Our Most Ambitious Hike Yet?

The Kukui Trail to the bottom of Waimea Canyon (and back up) may have been our most ambitious hike to date.  It offers several challenges in the form of elevation change, steepness, exposure and heat.  Certainly not the longest trail Maddie and I have ever hiked, but 2.5 miles down and 2.5 miles back up with 2500 feet of elevation gain and temperatures in the mid-80's combine for a pretty tough hike.  Maddie seemed to enjoy the hike despite the annoyance of mosquitoes at the lower elevations near the river.

View from lunch spot

Once we got away from the mosquitoes, we spent about an hour under the shade of a tree soaking up the view and having lunch.  With the shade and the breeze, the temperature felt much less oppressive.  After that short respite, I started the march out of the canyon which took about 1 long, hot hour.  Maddie laughed her way to the top - I only hope she was enjoying herself, not laughing at her hot, sweaty, worn-out dad.