Kayaking the Hanalei

So my lovely trainer mentioned that getting in and out of the hammock does not count as exercise (course she has not seen my husband get in and out).  In keeping with our active vacation yesterday we kayaked the Hanalei river.  On past trips we have paddled the Wailua which includes a short hike to a water fall, but found that to be very touristy and too many people.  This trip took us up into the state ecological reserve. 

We could paddle as far inland until it was too shallow to paddle.  Steve even got out and walked over a couple of shallow areas to go even further.   Paddling up river was a workout as we had to constantly paddle against the strong current and winds.   We were rewarded with lots of birds, wild bamboo, growing bananas and turtles.   Yes, Steve, turtles count as wildlife.  All sizes and many of them sunning themselves on logs and branches floating in the water.

Then we paddle back downstream and out into Hanalei Bay.  Because the surf was flat, there not very many people at the beach.  We were able to find a secluded beach around the corner from the new St. Regis (formerly the Princeville Hotel) to have a leisurely lunch.   Then we went back out into the salt water and enjoyed the rolling waves and attempted to kayak surf the breakers.    What fun with such a buoyant kayak.

I was very sad to paddle back and give up my boat.   With the rolling waves I thought it was as nice as my hammock.  

When we got back we did the "map my kayak (run)" and figured we got a total of about 6 miles of paddling in.