Alakai Swamp Trail

Happy Labor Day! We're celebrating the holiday out here by not laboring. I'm spending a lot of time with my family and friends this weekend, but I have a moment right now to write a post. So I thought I'd share a cool hike we did a couple weeks ago. The Alakai Swamp Trail traverses through the interior of the island, exploring the bogs of the swamp. The cool temperatures, the altitude, and strange eerie atmosphere combine to create a hike like none other on the island. 

You start out with this incredible view:

The altitude and cooler temperatures create a good place for hydrangeas to live:

Once you take in the view and the flowers, it's time to get down to business.

Mist and fog are more common than sunshine up there:

Not too far from the trailhead, you reach a forest:

After the trees disappear, you find yourself on a flat boggy swamp. The trail continues on a boardwalk over the unstable ground.

... I call it the Dead Marshes ...

At the end of the trail is a lookout to the other side of the island. We waited a while for the fog to clear up.

Then we could see a little bit of the coastline appear beneath the misty veil.

We had a wonderful time. We got wet, muddy, and tired, but a day on top of the world is worth it.