Pipiwai Trail, Part 1

We hiked the Pipiwai trail this morning starting at about 9:30, beating most of the daytripper traffic into Hana. It started out steep and muddy, but .5 mile in it was GORGEOUSNESS at every turn - waterfalls, pools, a bamboo forest, fallen African Tulip blooms on flat, shiny rocks.

And the air...the air was sweet and thick with oxygen, it felt like breathing in life essence and warmth with every inhale - that may sound flowery, but anyone who has hiked in dry or cold climates knows how agonizing it can be to breathe in harsh, unkind air while physically exerting oneself.

The 2 miles in, 2 miles out hike ended with an absolutely awesome 400 foot Waimoku waterfall. And here I mean "awesome" in the truest definition of the word. (The waterfall in this post is the "small" 300 foot Makahiku falls).