grrrrr, Here we were so excited that we are almost at the falls and we are all muddy, wet, and hungry. Then we realized that we have to start all over,  It turns out that there are three trail heads to these falls and we had hiked from one to another totally missing the turn to the falls.  This sweet military couple with a baby and retired military golden retriever bomb dog (the dog was a higher rank than his owner!), lead us on the right path chatting as we went along the trail.  It turns out that they are Christians and he had just returned from a deployment the day before.  We had such a great time of fellowship which made the time go so fast.  They also told us where to find sea turtles,  pineapples, and hidden swimming holes above the falls.

Beginning of the trail

Beautiful and strange vegetation is everywhere

Going down the very slippery slope of mud

Once we crossed this little stream the turn to the falls is just ahead and we totally missed it.

Look at the size of this bamboo!

Giant Fern

the pool of the falls.

After arriving at the falls we had lunch and I went swimming, exploring, and jumping into the water. On the left side of the falls is where I climbed up to the top of the falls.  There I discovered the two little pools.  After coming down and telling everyone how beautiful the pools were, Dayle decided to actually get into the water and climb up the rocks to take a look for herself.  When she joined me in the water and climbing up the rocks I felt like we were teenagers again.  We used to do this kind of stuff when we were still in high school.  I can;t believe that we have been married for 42 years.  Of what fun we have had!

We met so many friendly folks along the way. One young girl let us use her bug spray but it was to late for Dayle!!

Taking a little swim in the pool

In the above video you can see me jumping into the pool below the falls.  On the left side I climbed up and beyond the falls

Pool beyond the falls

Second pool

The hike out was uneventful except for a few falls and lots of mosquito bites.  It was getting dark so we had to keep moving.  But we made it out in plenty of time.