Ultimate Hawaii Explorer

2010 Adventures 2011 Adventures Backpacking

December 27, 2010 – January 8, 2011 | $ 2495 US

Skill Level: 3.5 out of 5
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Hawaii is a place of extremes….

…Along the northeast shore of the Big Island, the world’s most active volcano pours hot molten lava into the ocean creating brand new land, while only miles away, ancient fern forests with 300 year-old native trees lie seemingly untouched. This one-of-a-kind trip takes you to some of Hawaii’s most intensely-charged places like the world famous Kilauea volcano and the breathtaking Na Pali coast where you can see the formative processes that shaped these beautiful islands in all their power.

Along the way, you’ll get a taste of the island life as we tour the local farmer’s markets, spend a few lazy days at the beach and camp at several Hawaii State Parks. We’ll have snorkeling gear with us the entire trip, so there is an excellent chance we will swim with sea turtles, dolphins and breeding whales! If you have never done this, then you are missing out on one of life’s greatest treats!

This is not like any other Hawaii vacation you will ever see. You will explore the hidden beaches rather than the famous ones because that is where the sweetest sunsets are. You will backpack 12 miles along the Na Pali coast to one of the most incredible power spots on the entire earth because its worth every step. You will choose to camp under the Hawaiian moon rather than in a hotel most of the nights because then you will really be on vacation. You will eat fresh fruit, fish and coconuts all day long because it makes you feel so good!

Trip Highlights

Backpacking along the Na Pali coast.
Tour Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.
Swim with sea turtles, dolphins and whales.
Visit local farmer’s markets every chance we get.
Explore 5 Hawaii State Parks.
Take surfing lessons or just take a nap on the beach.
Hotel accommodations and celebration luau on final night.
Bring your own backpacking gear.

Itinerary

Day 1- Meet in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii for pre-trip discussion. Schedule your flight to arrive before 4 PM on December 27th.

Day 2- Day hike (Awini Trail) in Pololu valley, Kua Bay, snorkeling with sea turtles, camp at Kiholo Bay.

Day 3- Dolphins, coconuts and Kona Coffee, camp at Kealakekua Bay.

Day 4- Tour Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, camp at NP.

Day 5- Steam vents, hot pools, and black sand beach. Stay at Steam Vents Inn. Optional evening lava walk.

Day 6- Explore the Hilo Farmer’s Market. Hike to Akaka falls or drive to Mauna Loa (highest point in Hawaii).

Day 7- Fly to Kauai. (flight included) Camp at Polihale beach.

Day 8- Waimea Canyon hiking and Kokee State Park, camp at Anini beach.

Day 9- Surfing at Hanalei Bay, camp at Ha’ena beach.

Day 10- Na Pali coast hike.

Day 11- Na Pali coast hike.

Day 12- Na Pali coast hike.

Day 13- Celebration luau, hotel accommodations.

In the morning on January 9th, we will say good by at Lihue airport where you’ll catch your inter-island flight back to Kona International Airport. Schedule your departure from Kona for no earlier than 6 PM.

Please contact us for more information.

Gear List

This trip requires a unique set of backpacking gear. Temperatures will never really be “cold”, however you may get cold under certain circumstances (like being in the mountains when its raining), so please bring a warm layer of quick-dry clothes. A good rain jacket is of the utmost importance. You will need a full set of backpacking gear, since we will spend three days backpacking and camping along the Na Pali coast. However, you should keep your pack fairly light since you will have it with you on the entire trip.

Gear list coming soon…

Difficulty Ratings

This trip is rated Level 3.5 of 5 in terms of difficulty. You should be in good physical and mental conditioning to attempt this hike. During this trip, you will be required to carry a pack for 6 miles that weighs up to 25% of your total weight over steep terrain on two consecutive days.

Level 1- A walk in the park with wine and cheese afterwards. You stay up way too late chatting with your hiking buddies.
Level 2- A several hour hike along even terrain with beer and sandwiches afterwards. You go to bed early and wake up a little sore.
Level 3- A moderately long day of hiking with a full backpack over undulating terrain with pesto pasta and garlic bread dinner. You can’t sleep because you keep thinking about climbing higher, more remote mountains.
Level 4- A full day of climbing mountains, crossing rivers and wilderness route-finding with a full pack. Tomato soup and wild rice for dinner. You fall asleep as soon as the sun goes down, so you can do it all over again tomorrow.
Level 5- Starting early and ending late, you climb two mountain peaks in a single day with a technical day pack and the serious threat of lightning at each summit. The views are incredible as you stand atop a massive rock precipice, looking over a sea of wilderness in every direction. You’ve eaten 4 power bars and drank 2 gallons of water today. It’s getting late and every part of your body is needing rest, but you still have five miles to hike and you don’t want to leave the summit….but know you should. Your hiking companions, for whom you have a huge sense of pride to be with on this journey, urge you onto your feet and you begin the descent. it is starting to snow. You live for days like this!