Sierra Club Kauai Service Outing 2012
A Service Outing at Koke’e State Park August 26 thru September 1, 2012 will be hosted by The Sierra Club on the Island of Kauai. As a group of islands remote from nearby land masses, Hawaii evolved Read more
Sierra Club Kauai Kayaking Outing 2012
Kayaking Na Pali, a Sierra Club outing, will be July 21 thru 27, 2012. Kayaking the Na Pali coast provides the adventurous traveler the opportunity to explore a truly spectacular wilderness area. ‘Na Pali’ refers to the sheer cliffs that soar up from the coastline, making the area accessible only by water or rugged hiking trail.
This 18-mile paddle is broken up into manageable segments, allowing opportunities to explore old Hawaiian civilizations. Snorkeling, beach walking, shell collecting, reading, and sunbathing are all daily options. Day hikes range in difficulty from leisurely strolls to strenuous hot climbs. A portion of one day will be dedicated to service work; perhaps a beach clean-up or light trail clearing.
Highlights
- Kayak the spectacular Na Pali coastline
- Participate in one day of service work — perhaps a beach clean-up or light trail clearing
- Enjoy snorkeling, beach walking, day hiking, shell collecting, reading, and sunbathing as options throughout the trip
Includes
- Kayaks, paddles, and personal flotation devices
- Camp sites
- All meals
Kauai Path and Dogs
Dogs on Ke Ala Hele Makalae:
- Dogs may be on the paved portion of the path plus six feet on either side
- Dogs may be in comfort, picnic pavilions, and rest stations
- Dogs should be led directly from trail head parking facilities to the path
- Handler must be in control of dog at all times
- No minimum age requirement for dog handler
- Two dogs per handler max
- Must have poop bag in evidence
- The Kauai Humane Society worked with the Department of Parks & Recreation to donate and install several dispensers for bio-degradable poop bags
- Dog owner must remove and dispose of dog’s feces
- Dog must be licensed
- Maximum leash length 6 ft. (No extendable leashes allowed.)
- Must leave path area if dog gets aggressive
Kauai Path Etiquette
The Kauai Path is is a ten foot wide paved trail that is all palms, and beach, and ocean, and is real treasure to anyone looking for easy access to Kauai. It is well maintained with a number of picnic pavilions along the path. The following etiquette guidelines are intended to help people more fully enjoy the Ke Ala Hele Makalae.
- Be Courteous – All path users should be respectful of other users regardless of their mode of travel, speed, or skill level.
- Keep Path Clear – Use no more than one-half of the path when in a group. Move off of the path if you are stopped.
- Be Predictable – Travel in a consistent manner. Look behind you before changing position on the path.
- Keep Right – Stay to the right side on the path except when passing. Move back or to the right once safely past.
- Respect Private Property – Stay on designated paths or roadways. Avoid shortcutting switchbacks.
- Signal When Passing – Give a clear warning signal by voice, bell, or horn before you pass.
- Yield to Slower Traffic – Cyclists yield to pedestrians. “Wheels yield to Heels.”
- Respect the ‘Aina – Keep litter in trash receptacles.
Kauai Path
The Kauai Path is a wonderful opportunity to enjoy Kauai while walking, running, biking, tricycling, baby-strolling, roller-blading, wheelchairing, dog-walking, whale-sighting, bird-watching, weight-losing, mind-clearing, or sight-seeing. It is the result of a community working together to preserve, protect, and extend access to the Garden Island with these non-motorized multi-use paths and amenities.
North Shore Path – a proposed walking and biking path network linking the communities of Kilauea, Princeville, and Hanalei.
South Side Hapa Trail – is a two-mile long abandoned roadway that links Koloa town to the Poipu Beach area.
Ke Ala Hele Makalae – is Hawaiian for ‘The Path that Goes by the Coast’, and is the name of the path partially completed following the coast from Nawiliwili to Anahola.
The Ke Ala Hele Makalae project is being completed in six phases:
Phase I – is 2.5 miles in Lydgate Park. Completed.
Phase II – is 4.5 miles from the Lihi Boat Ramp in central Kapaa to Ahihi Point in Kealia. Completed.
Phase III – will connect Phases I & II, from Lydgate Park to Lihi Boat Ramp. To be completed in 2011-12.
Phase IV – will go from Ahukini Landing State Park to Lydgate Park. To be completed in 2011-12.
Phase V – is planned to go from Ahihi Point in Kealia to the Anahola Beach Park.
Phase VI – is planned to go from Ahukini Point to Nawiliwili.
Ke Ala Hele Makalae goes right by Donkey Beach, Kealia Beach, and Lydgate Beach Park which you can see in these videos. Most of the completed portions of Ke Ala Hele Makalae are ADA compliant, with many parking areas designated for handicapped access. Dogs may be on path except for the small portion of pathway in Lydgate Park between the Morgan Swimming Ponds south to the interstection of pathway connecting to the Harry & Jeanette Weinberg Sports Park area.
Kilauea Point Lighthouse Lens
In 1909, thirty-one acres were purchased for the construction of the Kilauea Point Lighthouse, and construction began three years later in 1912. The centerpiece of the lighthouse was the lens designed by Augustin Fresnel and fabricated in Paris. A Fresnel lens contains hundreds of glass prisms concentrating and focusing the light passing through. The lens is two-sided (shaped like a clam’s shell) with two bull’s-eyes on each side.
The entire lens assembly weighs about 4.5 tons and was designed to “float” on mercury and pressurized air. A system of cables, weights, and pulleys rotated the lens, similar to descending weights turning the hands of a cuckoo clock. The weights would gravitate down a shaft in the center of the lighthouse. The lighthouse had to be wound every 3-1/2 hours by pulling the weights back to the top, then an electronic motor was installed in 1939, eliminating this lighthouse keeper’s task.
The fresnel lens and clockworks were manufactured in France at a cost of $12,000. But, when the lens arrived, it was discovered that the assembly instructions were in French, so a message was sent to Honolulu, requesting help with translation. Fred Edgecomb was dispatched on an interisland ship from Honolulu to Nawiliwili Harbor and then rode twenty miles on horseback to the site. After he had helped translate the instructions, the four-and-a-half-ton lens was assembled in the tower and floated in a trough six feet in diameter and nine inches deep filled with mercury. The revolving lens, which was first illuminated on May 1, 1913, produced a double flash every ten seconds that was visible up to a distance of twenty-one nautical miles.
