Comments on: Kaapoko Tunnel Hike (part 1) http://great-hikes.com/blog/tunnel-hike-to-the-hanalei-river/ Living and hiking on the island of Kauai Sun, 07 Mar 2010 18:48:14 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.2 hourly 1 By: Sheri http://great-hikes.com/blog/tunnel-hike-to-the-hanalei-river/#comment-85540 Sheri Sat, 27 Feb 2010 02:37:13 +0000 http://great-hikes.com/blog/?p=181#comment-85540 great blog! My husband & I have hiked all over the world, and this hike stands out for both of us as one tough cookie! We got to the trailhead, a feat in and of itself, and i realized our lunch & water was still in the fridge. oops! As a result, we hiked to the second tunnel mostly in silence. this is why you don't bring women on this hike! smiles. it was a great day & one we will always remember! sheri l. great blog! My husband & I have hiked all over the world, and this hike stands out for both of us as one tough cookie! We got to the trailhead, a feat in and of itself, and i realized our lunch & water was still in the fridge. oops! As a result, we hiked to the second tunnel mostly in silence. this is why you don’t bring women on this hike! smiles. it was a great day & one we will always remember! sheri l.

]]> By: David Cooper http://great-hikes.com/blog/tunnel-hike-to-the-hanalei-river/#comment-85023 David Cooper Tue, 09 Feb 2010 07:13:33 +0000 http://great-hikes.com/blog/?p=181#comment-85023 I just spent all day trying to get to the tunnels and still don't know where I went wrong. But I well say that it was the toughest 3 mile one way hike to no where that I have ever done in my life. We ended up at a dead end and the only reason we kept going, was the tunnel, which we never saw. BUMMER. 1/08/10 I just spent all day trying to get to the tunnels and still don’t know where I went wrong. But I well say that it was the toughest 3 mile one way hike to no where that I have ever done in my life. We ended up at a dead end and the only reason we kept going, was the tunnel, which we never saw. BUMMER.
1/08/10

]]> By: Mike Faulkner http://great-hikes.com/blog/tunnel-hike-to-the-hanalei-river/#comment-81657 Mike Faulkner Wed, 04 Nov 2009 09:43:44 +0000 http://great-hikes.com/blog/?p=181#comment-81657 Great post about the secret tunnels hike. I would love to attempt this trail, but I can't find any information on where the trailhead is actually located. Can you provide any info on how to reach the trail? I would really appreciate it, thanks! Great post about the secret tunnels hike. I would love to attempt this trail, but I can’t find any information on where the trailhead is actually located. Can you provide any info on how to reach the trail? I would really appreciate it, thanks!

]]> By: Rana http://great-hikes.com/blog/tunnel-hike-to-the-hanalei-river/#comment-79618 Rana Tue, 15 Sep 2009 09:20:46 +0000 http://great-hikes.com/blog/?p=181#comment-79618 Hi there, Your blog is great, wish I read it before I went for the hike..Me and my friend made to Hanalei River, and got lost afterwards.. we followed the instructions from the book (Kauai revealed, 7th edition) and went to the left, and trail crossed the same river again (is that right) and then there is a trail ahead, and then it disappears.. we spent about 30 min trying to find the path.. I was so disappointed, guess I have to try it again..Such a great hike, nothing like I've experienced before.. awesome.. real ADVENTURE Hi there,

Your blog is great, wish I read it before I went for the hike..Me and my friend made to Hanalei River, and got lost afterwards.. we followed the instructions from the book (Kauai revealed, 7th edition) and went to the left, and trail crossed the same river again (is that right) and then there is a trail ahead, and then it disappears.. we spent about 30 min trying to find the path.. I was so disappointed, guess I have to try it again..Such a great hike, nothing like I’ve experienced before.. awesome.. real ADVENTURE

]]> By: Lee http://great-hikes.com/blog/tunnel-hike-to-the-hanalei-river/#comment-77280 Lee Sun, 21 Jun 2009 05:27:16 +0000 http://great-hikes.com/blog/?p=181#comment-77280 Thanks for the tunnel pics. A few years back we hiked through the first tunnel, and through what you called the "short Bonus tunnel". We ran short on time and never made the second tunnel. I was wondering to this day what I missed, and your great Blog filled in the gaps. Now I can get on with my life. That severe a hike was not at all what my Girlfriend had in mind when I took her on a Kauai vacation. I felt compelled to reward her acomplishment with a gift. So for us the tunnel is still called "The Black Pearl tunnel". As I have time I'm reading through all your other postings. Great stuff, although I have to admit our trip with Inter-Island Heli was another high point of the trip....especially the landing at the waterfall. We didn't realize it was illegal, but it was still very cool. Thanks. L Thanks for the tunnel pics. A few years back we hiked through the first tunnel, and through what you called the “short Bonus tunnel”. We ran short on time and never made the second tunnel. I was wondering to this day what I missed, and your great Blog filled in the gaps. Now I can get on with my life.
That severe a hike was not at all what my Girlfriend had in mind when I took her on a Kauai vacation. I felt compelled to reward her acomplishment with a gift. So for us the tunnel is still called “The Black Pearl tunnel”.
As I have time I’m reading through all your other postings. Great stuff, although I have to admit our trip with Inter-Island Heli was another high point of the trip….especially the landing at the waterfall. We didn’t realize it was illegal, but it was still very cool. Thanks.

L

]]> By: Kim http://great-hikes.com/blog/tunnel-hike-to-the-hanalei-river/#comment-76678 Kim Fri, 29 May 2009 17:52:59 +0000 http://great-hikes.com/blog/?p=181#comment-76678 thick soled tabis === neoprene dive boots. ive used these in africa hiking through swamps, kalalau trail, etc. they have a rubber sole instead of felt and so are much thicker. perfect for muddy situations on land. i prefer the felt soled ones for river walking where there are lots of mossy rocks. thick soled tabis === neoprene dive boots. ive used these in africa hiking through swamps, kalalau trail, etc. they have a rubber sole instead of felt and so are much thicker. perfect for muddy situations on land. i prefer the felt soled ones for river walking where there are lots of mossy rocks.

]]> By: Leialoha http://great-hikes.com/blog/tunnel-hike-to-the-hanalei-river/#comment-74989 Leialoha Fri, 01 May 2009 02:14:23 +0000 http://great-hikes.com/blog/?p=181#comment-74989 Aloha! We just did the Trail! And it was awesome. We stayed over night on purpose in the Hanalai river. The trail is very muddy, strenuous, scratchy and fun. Balancing our Backbacks through the scrub and brances made us crawl at some spots. This is not a laid back hike even without camping gear. The Ultimate Kauai Guide confused us at the tunnels a lot and we had to make a detour recognizing that they are not describing well with their drawings and words how many tunnels and tunnels lookouts there are. Anyway you have a better description here. Camping, so wasnt easy to find a spot at in the vally but for anyone who likes to dare it, there is one, not completly straight but good enough for 2-3 people tent to be little of the ground from the river. When you arrive at hanalai river just look straight over the river, a tiny bit to the right the is a big bolder and next to it a little space you can put up your camp. some hunter must have used it too, some buckets there, wich make great seats. If you dont see it, just cross the river and go little to your right then and you run into it. You have to climb up some steps but it will be obvious. Below is a great little calm pool for a bath. I had wonderful dreams at that spot, very peace full. We still where to exhausted to make it to the last tunnel. Next time! Be very careful! Take your time, start early! Expect to get your lower body muddy and into water! It is fun! :) Much Love from Kauai Leialoha Aloha!

We just did the Trail! And it was awesome. We stayed over night on purpose in the Hanalai river. The trail is very muddy, strenuous, scratchy and fun.
Balancing our Backbacks through the scrub and brances made us crawl at some spots. This is not a laid back hike even without camping gear.

The Ultimate Kauai Guide confused us at the tunnels a lot and we had to make a detour recognizing that they are not describing well with their drawings and words how many tunnels and tunnels lookouts there are. Anyway you have a better description here.

Camping, so wasnt easy to find a spot at in the vally but for anyone who likes to dare it, there is one, not completly straight but good enough for 2-3 people tent to be little of the ground from the river.

When you arrive at hanalai river just look straight over the river, a tiny bit to the right the is a big bolder and next to it a little space you can put up your camp. some hunter must have used it too, some buckets there, wich make great seats. If you dont see it, just cross the river and go little to your right then and you run into it. You have to climb up some steps but it will be obvious. Below is a great little calm pool for a bath.

I had wonderful dreams at that spot, very peace full. We still where to exhausted to make it to the last tunnel. Next time!

Be very careful! Take your time, start early! Expect to get your lower body muddy and into water! It is fun! :)

Much Love from Kauai
Leialoha

]]> By: Max G http://great-hikes.com/blog/tunnel-hike-to-the-hanalei-river/#comment-55820 Max G Tue, 27 Jan 2009 14:46:30 +0000 http://great-hikes.com/blog/?p=181#comment-55820 Wow. This really brings back memories. :) I went to hawaii about a year ago, and I tried to do the hidden tunnel hike. I ended up waist deep in mud, and couldn't find the tunnel. We, (me and my father) came to what seemed to be a dead end. A large open rocky pond, with 2 possible paths, on of them was straight up a sheer cliff, the other, I needed a machete. I guess I'll just have to go back next year. ;) Wow. This really brings back memories. :)
I went to hawaii about a year ago, and I tried to do the hidden tunnel hike.
I ended up waist deep in mud, and couldn’t find the tunnel.
We, (me and my father) came to what seemed to be a dead end.
A large open rocky pond, with 2 possible paths, on of them was straight up a sheer cliff,
the other, I needed a machete. I guess I’ll just have to go back next year. ;)

]]> By: kirsten http://great-hikes.com/blog/tunnel-hike-to-the-hanalei-river/#comment-38941 kirsten Sun, 19 Oct 2008 22:24:07 +0000 http://great-hikes.com/blog/?p=181#comment-38941 I completed this hike about 7 years ago and it is all you say. it was probably the most difficult hike I had ever been on but also the most rewarding. it's great to see that people are still going up there and that beautiful Shangri La is still being reached! AWESOME!!! I completed this hike about 7 years ago and it is all you say. it was probably the most difficult hike I had ever been on but also the most rewarding. it’s great to see that people are still going up there and that beautiful Shangri La is still being reached! AWESOME!!!

]]> By: Kenn http://great-hikes.com/blog/tunnel-hike-to-the-hanalei-river/#comment-23649 Kenn Mon, 19 May 2008 22:26:54 +0000 http://great-hikes.com/blog/?p=181#comment-23649 Thanks for the tips. Much better description than guide book. I printed out your blog and the pictures in color and used that to find the tunnels. You were right on in the descriptions. Thanks again. Thanks for the tips. Much better description than guide book. I printed out your blog and the pictures in color and used that to find the tunnels. You were right on in the descriptions. Thanks again.

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