Peer Pressure and Hanakapai Falls

At the end of July, we decided to join our friends hiking to Hanakapai Falls.  It is 4 miles in, but we knew we'd only make it 2 miles to the beach and turn around.  Hanakapai has a lot of rock hopping, mud, and distance to cover with a 4 year old--even if he is a super tough 4-year-old.

 We went with the Chaddertons and Rustin and Monika, some friends from church.  Zachary had to lead most of the first 2 miles, and every time he caught a whiff of "someone on his tail," he booked it ahead.

This is a very typical Zachary face, and one I will sincerely miss when he grows out of it.

 We commented at this point that it was the first time we've been to the north shore in months where we had such clear views and blue skies.

 Rustin and Monika are on the right.  We hope they will come visit Kauai again.  They were only here a few months, but we adored them.  Curtis is on the left and we hope the Chaddertons will also stay forever.

 Drake, Paislee and Courtney:

 Kate does not love being confined in the backpack, so she was living it up at Hanakapai Beach.

 ...but the binkey does make the backpack a little more tolerable.

 Well, when Zachary saw his friends going further on the trail, there was no question that he had to go all the way, too.  We were pretty nervous about this decision because it is a solid hike for adults, much less a little kid.  We felt like Zac had proven himself a few months before with his 6.5-miler, so we thought it was as good as a time as any to test an 8-miler.

 We were really steady heading into the falls, and he was a super trooper!  We swam in the freezing water (well, a few of us did) and hiked back through rain and a whole lot of mud.  At the 6 mile mark, our little muddy man was fading fast.  We stopped for a break, let everyone get ahead and got him snacks and water. 

 In the end, it was Kate who had the hardest time with the hike.  In her defense, it did take us 8 hours to hike 8 miles.  Whew.  That is a long time to be confined!  Poor little gal.  Looking back, we probably made a poor decision to go in so far, but that is peer pressure for you!!!

 And it hasn't hurt our pride any that our kiddo can hike 8 MILES!!!

 

Yes, he is holding up 7 fingers.