Hana Ramblings

I've been hangin' in Hana for several days. It's quiet and very isolated...over a two hour drive to the nearest supermarket! The countryside is lush and peaceful, and has attracted a number of celebrities over the years, including Charles Lindbergh. Lindbergh was a national hero after he became the first person to fly solo across the Atlantic in 1927. He had ticker tape parades, massive fame...he was a rock star, like Babe Ruth, Jack Dempsey, Charlie Chaplin. But Lindbergh was actually rather shy and reclusive...he didn't like the bright lights, especially after his family lost their baby in a botched kidnapping attempt. Finally, late in his life, he discovered the Hana area, which was then even more isolated than it is today. He lived his final years here, dying in 1974. This is his grave, in a pretty little churchyard by the sea about 10 miles from Hana town.

I hiked the Pipiwai trail today...third time, but the first in about a decade. It's an exotic trek, through jungle, past waterfalls, over a rushing stream flowing through a gorge cut from lava. Much of the upper part of the two mile trail goes through a dense bamboo forest. When the wind blows the bamboo makes a clacking sound...quite bizarre.

At the end of the trail is Waimoku Falls, 400 feet high. There's also a 200 foot waterfall along the route, along with many smaller cascades.

At the bottom of the trail is 'Ohe'o Gulch...fine swimming here! Water is about 72 degrees, cool and refreshing but not uncomfortable on a warm, humid day. The Old Sloat had a dip, as he has done on previous visits in his younger days. This area was given the name Seven Sacred Pools for tourist purposes. In reality, the area has never been sacred, though the ancient Hawaiians enjoyed swimming here as much as anyone. And, counting the pools upstream from the bridge, there are many more than seven.

Midway along the Pipiwai trail, before you come to the bamboo, this huge banyan tree is encountered. Also exotic. There are actually several banyans along the path...this is the biggest.