Koke'e State Park
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Kōkeʻe State Park is located in northwestern Kauaʻi in the Hawaiian Islands. It includes a museum at the 15 mile (24 km) marker on State Road 550, which focuses on the weather, vegetation, and bird life; a lodge which serves food and sells gifts; cabins for rent; and hiking trails. The park is just north of Waimea Canyon State Park and includes 4,345 acres (18 km²) of mountainous terrain.
The main attractions of Kōkeʻe State Park trails are the native vegetation, native forest birds, and the scenic cliffside views. Situated on a plateau between 3,200 and 4,200 feet, much of Kōkeʻe is a montane (infrequent frost) mesic (50-100 inches annual rainfall with moist soil conditions) forest dominated by koa (Acacia koa) and ʻōhiʻa lehua (Metrosideros) trees. Annual rainfall is around 70 inches with rainy periods from October to May.
At the end of the state road is a lookout onto the Kalalau Valley, once home to thousands of native Hawaiians. The valley was the backdrop for Jack London's short story Koʻolau the Leper.
[edit] Hiking Trails
- Alakaʻi Swamp Trail, length: 3.5 miles / 5.6 kilometers. Trail through native wet forest to the rim of Wainiha Pali with sweeping view of the north shore. Great bird watching trail. Trail is often wet, slippery and muddy. The majority of this trail is a plank boardwalk covered with chicken wire which provides great traction.
- Awaʻawapuhi Trail, length: 3.25 miles / 5.2 kilometers. Trail with mesic and dryland native plants. Spectacular view into steep-sided Nuʻalolo and Awaʻawapuhi Valleys. Return climb of 1,620 feet.
- Berry Flat Trail, length: 0.6 mile / 1.0 kilometer. This trail traverses a mix of planted alien and native forest types, including redwood and sugi groves and disturbed koa/ʻōhiʻa forest.
- Black Pipe Trail, length: 0.5 mile / 0.8 kilometer. This trail is an alternate access to the Canyon Trail. Native hibiscus and iliau can be seen along the trail.
- Canyon Trail, length: 1.8 miles / 2.9 kilometers. A popular scenic trail with great views of Waimea and Poʻomau Canyons. The trail follows the rim of Waimea Canyon and crosses Kōkeʻe Stream.
- Cliff Trail, length: 0.1 mile / 0.16 kilometer. A spur trail leading to a viewpoint of Waimea Canyon. Feral goats are often seen on the canyon walls.
- Ditch Trail, length: 1.7 miles / 2.7 kilometers. A trail developed to construct and maintain the Kōkeʻe Ditch. Vistas of surrounding forest and Poʻomau Stream.
- Faye Trail, length: 0.1 mile / 0.16 kilometer. A short trail that accesses other trails in the Halemanu area.
- Halemanu-Kōkeʻe Trail, length: 1.2 miles / 1.9 kilometers. This trail wanders through somewhat disturbed koa/ʻōhiʻa forest. Recovery from Hurricane Iwa and transition to koa forest from drier conditions is evident.
- Iliau Nature Loop, length: 0.25 mile / 0.4 kilometer (length of loop). Easy roadside nature trail through dry shrubland with plants identified. Sweeping views of Waimea Canyon and Waiʻalae Canyon.
- Kaluapuhi Trail, length: 1.6 miles / 2.6 kilometers. Disturbed ʻōhiʻa montane mesic forest with some intact forest areas. Good bird watching trail.
- Kukui Trail, Length: 2.5 miles / 4.0 kilometers. Scenic, but steep trail into Waimea Canyon. Elevation drop of 2,000 feet.
- Kumuwela Trail, length: 1.0 mile / 1.6 kilometers. Mosaic of ʻōhiʻa and koa/ʻōhiʻa montane mesic forests with alien weed problems and hurricane damage. A good bird watching trail.
- Nature Trail, length: 0.1 mile / 0.16 kilometer. Good starter trail to learn about native forest vegetation.
- Nuʻalolo Trail, length: 3.75 miles / 6.0 kilometers. Trail through koa/ʻōhiʻa montane mesic forests and an ʻaʻaliʻi lowland dry shrubland with a great view of Nuʻalolo Valley. Return climb of 1,570 feet.
- Pihea Trail, length: 3.7 miles / 5.9 kilometers. Scenic nature trail along the rim of Kalalau Valley, traversing ʻōhiʻa montane wet forest. Great bird watching trail.
- Puʻu ka ʻOhelo Trail, length: 0.5 mile / 0.8 kilometer. Along this trail are good examples of the impact that invasive alien weeds can have on native forest vegetation.
- Waininiua Trail, length: 0.6 mile / 1.0 kilometer. A good trail to see a relatively intact koa/ʻōhiʻa montane mesic forest.
- Water Tank Trail, length: 1.0 mile / 1.6 kilometers. This trail provide a good example of native koa/ʻōhiʻa forest.
