Water is a constant theme in the lives of NRS ambassadors Adam Elliott and Susan Hollingsworth Elliott. When the self-described river rats went to Hawaii last spring, they left their boats behind but found plenty of watery recreation waiting for them on Kauai.
Last March, three generations of desert river-rats spent a good chunk of March in Kauai. Susan and I joined my sisters, brothers-in-law, nieces, family friends, and Dad’s girlfriend, to celebrate my Dad’s 70th birthday. Happy birthday, Dad! (Rob Elliott, “Pop-pop”, patriarch and star in Of Souls and Water, “The Elder”.)
For a small island, Kauai has a significant variety of climate and landscape. We spent our time hiking inland, along the coast, swimming with turtles, boogie-boarding and sun-bathing. To be able to do this with family and friends was a treat. However, we also made sure to budget in some extra time for just the two of us. It is no surprise that we found water everywhere; we began our three week vacation with a two day hike to possibly the wettest place on earth.
Taking a break from the relentless rain on the center of the island to check our progress toward camp. Not even five miles in and our Sea Tour jackets were fully tested and proven dry.
The small island offers only a few ways to enter into wilderness with expectations of spending multiple days away from civilization. The classic Na’Pali coast offers one option—that most hikers take—while Kokee State Park offers another. The park sits high atop Waimea Canyon, deep into the wettest environment on the island. Some say the wettest in the world.
The rain fell as we cooked under a small pavilion. It fell as we set up the tent and continued as we slept through the night. In the morning, the streams greeted us with the excitement of high flow. Here in the tropics, plants leach compounds that stain the rivers a rich tan color without decreasing much clarity.Even when the goal is hiking, we can’t avoid moving water. Or perhaps our internal navigation directs us there without us even knowing. Rain falling and creeks pumping.Not many explore the center of the island. Maybe it’s because of the dense vegetation, which forces you into a tunnel in the mud along the so-called “trail.” Just a guess.After hours of mud puddles, 45-degree slopes, pig trails and rain, you find a concrete tunnel that leads to the other side of the island—one mile through the mountain. The light at the end could be seen, even from a mile away. At the other side, more tunnels branched off, creating an eerie network of abandoned mine shafts, with the rivers now running through them.The tunnel hike painted us with mud from head to toe. A hiker’s spa of sorts.Going on adventures with someone you love makes your love for them and the outdoors grow exponentially.
