Kauaʻi Hiking Tours

07/28/2026

06/25/2026

One of the unexpected highlights from a recent hike.

After spending part of the morning helping clean up trash along the beach, we were fortunate enough to quietly observe an endangered Hawaiian monk seal mother nursing her pup from a respectful distance.

Hawaiian monk seals are found nowhere else on Earth, and today only about 1,600 remain in the wild. The good news is that, after decades of decline, their population has been slowly recovering thanks to dedicated conservation efforts.

For about 5 to 7 weeks after giving birth, a mother stays with her pup almost constantly, nursing it while fasting herself before eventually weaning it. It’s an incredible investment that gives these pups their best chance at survival.

We were also lucky enough to see several honu (Hawaiian green sea turtles) resting peacefully along the shoreline. Like monk seals, honu are a protected native species and an important reminder of how special Hawaiʻi’s coastal ecosystems truly are.

One thing I especially appreciated about this family was that they specifically requested we include a beach cleanup as part of the day. We enjoyed the hike first, then filled several bags of trash on our way back to the trailhead and packed everything out with us. Some of the plastic will even be dropped off at a local recycling program that repurposes it into useful products instead of sending it to the landfill (I’ll tag them once I get their information). A huge mahalo to this family for leaving the beach a little better than we found it. Small acts of stewardship add up, and protecting Hawaiʻi’s wild places helps wildlife like these incredible seals and honu continue to thrive.

Please remember to give monk seals and honu plenty of space if you’re lucky enough to encounter them. Watching quietly from a respectful distance is one of the best ways we can all help protect these remarkable animals 🦭 🐢 ✨

05/26/2026

Native plants, birds, and insects of Kauai’s cloud forest.

Near the end of this reel we unexpectedly crossed paths with Hawaiian entomologist Steven Montgomery, who helped bring Hawaii’s carnivorous caterpillars to scientific attention in the early 1970s while studying at UH Mānoa.

The discovery shocked entomologists because almost all caterpillars are herbivores - but several Hawaiian inchworms in the genus Eupithecia evolved into active ambush predators that hunt insects and spiders instead.

They stand motionless along leaf stems and strike prey with surprising speed, almost like tiny praying mantises.

National Geographic later featured the discovery in the early 1980s, helping make these caterpillars internationally famous. Researchers have continued uncovering even stranger species in Hawaii since then, including snail-eating caterpillars and the recently discovered “bone collector.”

One of the coolest parts of meeting Steven was seeing that the fascination and wonder were still there all these decades later.

These high elevation forests are some of the wettest, rarest, and most biologically unique ecosystems in Hawaii - home to native birds, rare plants, and evolutionary oddities found nowhere else on Earth.

03/24/2026

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Good day out giving back to the trail.

Big shoutout to - always showing up for this kind of work and setting the tone. And to + for organizing and bringing people together.

Last month we widened and rerouted a narrow, slippery section with a steep drop-off. We also cleared areas that were getting choked out by invasive ginger and opened things back up for native plants to breathe again. Always feels good to leave a place better than we found it.

We’re doing it again this Saturday.

If you’ve been wanting to get involved, meet good people, and spend a day outside doing something that actually matters, come join us.

No experience needed. Just bring water, decent shoes, and a willingness to get a little dirty.

DM me or reach out to if you want details.

03/20/2026

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Having fun while staying safe.•
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02/23/2026

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•dm me or for more info!
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Kōkeʻe State Park Trail Work Volunteer Opportunity Saturday, Feb. 28th,
8 am - 1 pm•
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02/22/2026

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•Volunteer Trail Work Volunteer Opportunity next Saturday, February 28th, 8 am - 1 pm•
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DM me or for more info!

01/23/2026

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Exploring Kōkeʻe SP to see native birds & plants 🌿•
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For more information on how you can help Kauaʻi’s critically endangered forest birds go to www.KauaiForestBirds.org

01/10/2026

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Nice day for a walk on the beach 🏝️ •
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What would you create with enough sea glass treasures?•
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🦀 🥷🏼