Hawaii
The Alakai Swamp trail on Hawaii’s Kauai is difficult and amazing
I am a long way from California.
The path to Kauai’s famous Alakai Swamp in Kokee State Park has gone from lumpy mud to steep climbs over tree roots to janky, overgrown boardwalks in a stretch of less than 4 miles. What I hoped would take an hour has extended into nearly three, and the electric-green ferns and twisting trees are starting to cast long shadows over the damp ground.
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When the sun dips below the horizon, wild hogs with big, sharp tusks will likely begin to scavenge this prehistoric volcano, and ominous rain clouds may appear overhead without warning. I’m alone — which I know is a bad idea — and slightly terrified. When I hear the voices of approaching hikers, my first instinct is to hide, but instead, I hurry to meet them and say hello. They turn out to be a couple of German geologists on their honeymoon. They, too, are slightly terrified, and we quickly bond over the trail distances in Hawaii feeling, well, off.
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“In Hawaii, a 5-mile trail somehow takes 12 hours,” Sophia Meumann says. “And what kind of trail will it be? Will we need water shoes? Diving equipment?”
Despite the challenges, we all agree that this trail is one of the most beautiful we have ever seen. For the adventurous, nature-oriented, surefooted person, the (alleged) 7.5-mile round-trip trek truly has it all: dripping tropical rainforest, verdant valleys, an alpine bog brimming with rare plants and birds, and gobsmacking viewpoints over sheer sea cliffs and distant coves.
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Its high-elevation swamp environs are unique not only on Kauai but also on Earth. Set aside in a wilderness preserve in 1964, the Alakai Swamp perches at around 4,000 feet and is constantly drenched in moisture from trade winds, which tends to keep out the riff-raff. The bog is inhospitable to invasive plants, making it a haven for native ones, and because it’s too high up for mosquitoes, birds that lack immunity to diseases carried by mosquitoes can take refuge here. Nearby is one of the rainiest places on the planet, Mount Waialeale, which receives a whopping 450 inches annually. So it’s not exactly a must-see for sun-seeking tourists.
An attempt in the 1950s to construct a road to Alakai ended badly, with the road-building equipment being eaten by the swamp. The wide, muddy scar left behind is the first mile of the Pihea Trail, where most hikers start their journey. Those with 4-by-4 transport can reach the Alakai Swamp trailhead directly on a separate road, but it’s not recommended for inexperienced drivers. Connecting to the Alakai Swamp via the Pihea Trail is definitely worth doing, too: It begins at Puu o Kila Lookout, one of the loveliest viewpoints in all of Kauai.
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At the start of my hike, standing atop the 4,000-foot lookout on a clear day, I paid respects to the landmark’s namesake, Chief Kila. He ruled Kauai around 1100 A.D. and made several voyages by canoe between the island and French Polynesia’s Raiatea. Back then, plants and animals mostly arrived on the island by wind and waves, or by being carried by birds, and waterfalls were steadily sculpting the basalt ridges jutting out of the sea. Torrents of the Kalalau Stream carved the long, broad Kalalau Valley stretched out before me.
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I stepped carefully along the hardened mud of the trail, which was flanked with ohia trees and uluhe ferns, stopping occasionally to snap a photo or determine the best way around a puddle or down a steep, rocky slope. It was hard to keep my eyes on the trail, given the expansive azure ocean beyond the island and the thin layer of puffy clouds tracing the horizon. But after tripping over a protruding tree root and nearly rolling an ankle, I learned my lesson.
After about a mile, the trail transformed from an eroding, muddy scar to more of a forest path. Boardwalks assisted me in crossing slushy areas, though they were oftentimes waterlogged and rotting, and dense foliage had grown over some of the planks and stairways. The trail did not seem maintained, and more than a few times, I wondered if I was even still on it. A downloaded map reassured me that I was.
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Alone in the middle of an island rainforest, it’s hard not to think about what might go wrong. If I fell or got injured, would a helicopter even be able to land here? And without cell service, how would a helicopter even know where to find me? What would it be like to spend the night here alone? I would almost certainly be rained on, and there was no telling when other hikers might set out on the difficult and rarely used trail.
Those hesitant to do the full trail could wander around the initial lookout, and maybe over the first mile of the Pihea Trail. But I had continued another 2.7 miles to the intersection with the Alakai Swamp Trail, and then another mile in hopes of reaching the bog. Returning from that direction, the Germans help me understand that this is a bad idea. It would take me at least another hour to reach the swamp, they explain. By then, the sun would be setting, and darkness would soon follow. They are actually very worried about the coming darkness, they admit.
The decision is easy: I stick with the Germans, and we all hike back in the direction of the trailhead immediately. On the way, they tell me stories of how the boardwalk over the swamp became sketchier and sketchier, at times disappearing entirely. They tell me about how the fog enveloped them, which felt romantic, and how they encountered carnivorous plants and rare birds with curved beaks and endangered nene geese. When they reached the trail’s conclusion at the Kilohana Lookout, they hoped for clear views to the north over the Wainiha Valley and Hanalei Bay, not far from where they were staying. The clouds remained overhead, though.
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Disappointed, they soon gave up and set out on the long way back. Five minutes later, the sky began to clear, and the wife gave her new husband that particular look that says, “Can we please do this?” Jonas Meumann was nervous about the late hour, but he knew the score, and they raced back for a glimpse of one of the island’s most astounding views over the dramatic Na Pali coastline.
It’s dark by the time we finish the trail and approach the last two cars in the parking lot. My lodgings are just down the road, but the Meumanns have a long drive around nearly the entire island to their hotel, so it’s a fast goodbye. I tell them they should visit me someday in California, where the trails take exactly as long as you’d expect. On the drive down the mountain to my cabin, I realize just how boring that sounds.
Editor’s note: SFGATE recognizes the importance of diacritical marks in the Hawaiian language. We are unable to use them due to the limitations of our publishing platform.
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Hawaii
Plane crash under investigation on Hawaii Island
WAIMEA (HawaiiNewsNow) – Federal investigators are looking into what caused a plane to crash on Hawaii Island Monday.
The National Transportation Safety Board confirms it is looking into what caused a Cessna to go down at Parker Ranch in Waimea shortly before noon.
Investigators said preliminary information indicated the plane experienced a loss of engine power.
A witness said two people walked away from the aircraft on their own. No one was hurt.
Copyright 2024 Hawaii News Now. All rights reserved.
Hawaii
Hawaii Bowl announcers Tiffany Greene, Jay Walker get rare moment in spotlight
‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house, not a creature was stirring … and the only sports on TV was the Hawaii Bowl on ESPN.
The Christmas Eve game pitting South Florida (6-6) against San Jose State (7-5) didn’t bring the same energy as a major bowl, but when you’re the only live major sporting event on U.S. TV, fans will take notice.
On social media, the matchup generated surprising buzz for a minor bowl game.
People treating the Hawaii bowl tonight like it’s the Super Bowl
— Zlatni Topki (@ZlatniTopki) December 24, 2024
Out in Honolulu, ESPN had play-by-play announcer Tiffany Greene and color analyst Jay Walker on the game, and the pair, who have worked together for years, made the most of their moment in the spotlight.
Greene, who was the first African-American woman to serve as a play-by-play commentator for college football on a major network, had the opportunity to call some big plays, including this kickoff return touchdown by South Florida’s Ta’Ron Keith.
Tiffany Green was VERY amped up about this kick return touchdown and later replay of the big play from USF returner Ta’Ron Keith. pic.twitter.com/FkHDlaYBPK
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) December 25, 2024
And here’s Greene on a big interception early in the game.
USF forces an interception that would later result in points and a 14-0 lead over San Jose State.
Tiffany Greene and Jay Walker on the call of the Hawai’i Bowl on ESPN. pic.twitter.com/eMyo4aHsXn
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) December 25, 2024
Unfortunately, everything did not go smoothly for Greene and Walker. Of particular concern, Walker’s audio sounded consistently muddy, as if he were doing the broadcast remotely.
Are they actually there? Her co host literally sounds like he’s on a zoom call
— HuskerJim (@jimtheplumber63) December 25, 2024
Others on social media were even less charitable in their comments on the announcers.
This is a horrible announcing crew. This is not a high profile game, but as the only one on Cmas Eve, likely with a decent audience of folks looking for distractions, why this crew & not a better one? Why not put these guys on one of the midday workday games with less eyes/ears?
— Justin Firesheets (@JFiresheets) December 25, 2024
Yet some fans were left wanting to hear more of Greene and Walker in the future.
Tiffany is awesome! She has the spunk of Gus & a little of Beth Mowins when she announces CFB👍
— Herbie Garcia (@herbieg55) December 25, 2024
[ESPN]
Hawaii
College football's Hawaii Bowl highlights slowest sports day of 2024
Sports fans can breathe easy on Christmas Eve as there will only be one game played on Tuesday before a full buffet of games on Christmas Day.
College football aficionados will be happy to know there is one bowl game on the slate. The Hawaii Bowl between South Florida and San Jose State. The game will start at 8 p.m. ET.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
The Bulls finished 6-6 on the season and earned a second straight bowl game under head coach Alex Golesh. They had the same record last season before entering and winning the Boca Raton Bowl over Syracuse, 45-0.
The Spartans finished the season 7-5 overall in Ken Niumatalolo’s first season at the helm. The team is on a three-bowl-game losing streak. They lost the Hawaii Bowl last season and the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl in 2022. The Spartans also lost the Arizona Bowl in 2020.
San Jose State hasn’t won a bowl game since the 2015 Cure Bowl under Ron Caragher.
TEXAS FOOTBALL MASCOT BEVO BARRED FROM SIDELINES OF UPCOMING CFP GAME, ORGANIZERS SAY
Sports fans looking for some action should take it all in and be able to get some sleep before opening presents and starting Christmas Day at noon ET with NBA games.
The NFL also has games on Christmas Day for the second straight year – a two-game menu featuring the Kansas City Chiefs against the Pittsburgh Steelers at 1 p.m. ET and the Houston Texans hosting the Baltimore Ravens at 4:30 p.m. ET.
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College football will return on Dec. 26 and the NHL will be back on Dec. 27.
Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
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