One of the most impressive hikes in all of Hawaii is definitely the Alakai Swamp Trail. With 12 km and 400 meters of altitude, it is easy to achieve. However, you should plan for enough time because the path is sometimes muddy along the slopes. It is located near the rainiest point on earth, Mount Waialeale. It rains 335 days a year here. So you have to be lucky to be able to walk the trail in the sun.
After a detour to the Kalalau Lookout, walk the Pihea Trail high above the island. The parking lot is at the end of Kokee Road, which leads from Waimea Canyon State Park into Kokee State Park. The trail, which is sometimes extremely slippery and muddy, leads you to the Alakai Swamp Trail at an elevation of about 1300 feet. The Alakai Swamp Trail leads through a huge moor. Wooden runways prevent the trail from sinking into the swampy ground.
Check at the Kokee Museum first if you can hike the Alakai Swamp Trail that day because it is sometimes too muddy due to rain. After that, drive to Kalalau Lookout, where you can park the car. And then: treat yourself to the spectacular view of the Kalalau Valley.
Tip: If the visibility is poor, it's worth waiting 15-30 minutes. The clouds often clear and reveal views of Kalalau Valley.
The path leads through wonderful small forests, always uphill and downhill, and sometimes there are large natural steps to overcome. Pay attention to the signs at forks in the road, as other paths cross from time to time. Of course, you can also make side trips, e.g. along the Pihea Trail if you have enough time and strength. Your destination is the Kilohana Lookout.
Je weiter man wandert, desto sumpfiger wird das Gebiet. So läuft man über Holzplanken zunächst im Wald, der sich später lichtet. Neben dem Weg beginnen Pfützen und schließlich kleine Seen und Tümpel – man befindet sich im Alakai Sumpf, der fern unseres „realen Lebens“ wie eine Szene aus einem Fantasy-Film wirkt. Ganz am Ende befindet sich eine Bank am Kilohana Lookout. Leider sieht man dort im Normalfall gar nichts, außer Nebel. Bei klarer Sicht ist der Ausblick traumhaft. Man sieht die grünen Kämme der Berge und über die gesamte North Shore bis Hanalei.
