Time

All Kalalau hikers are concerned about time and that makes sense. You need to know how long it takes to finish the trail (or make it to Hanakoa Camp), so you can plan your day and don’t get caught in the dark. (For most, the full trail takes anywhere between 7 and 10 hours depending on trail and physical condition, weather, breaks, etc.)

But that’s not really what I want to talk about today. There is a different aspect of time that not as many people are thinking about: Time in camp. If you’re like most people, you spend a lot of, well, time planning logistics, gear, and the hike itself, but you don’t really think about what happens once you’ve made it to your destination. 

Unless you head right back the next day (which I would NOT recommend for various reasons), you will actually have plenty of time. Downtime, slow time. 

Life in camp usually follows the sun. In summer you may get up around 6 when the sun rises and finally retreat into your tent or hammock not too long after sunset, e.g. at 9 PM. That gives you around 15 hours (!) to fill every day. After the intense effort of the hike and given our typical busy lifestyles with work, email, social media, notifications, and calls, Kalalau will likely be an initial shock to your system as time slows down significantly. Almost all stimuli of modern life are gone. You’re offline and disconnected from all disruptions and left (in a good way) among one of the world’s most amazing landscapes. And things are fairly sloooow.

So what is one to do? First of all, breathe and allow yourself to be immersed in this experience. Accept the change in pace and learn to go with the flow. Look around and really take in this spectacular environment. 

Here are a few things to do and experience to get the most out of your time there:

• The obvious stuff: Explore camp, the beach, the coast, the stream, and - most importantly - the valley. The latter can easily occupy 4-5 hours on any given day, provided you and your legs still feel like hiking and exploring after your strenuous journey into Kalalau. (Short naps, especially the day after arriving, will help with your recovery.) Take lots of pictures!
• Do some yoga on the beach, which will also help you stretch out your tired muscles and restore your body. If you need guidance or instructions, download classes or videos to your phone before you head to the trail.
• Meditate. If meditation is for you, this is a fantastic place to tune into your breath. If this is not something you’ve done before, consider giving it a chance. This could be just the place to try it out. At a minimum, use the opportunity to think about yourself, your life, your job, your relationships and gain some distance and much-needed perspective.
• Read something that entertains and inspires you. Wait, does this mean you have to bring a heavy book!? Not necessarily. You could either read on the phone (not everyone’s jam) or bring a lightweight Kindle. I know, this seems like an unnecessary luxury item, but it’s made a huge difference for me, especially since I mostly hike solo. This is the perfect environment to get some deep reading done and reflect. (During my last Kalalau adventure, I actually read several fiction books whose stories take place in Kalalau such as Shadows of Kalalau and Love and Magic in Neverland).
• Listen to music, Podcasts, or audiobooks. So make sure you download those ahead of time and bring a lightweight pair of earbuds.
• Connect with other adventurers around you. I’ve heard many times how much people enjoyed getting to know like-minded folks in camp and on the trail. Usually, everyone is super chill, friendly, and excited to talk about their experience on the trail.
• The (early) morning and sunset are special hours in Kalalau. Enjoy and celebrate them. One of my favorite things to do is eat dinner on the beach right after the sun has set and take in the scenery.

It can take up to a day to really adjust to the slower pace of Kalalau. Once you’ve tuned into it and go with the flow, I hope you will find it enjoyable, calming, and “cleansing” - in a way. It’s what makes the Kalalau experience so memorable, immersive, and unique. You’ve worked hard to get there, so soak it all in and appreciate these special hours spent in this extraordinary place. After all, you have the time!