Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
You'll pass the
Pepe
ʻ
opae Bog
, a Hawaiian montane bog that's a miniature primeval
forest of stunted trees, dwarfed plants and lichens that feels like it's from the dawn of
time. This bog receives about 180in of rain each year, making it one of the wettest re-
gions in the Hawaii Islands.
Almost the entire 1.5-mile-long trail is along an extremely narrow uphill boardwalk
that feels at times like tightrope walking. It is covered with a coarse metal grating to pre-
vent hikers from slipping, but you should still wear shoes with a good grip. At one point
a trail seems to branch off to the left but ignore this and stay on the metal mesh.
To reach the Pepeʻopae Trail from Waikolu Lookout, you walk along a crude 2.2-mile-
long access road that is not passable by any vehicles.
Visitors should sign in and out at the preserve's entrance. Look for entries in the log-
book from others on everything from car breakdowns to trail conditions and bird sight-
ings. Posted notices announce if any part of the preserve is closed. Bring rain gear, as the
trails in Kamakou can be wet and muddy.
Tours
Excellent monthly Saturday hikes with the
Nature Conservancy
(
553-5236;
www.nature.org/hawaii
; donation requested)
explore the preserve's history and ecology. The
hikes have an eight-person maximum and tend to book up several months in advance.
Local tour guide Walter Naki (
Click here
) leads custom hikes in the lush areas outside
the preserve.
Getting There & Away
Check driving and hiking conditions with the
Nature Conservancy
(
553-5236;
www.nature.org/hawaii
; 23 Pueo Pl, Molokaʻi Industrial Park, Kualapuʻu;
9am-3pm Mon-Fri)
. The
office has maps and a wealth of good information.
Kamakou is protected in its wilderness state in part because the rutted dirt road leading
in makes it hell to reach. A 4WD vehicle is obligatory and even then the narrow, rutted
track with its sheer edges and tendency to turn into a bog after rains is a challenge.
The 10 miles from Hwy 460 to Waikolu Lookout takes about an hour to drive. Skilled
mountain bikers will enjoy the trip.
LOCAL KNOWLEDGE
