Margot,

I bought exactly what Sarah described, that water sack/back pack thingy, at Eastern Mountain and it was the best investment we made. It's great in that you don't have to take off your backpack every time you want water, and it's large enough to carry around your other essentials (wallet, keys, guidebook, camera, etc...). My wife & I would fill it with ice before we left every morning.

ok I guess I just skimmed your post Kal. YAH KNOW YOU COULD HAVE LET ME BELIEVE WHAT I NEEDED TOO!!! So you by Chaco Tevas?

Hey where is everyone getting those nifty icons from ?

Icee,
I believe so. I picked my first pair up at a local "Sierra Outfitters" and then my second pair at the sandal store at the Coconut Marketplace in Kapaa.


here's their webby: http://www.chacousa.com/

I got the Z w/ Terreno soles.

Sarah, Chacos and Tevas are like
SF/SJ. @-)

Kal,

Nice SF/SJ tie-in ;)

Suuuz, just trying to 'splain diff/strokes for diff folks! C:)

Some people are just as passionate about their shoes as they are about wine, cities, politics <ugh> and good lookin' women/men!
All personal tastes and thank goodness for that! =D>

Margot I always wear my hikers for long treks as they have excellent grip, provide ankle support and are really broken in. If your boots are not broken in, you may as well wear runners. The worst thing is getting a blister on a long trek. Something else I often do is throw my light weight Tevas into my pack and if my feet get hot or I need to wade through a stream, I can pop them on.

Do you know what is driving me crazy? Waiting for my copies of Ultimate Kauai and Big Island revealed to get here... They said it would be a few weeks because the new stock just came out...or something like that. Anyway, I am really hoping that that guide will direct us to some good hiking... only 39 more days to go!!!

Mean while, I know this has been brought up before but what, in your varied opinions, are the absolute top 5, must do hikes on Kauai and the Big Island?

((R))Aloha again, my Kauai hiking footwear experts! Hubby and I just got back from our shopping expedition at Eastern Mountain Sports (mahalo Doug and Sarah)((F)) and wound up with...drum roll, please...a pair of Merrill light hiking shoes (hi-tops) for me, and for hubby, a pair of Garmount hi-top light hiking shoes, both of us opting for the Gore-tex lining. =D> (please, folks, hold your applause 'til the end!) Also bought appropriate socks, and though not exactly color coordinated with the shoes (a high Margot priority), I am confident they all will be one and the same shade of rust at the end of the hike!;) Checked out the water sack back pack while we were there, as suggested by kind Sarah - excellent concept, and as per your suggestion, will now look at the similar item at Target to compare features and prices. Would probably go for the one that hold 100 oz., though...

So, now that we're foot-ready for this hike, anything else we should know or prepare for in advance of the big trek???:-/ In the meantime, mahalo again, everyone - you've been very helpful, and I will definitely file a Kauai trip report upon our return

Oops #-o - this darn thing posted before I was through with my last sentence (won't say who's responsible for that dastardly deed, but will just look in Kal's direction and whistle:-"). Anyhow, as I was saying...will post a trip report upon our return in July:'(

Thanks again!

Margot you are such a funny writer!
Did you ask about break in time on your boots? If you need some you want to wear them around the house a bit.

Go to Kokee State Park website you can download trail maps of the park. You will want to do some hikes here. We found renting an SUV cuts off 1-3 miles of some great hikes here. Again not really worth it if you only see yourself doing one hike. Just start earlier in the day to make those walks easier. Looking forward to your trip report!

PS TAKE KAL'S ADVICE ON POLIHALE BEACH AT SUNSET. It is just a 30 minute drive from Kokee State park. We combined it with a hike on the Canyon trail and were glad we did. I have incredible photos from Pohale.

((8))((8))"WHY'S EVERYBODY ALWAYS PICKIN' ONNN MEEEE?"((8))((8))

Guess that's why God gave me broad shoulders and a thick carcass?

Oh yeahhhhh. Polihale at sunset. Got the pic on my file cabinet just to keep me going thru the tough times of days #150-320!

Sarah is oh sooo correct about break in time on the hikers. Thought that was the prob. with my Teva's but....

M55, A few things Mrs Kal's remninded me of about the trail is that some rocks that look slippery sometimes aren't...and some that look perfectly good for stepping on are VERY slippery so be careful.
Also, I forgot all about the lady hiker who took off her hi-tech looking hiking boots to cross the stream near the beach so she could walk thru the stream instead of walking on some rocks or taking my help.
She was holding her boots up high while wading thru the mid-shin flow and took a big "keisterazation" right in the middle of the stream, soaked her-boots and all! Meanwhile, Mrs Kal (the water would have been mid-bumm for her)was hi and dry crossing on the rocks while holding my stick <hiking stick, Margs!) to balance while I waded across in my Chacos....which were dry in a few secs after getting out if the water.

We heard her "sloshing, squirting, splooshing" and maybe cussin' the rest of the trail back to the trailhead.
Alooohaaaa,
Kal

((r))Well Aloha again, my fine Fodors friends!;;)Aw shucks, Sarah, you do say the nicest things! :"> And Kal, you always make me laugh, ya big palooka you! :-P

Yes, I will be on a mission to break those suckas in over the next 3 weeks (we leave for Kauai in 2, but we'll do the Kalalau hike during the 2nd week), so they will be on my feet when walking my ((&)), among other activities. I do appreciate all the tips about unexpected little hazards along the trail, etc. and am really looking forward to this hike, since we've been denied the pleasure during the rainy winter months. Gotta sign off for now, but many mahalos again!

Hey Kal and Margot.....I can hear Margot now!!!
.((8)).((8)) "I'm so excited, and I just can't hide it; I'm about to lose control, and I think I LIKE it" .((8)).((8))
Margot, have a wonderful time!

iceeu2, you know me too well - in fact, will probably be singing show tunes on the entire trek (that should clear the trail, don't you think??!!)

@-)HEY - where'd everybody go??!!

Ahhhhhh...got the Italian gravy simmering, decanted the Cab, water on "medium" waiting for Mrs Kal to pull in....That's where I've been!
((D)) time!

Oh...and actually having to work today.
:-@
After those hikers get a load of those shapely legs, they won't even notice your lousy voice! 8-)

>:O Dammit, iceeU! If I get that friggin' song stuck in my head AGAIN!!!!

11:22PM NYC according to my PC and there is a loud summer rain outside. I need a groovy icon here. Where are you guys finding these? I attempted a Middle Eastern dish myself tonight, first stab at cooking in about 5 YEARS!!!

OK, Sarah, don't have a 3:-O about your up-'til-now emoticonless existence on Fodors! All ya gotta do is go to www.fodors.com/forums/smileys/ and, to make it easy on yourself, open this in a separate window from the talk forum, then either just click/highlight the punctuation symbol for the icon you want and drag it right into your text box, or just copy the appropriate punctuation into the box. Hope this helps, I got my apprenticeship from the Kalster!:-X Yeah, it rained pretty hard here in Joisey too. Keep on cookin', darlin', and show everyone how you can bring home the bacon:@)and fry it up in the pan!

Thanks Margot!!!
:P

((Y))By George, I think you've got it, Sarah!