Discover The Island Of Kauai,
Hawaii
Kauai’s Kokee State Park
Kokee State Park is a cool, mountainous state park
encompassing 4,345 acres and containing 45 miles of trails. Located just up the
road from the astounding Waimea Canyon (the Grand Canyon of the Pacific), Kokee
State Park offers beautiful scenery and many things to do and explore.
The place can be accessed from the extreme west end of the island of
Kauai. From centrally located Lihue Airport, it is approximately 90 minutes
away if you take the Kaumualii Highway (Route 50) to either Waimea (23 miles,
40 minutes) or Kekaha (26 miles, 45 minutes). From there, two roads are
available up the mountain to Kokee.
If you’re coming from
Waimea, just take the Waimea Canyon Drive (Route 550). If from Kekaha, then
take the Kokee Road (Route 552).
There are numerous rent-a-car firms
at Lihue Airport. You can rent one for yourself. However, if you are planning
to explore the dirt roads and trails of Kokee, be sure to get a 4-wheel drive
vehicle, the recommended vehicle type for Kokee’s kind of trail. It’s
not a good idea to go exploring wet, dirt roads unless you have a 4-wheel drive
vehicle.
The drive from Waimea or Kekaha up the mountain to Kokee can
last up to 30 minutes. During that time, you’ll be doing a lot of winding
and “bending” down the dirt road. So if you are prone to car
sickness, be sure to take motion sickness prevention medication at least 30
minutes before the drive. If not, there are also many quiet turn-off areas
where you can ease yourself.
Sightseeing
One of the
great aspects of Kauai is its tons of panoramic vistas. Kokee State Park is no
different. The State Park has a total of four lookouts, all of which provide
you with unmitigated views of various parts of the island.
Picture
Kalalau Valley, featured in many postcards. You can view it at the Kalalau
Lookout and the Puu O Kila Lookout at the end of the Kokee Road on top of the
mountain. However, rolling fogs may sometimes obscure the view so consider
yourself lucky if it’s clear viewing day.
The second lookout,
Puu O Kila Lookout, is also located at the end of the Kokee Road, but it starts
at the Pihea Trail, instead of the dirt road from Waimea.
If you want
to view the ocean west and southwest of Kauai, then it’s Puu Hinahina
Lookout that you want. Here, you can also see the “Forbidden Island”,
Ni’ihau, which can be seen by sailboat or by helicopter, but never
landed.
The Waimea Canyon Lookout also provides a panoramic view of
the island. Called the “Grand Canyon of the Pacific”, this is the
reason why people drive up to Kokee. The Canyon is ten miles long, a mile wide,
and over 3,600 feet deep.
Picnic
As you reach Kokee
State Park, your first rest stop is the First Pavilion. Located on the left
side of Kokee Road, these small pavilions have pay phones and restrooms. As an
added bonus, across the road are spectacular views of Waimea Canyon.
The next stop is Kalalau Lookout, but there are fewer restrooms here and even
fewer picnic tables. You can try picnicking on the ground but chances are the
ground is going to be muddy because the place is higher up, which means climate
is colder and wetter.
However, if you’re looking for the best
place for your picnic blanket, nothing can compare to the Kokee State Park
itself. At mile marker 15, the park offers extensive picnic sites, pavilions,
restrooms, grills, grassy park meadow, camping facilities, Ranger Station,
Kokee Museum, and a restaurant.
Useful Hints for More Kokee
Fun:
You may want to visit Kokee State Park when they celebrate
the Banana Poka Festival. Despite its name, the plant is actually a vine pest
with billions and billions of uses. Banana Poka is not related to the banana,
nor does it dance, but you can use it for basket-weaving and other crafts.
“Kokee” means “to bend” in Hawaiian. Once you’re
through the trail up the mountain, you’ll realize why they call it
that.
The Kokee Natural History Museum is the oldest museum in the
state. A small, interesting museum located at the Kokee State Park at mile
marker 15, it offers excellent maps and other hiking information. The Kokee
Natural History Museum sponsors short-guided hikes, called the Wonder Walks, in
the summer. If you’re interested, register early.
The State of
Hawaii leases lots with unique, lessee-built cabins, for twenty-year terms. The
current lease expires in about 2006. The lease prohibits permanent
residency.
Each of the activities mentioned above can fill up a single
day. However, if you’re feeling up for it, you can string a couple
together, too. In Kauai, that is not a problem. Considering how small the
island is, everything is just within easy reach by boat, car, or helicopter.
Just make sure that when you do decide to squeeze in a lot in one day, time
your travel properly. This is one way to avoid traffic and keep stress level
down. Hey, this is supposed to be a vacation. Have fun! |
