There are many reasons to visit Hawaii but I think hiking the Napali Coast Trail is one of the best. It’s 12 breathtaking miles along the northwest side of Kauai with a final destination that is beyond words. We spent 5 glorious days, hiking, camping and exploring.
My new friends Rain and Linnea hitching a ride to the trail head.
A lot of warnings and they’re all true.
The trail is about the only place you won’t see a rooster in Kauai.
About 1/2 a mile in.
Linnea starting a campfire so we can cook dinner.
Camp.
Feels like a painting to me.
Everything tastes better when cooked over a fire.
Rain tending to her dinner.
Rain lighting up the waves with her flash.
Our campsite, lit by fire and headlamps.
Happy to be away from a cold Canadian winter.
Sven, Linnea and Rain.
Rain, photographing the coast line.
Break time.
Our new friend Matt.
The backdrop to this hike doesn’t even seem real at times.
Goats.
A goat just checking out the view.
Rock hopping after a long, hot day.
Rain, is just as crazy as I am about photography.
Sunset swim in a very rare, calm ocean.
Matt
Rain knows how to live.
Filtering some water.
Eaten alive by the mini mosquitoes at the river.
Linnea getting her feet wet.
Matt being tumbled by the waves.
Poser.
Sandy toes.
The wedding photographer in me apparently was not on vacation.
I have no idea.
Campfire jam.
Still smiling on a rainy day.
Matt reading a book and waiting out the rain.
Rain, trying to get us a snack.
The bounty.
Not a place you want to slip and fall.
Rain and Matt heading back.
I could not find a composition that even came close to doing this part of the trail justice. Narrow, slippery and down right dangerous. I met at least a dozen people who said they’d never hike the trail again because of this 1/2 of a mile stretch.
Haleakala (‘house of the sun’), is my favourite place on Maui, maybe even the planet. I found myself there 3 times recently, first for sunrise on Christmas morning, then a 22 mile overnight hiking trip and finally a 12 mile full moon hike. Haleakala is a wild place, during the day you’ll usually find yourself hiking under a relentless sun but some days it will snow. There is very little water to be found, yet plants like the Silversword thrive here. At night, you’ll find peace and quiet you didn’t know possible and more stars than your mind can comprehend.
A few days after photographing my last wedding of the year I hopped on a plane and headed to one of my favourite places in the world, Maui. The Hawaiian islands have always held a special place in my heart, but Maui in particular has an energy that just feels right to me. On most given Sundays you can find me at a place called Little Beach. There you’ll find an amazing beach, fun surf, whales, turtles, naked hippies, drum circles, fire dancing and perfect sunsets. There’s very few places I’ve been to where talking to complete strangers is so acceptable and entertaining.
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