Kalalau Valley

The Kalalau Valley is located on the northwest side of the island of Kauai in the state of Hawaii. The valley is located in the Nā Pali Coast State Park and houses the beautiful Kalalau Beach. The Na Pali Coast is very rugged and is inaccessible to automobiles. The only legal ways to access the valley are by kayak or by hiking the Kalalau Trail.

The valley is renowned for its natural beauty; it is surrounded by lush cliffs more than 2000 feet high. The valley bottom is broad and relatively flat, with an accessible region about 2 miles long and 0.5 miles wide. The abundant sun and rain provides an ideal environment for flaura and fauna. Many native Hawaiians lived in the valley into the 20th century, farming taro from a vast complex of terraced fields. Today, its designation as a state park forbids any one from residing there.

Access to Kalalau Valley

Since the Na Pali coast is too steep for any motorized vehicles, all access to the valley is by boat or foot. Kayaks are a popular way of visiting the valley, although sea conditions can make this dangerous during the winter. Hiking the Kalalau Trail is also popular, but the trail is about 11 miles long, quite strenuous, and can be dangerous at parts.

Access to the Kalalau valley is controlled in the name of conservation. A limited number of permits are issued for camping in Kalalau Valley every year by the Hawai'i Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR). Anyone wishing to hike beyond Hanakapiai valley must have a permit for staying in Kalalau valley overnight. A total of sixty overnight permits are issued for each night.

The valley is visible from the Koke'e State Park, which is accessible by road from the west side of the island. It is rumored that there is a trail accessing the valley from Kokeokinae, however all possible routes appear to be very dangerous and some people are suspected to have fallen to their deaths trying to find them.

Life in Kalalau Valley

The natural beauty and relative isolation are the major attractions of the valley. Legal campers stay in the designated camping area within roughly 100 yards of the beach. There is a small waterfall in this area that is used for bathing and washing dishes. At one end of the beach is a stream that is also used for fresh water (although all water should be purified).

Residents

In spite of the efforts of the state of Hawaiokinai, many people illegally hike the Kalalau Trail and even live in the valley. These long-term campers live the lifestyle of Naturalists and are suspected by some to cause serious harm to the ecological balance of the valley by their waste and propagation of introduced species.

A small few of these inhabitants contribute to the health of the valley by collecting waste, practicing leave no trace ethics, and tending to the trails which require constant maintenance. These stewards of the Na Pali believe that the valley can return to a state of self sufficiency with careful and sustainable use of the valley's abundant resources. Some of these people argue that since permits are only available for 5 nights, there is not enough time to fully enjoy the valley. It takes at least 1 day to hike the 11 rigorous miles, leaving only 3 days to explore the valley and beaches. There are stories of people who hike in and decide to stay indefinitely, due to the beauty and serenity that they find in the Kalalau Valley.

The residents of the valley sometimes come into conflict with authorities charged with enforcing the law. The DLNR makes biannual raids of the valley, slashing and burning camp sites and illegal farms. Visitors who do not have a permit are fined and sometimes have their equipment confiscated. The tactics of the DLNR are designed to intimidate, but are motivated by a desire to preserve the natural environment of the valley.

Destruction of terraced gardens

The magnificent and historical terraced gardens in the Kalalau Valley are being threatened and destroyed by the introduced and invasive trees. These trees created an extensive underground root network which quickly invaded the traditional rock walls of the terraces. Also, since these trees are introduced species, they are not suitable for the heavy Pacific Ocean winds that frequent the valley on a daily basis. The trees then fall and topple the rock walls causing permanent damage.

The origin of the trees is disputed. Some argue that they were planted by the DLNR after the Hawaiian people abandoned the valley and it was decided to turn the valley into a popular tourist destination. The DLNR felt that tourists would like a forested canopy instead of bare land which was previously used as cattle pasture and taro plots. However, others note that the last private owners of the valley, the Robinson family, likely planted some of the trees there to provide shade for cattle kept there after the Hawaiians left.

Still others contend that the terraces were initially destroyed by the Robinson's cattle after the last Hawaiians left the valley in the early 1900s. The foraging cattle destroyed many terraces causing heavy erosion. The DLNR drop-seeded Java Plum trees to prevent erosion of the valley's topsoil. The roots grow around the stone terraces and when they fall, dislodge the rocks.

Helicopters

There is also concern among visitors that the use of helicopters in the area is disturbing. Helicopters cause noise pollution that can be heard for miles. After reaching the end of the trail, hikers expect a quiet place to reflect on the majesty of the Na Pali. Instead, they are faced with constant helicopter buzz from sun up to sun down. Many helicopters fly below legal limitations to "get a closer view." This practice causes considerable disturbance to those wishing to enjoy the Na Pali.

Management of Kalalau Valley

Since the valley is a part of the Nā Pali Coast State Park, the DLNR is responsible for its maintenance and preservation. Some have criticized the DLNR for their inability to manage the Na Pali Coast, although others note that many Hawaiokinai parks suffer from a chronic lack of funding.

External links

* [http://www4.hawaii.gov/StateFormsFiles/prkprmt.pdf Camping permits]
* [http://www.billandcori.com/hawaii/kalalau.htm Description of trail with photos]
* [http://www.outdoorhighadventure.com/thekalalautrail.htm Kalalau Trail | Outdoor High Adventure]
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