Kauai Travel Forum

Hi, I will be going to Kaua'i last week of May and had the following questions:

a) Is it safe to eat fruits (e.g., mango, guava) along the Kalalau Trail?
b) Which would you say is more recommended: hiking sneakers (because they are lighter) or hiking boots?
c) What are the best 'must-see' trails to hike in the Waimea Canyon and Kokee Park region?

Thanks, Joe

I wouldn't advise eating the fruit unless you are sure of what you are eating. But I have eaten some of the fruits and I'm alive!

By the last week of May, the trail should be much dryer than it was last time I hiked. I hiked in sneakers last time, but only did the first two miles (which some consider the worst). It was very wet but again, I survived. If you have hiking boots, by all means use them.

There are many trails in Waimea Canyon. Awa'awapuhi is my favorite, but is quite long. I also like the Pihea/Alakai Swamp trail. Getting a guidebook would get you acquainted with the trails we have.

Guava and mango grow at various places along this trail and are perfectly safe to eat. I'm not sure the mango will be in season this early, but I'm sure you'll see plenty of green fruit. The guava are just about year-long.

Be careful of leaning too far to reach any fruit you see. And I would recommend NOT climbing any of the large (40'+) mango trees you come across just to get fruit. The fall you may encounter could be over a cliff! Ripe mango on the ground may be bruised, but undamaged areas are fine to eat - and a lot safer to harvest - just be sure to wash them thoroughly before peeling.

For the Kalalau Trail, I use sandals. With a good lugg sole and heavy backstrap, they work great and dry out quickly after walking through puddles and mud. Be sure the insole has ridges or reccessed areas so that dirt can be squeezed into those and not sit directly between your feet and the insole.

If you walk barefoot enough outdoors, your skin on the bottom of your feet should be tough enough to handle it. If they are soft, stick to hiking boots.

The downside to sandals? The red mud will stain your feet for a couple days.

I've even seen local boys using nothing more than worn out flip-flops to hike there. And those were guys who had gone all the way to Kalalau Valley.

So the choice is yours.

I have a video/slideshow on YouTube of the Kalalau, from Ke'e to Hanakapi'ai. Look here:

http://www.youtube.com/user/BlueCollarTraveler