every wednesday i try to take a "working day off" where i close up the gallery and get out on the trail. some days i go looking for new places to shoot, while other days i go with a specific location in mind-- like this past wednesday. i was on a mission to hanakapi'ai falls.

hanakapi'ai falls is a 300 foot waterfall deep in the hanakapi'ai valley. the trail to the falls is a two mile offshoot of the kalalau trail and begins at hanakapi'ai beach on the na pali coast. it's pure kauai jungle hiking-- lots of green, flowing streams and no snakes! smile.

this time of year the kalalau trail-- especially to hanakapi'ai beach-- can be quite crowded with vacationing day hikers, leaving the parking lot at ke'e full by 9am. when i hike, i like to be on the trail early anyway so i set the alarm for 4am with the plan of getting to ke'e at 5am. i was the third car in the parking lot and out of my slippas and into my hiking shoes with head light on and on the trail by 5.15.

quiet.

just the sound of my steps, breath, waves breaking and little birds waking. 

it was like i had kauai all to myself.

photo: trail lamp. location: kalalau trail. gallery: tbd

the pre-dawn was beautiful and even though i was on a mission to the falls, and had predetermined not to take any pictures along the way because i wanted to get to the falls with no one there, i couldn't help myself. i had to take a couple of shots. just a few quickies of the moon and the orange skies of dawn.

photo: the orange skies of dawn. location: kalalau trail. gallery: tbd

and at hanakapi'ai beach i took out the camera again and found a place that reflected the quiet of the morning and the stillness of zen. and even though i was going with the intentions of capturing hanakapi'ai falls for the gallery, this shot is my favorite from the day.

photo: early morning on the kalalau. location: hanakapi'ai beach. gallery: full time

i had to laugh at myself and my ambition to be the first one at the falls. i was reminded that it's the journey that's important and not the destination. and, really, it's all the journey. zen teaches that, actually, the path is the destination.

the path is the destination.

there is no destination. it's all a journey. even when you reach the destination, you gotta go back. and that's the challenge-- living the mundane and extraordinary after little glimpses of satori or enlightenment. living with the ego after it's been lost or forgotten in the sunrise, in the reflection or in the moon. 

the path is the destination.

Depth

photo: depth. location: hanakapi'ai falls trail. gallery: full time

i turn inland and head towards the valley in thick jungle along the pleasant sounding hanakapi'ai stream. these waters run from the valley end to the sea and i am walking to see where they fall.

 photo: like magic. location: hanakapi'ai falls. gallery: tbd

when i arrive at the falls i am the only person there. like the trail before, i have the falls all to myself. i scout out a couple of angels and choose one from straight on. i am able to get the entire 300 foot fall in view. i like the little pool at the bottom, like cup of overflowing magic. hyperbole it sounds like, i know, but when you see kauai you'll understand. especially when you are able to have such an intimate dialogue with her in such a private setting. for thirty minutes or more, i am the only one here, listening to kauai's whispers and taking in her energy. 

mana falls, and energy changes form.

i talk with alex, who arrives at the falls nearly an hour after me. she, too, is surprised that no one is there. she kindly asks me if it's ok to swim under the falls (she doesn't want to get in the way of my picture). i tell her it's cold, but go right ahead. that's what she came for. so's she's gotta swim. she thanks me and slowly wades in-- with a gasp of breath and howl. yes, it is cold!

i continue shooting and just take it all in. eat a couple of chocolate nut bars and think to myself-- it's about the journey. and good snacks along the way. 

aloha,

lee