Alakai Wilderness Area
Encyclopedia
The Alakai Wilderness Preserve, popularly known as Alakai Swamp, is a montane wet forest on the Hawaii
an island of Kauai
. Although the preserve is home to alpine bogs, it is not a true swamp
. It is located on a plateau
near Mount Waialeale
, one of the wettest spots on Earth.
The 3.5 miles (5.6 km) Alakai Swamp trail is often shrouded in mist. This trail can be reached via the Pihea Vista trail, which is connected to the Puu o Kila lookout on Waimea Canyon road. This road is located behind a gate that is directly next to the Kalalau Valley
lookout. Due to the rainfall experienced here, potholes are formed and the road is often closed. The end of this trail overlooks Hanalei Bay
off in the distance and it is possible to see several waterfalls from the lookout. This area is often shrouded in clouds and is one of the few places on Kauai where one may walk through them.
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
an island of Kauai
Kauai
Kauai or Kauai, known as Tauai in the ancient Kaua'i dialect, is geologically the oldest of the main Hawaiian Islands. With an area of , it is the fourth largest of the main islands in the Hawaiian archipelago, and the 21st largest island in the United States. Known also as the "Garden Isle",...
. Although the preserve is home to alpine bogs, it is not a true swamp
Swamp
A swamp is a wetland with some flooding of large areas of land by shallow bodies of water. A swamp generally has a large number of hammocks, or dry-land protrusions, covered by aquatic vegetation, or vegetation that tolerates periodical inundation. The two main types of swamp are "true" or swamp...
. It is located on a plateau
Plateau
In geology and earth science, a plateau , also called a high plain or tableland, is an area of highland, usually consisting of relatively flat terrain. A highly eroded plateau is called a dissected plateau...
near Mount Waialeale
Mount Waialeale
Mount Waialeale at an elevation of , is a shield volcano and the second highest point on the island of Kauai in the Hawaiian Islands. Averaging more than of rain a year since 1912, with a record in 1982, its summit is one of the rainiest spots on earth....
, one of the wettest spots on Earth.
The 3.5 miles (5.6 km) Alakai Swamp trail is often shrouded in mist. This trail can be reached via the Pihea Vista trail, which is connected to the Puu o Kila lookout on Waimea Canyon road. This road is located behind a gate that is directly next to the Kalalau Valley
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 Nā Pali Coast is very rugged and is inaccessible to automobiles...
lookout. Due to the rainfall experienced here, potholes are formed and the road is often closed. The end of this trail overlooks Hanalei Bay
Hanalei Bay
Hanalei Bay is the largest bay on the north shore of Kauai island in Hawaii. The town of Hanalei is at the mid-point of the bay.Hanalei Bay consists of nearly two miles of beach, surrounded by mountains. In the summer, the bay offers excellent mooring for sailboats, stand up paddle boarding and...
off in the distance and it is possible to see several waterfalls from the lookout. This area is often shrouded in clouds and is one of the few places on Kauai where one may walk through them.