Waterfalls Trail - Kuhala

Today we travelled north to Kuhala to trek over an area once used as a sugar plantation.  

Initially we drove along a very barren highway over lava fields..

At Kuhala we changed vehicle from an air-conditioned modern minibus to this all-terrain vehicle once owned by the Swiss army!  

It was also air-conditioned in a slightly different way.  We were advised to hold on to the straps hanging from the roof frame and try to avoid banging our heads on the metal bits!  Good advice as we headed up onto the rocky hillside and over lumpy tracks and fields..

Once on foot we headed to the first waterfall through damp and fertile wooded areas and open fields.  Guava trees were all around us - some unripe..

-and some fully ripe which we were encouraged to try..

The ground was slippery with yellow fallen fruit like this as well as the smaller strawberry guava which grows on bigger trees.  The guava is not native to Hawaii but having been introduced, thrives in the climate in this area.

The waterfalls on the trek were very beautiful as well as the plants growing around them..

At one waterfall we were all invited to swim in the pool beneath - cool water on a very hot morning..

No, of course we didn't - but it did look lovely..