In my previous article about action vacations on the Garden Island of Kauai, Hawaii, I listed the top 10 sporty activities . Besides the obvious thrills of professional sports like surfing and golfing, we also discussed some options for enthusiastic amateurs. Snorkeling, skydiving, and deep sea fishing are popular on Kauai as well as my favorite adventure, hiking.
Kauai may seem like a very small place, isolated far from from what most people think of as civilization. In fact, the island is a microcosm of various landscapes that have proved useful for many Hollywood productions. From the shipwrecked fantasy of Gilligan’s Island to the forbidding hideaway of King Kong, the Garden Island has often been featured. Kauai is also a mecca for hikers who journey along the world famous Na Pali Coast and trek around the mountain trails of the Lost World of Koke’e .While I had focused on hiking adventures that a visitor might enjoy alone or with a special friend, now I want to tell you of a service that will make your hiking on Kauai even more enjoyable.
The Sierra Club was founded around 1868 by John Muir. After hiking in the Yosemite Valley in California, he became intoxicated with nature. He wrote, “I have run wild. As long as I live , I’ll hear waterfalls and birds and winds sing. I’ll interpret the rocks, learn the language of flood, storm, and the avalanche. I’ll acquaint myself with the glaciers and wild gardens, and get as near the heart of the world as I can.”
Muir’s solitary treks and his shared philosophy grew into a worldwide environmental mission that recruited hundreds of thousands of members. The group has been active in the creation and preservation of national parks. The Kauai Sierra Club has been an active force in protecting the well named Garden Island . The club is now offering guided tours on Kauai. On the southern shore is a hike that explores sandstone caves and awesome rock formations. It is a historic area with a rich history from the days before the “discovery” of Hawaii by Captain Cook. This area known as Maha’ulepu has many archeological sites that can best be enjoyed with a informative guide.
In my days of bachelorhood, I often roamed this rugged area which is rarely seen by any tourist. If you would like a sneak preview, find a copy of the television mini-series,”The Thornbirds.” The scenes of the old sugar mill were filmed there with Bryan Brown and Rachel Ward.
I have known the elation of nature that John Muir felt and now you can feel it too. The Sierra Club is a non-profit organization and for a $5 donation, a volunteer will steer you through a treasure trove of beautiful and historic gems. If you want to go off on a jaunt by yourself, see one of my other “step by step” hiking articles. For this particular adventure, it’s better for everybody and for the preservation of the holy sanctuaries to accompany an experienced club member.
Michael Taylor, 60, was a concierge and activity director at resort hotels on Kauai and is now a retired commercial artist living in Las Vegas.
