The only Hawaiian island that has navigable rivers is Kauai.   The Hanalei River is the second largest (in flow) on the island,  descending from the upper slopes of Mt. Wai’ale’ale to the ocean in 15.7 miles.  The lower part of the river flows slowly through dense forests, past taro fields, and then it winds through a flat coastal estuary.     The Hanalei National Wildlife Refuge is a bit inaccessible to visitors, except by kayak to the lower half of the Refuge.

We paddled upstream into the current for 2 km to the forested Refuge.

The Refuge protects endangered waterbirds, but there are also 18 other species that use the wetlands area.  We spotted a few birds in the dense forest and at the water’s edge.

This is a quiet area and kayaks can enter the watery corridor discretely without scaring off birds, amphibians, and reptiles.

 

Box turtles sunned themselves on logs at the river’s edge.

From the Refuge we paddled downstream to the mouth of the river where it entered the incoming waves of Hanalei Bay.

We landed at Black Pot Beach to watch the surfers in the crescent-shaped bay.   We paddled upstream for the last kilometer of our 10 km route on the Hanalei River.

A moment of paddling captured from the kayak:

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