Back in March my husband took me on a hiking weekend in Kōkeʻe on Kaua‘i for my 40th birthday.
And on that trip I discovered what would become one of my all-time favorite hikes ever: Alaka‘i Swamp Trail.
This 7-mile trail through along the canyon rim, through native forests, and across an eerie bog was the highlight of our stay on Kaua‘i — and, in my opinion, the best hike in the 4,345-acre state park.
A good portion of the trail — including the Pihea Summit Trail — is a boardwalk made of redwood outfitted with chicken wire to prevent hikers from slipping as much. The original boardwalk was installed nearly 20 years ago, and there are sections of the pathway that have been damaged or completely gone.
This year the Division of Forestry and Wildlife received $335,000 to repair the boardwalk to preserve this unique ecosystem, where nearly 100 percent of the plants and trees are native. Work to repair the boardwalk starts in September.
According to Dan Kawika Smith, Nā Ala Hele specialist with the state, these dilapidated sections will be replaced by recycled plastic lumber and a variety of different slip-resistent applications.
He said the boardwalk, which was completed in 1998, has helped keep hikers on the trail. That has meant fewer rescues and less impact on this unique bog environment.
So expect upgrades to the boardwalk on your next visit to Kōkeʻe!
3 Comments
So glad to hear about the upgrades to the boardwalk. It’s easy to get tripped up by the peeling, rusting fencing laid over the boards right now. The Alaka`i Trail is one of my favorite hikes on Kauai, too. But have you hiked the Nu`alolo Kai – Awa`awapuhi Loop? Put that on your #40trails list. For sure.
Great to see the boardwalk trail still there. I had a SMALL part in helping build it, egads 20 years ago. All the material was brought in by helicopter to staging areas, outside the swamp, and we packed it in. One hellava week-end in my life and at the end, threw away the shoes, socks, trousers, t-shirts. Reading this update makes it well worth it. Mahalo.
That is SO COOL! I know the Na Ala Hele guys are looking for volunteers now to help with building the new sections. Awesome you were part of that first install!