This is the view most people get simply by stepping out of their car and climbing a few steps to the overlook. It's quite a sight! You can walk along the head of the valley along a trail for more views, but first you have to descend this ...
... slick red clay that even my Merrell hiking boots couldn't grip. Many visitors turned back at this spot - we almost did too. It was four miles to the end of the trail, and it took us about ten minutes to negotiate the first 100 yards. But reports from hikers returning from further down the trail assured us that the beginning portion was the worst, and that the view at the end was worth it.
So we soldiered on. The cloud level raised and lowered during the day, and we hoped it wouldn't rain and make it slicker.
There were more muddy hills to negotiate ...
...
... until we got to the long section that is board-walked. Whew!
Over an hour into the walk we came across this sign erected by Captain Obvious.
The top of the mountain is flooded by the Alaka'i Swamp. We're glad someone built a boardwalk here, although the wet conditions are taking a toll on the wood.
We finally made it to the end, and the view was, indeed, grand.
Later, we talked to someone who had done the trail five times. Only once was the cloud level above the lookout, allowing them to see the view. We were lucky.
This little honeycreeper, called an Amakihi, greeted us at the overlook. He's actually one of the few native Hawaiian birds we've seen.
The cloud level descended during our return hike. This was the view looking down at the ocean from the same spot the third photo in this posting was taken.
The last hundred yards before we got back to the parking lot. Upon the return to the car we took off our mud-caked boots, changed out of muddy pants, and drove back to our campsite.
Looks like you found Fireball Island again! - KBB
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