When the kayak portion of the tour was over we were picked up by ATV’s and made our way down through the Kohala macadamia nut orchards.
KOHALA WATER FLUME ZIP
There is a zip line that goes right over that area but no one was zipping as we passed by. There are a few spots where some Japanese writing was carved into the side of the tunnel.Ĭoming out of one tunnel we crossed over a large waterfall. It is hard to imagine the labor that went into constructing these cavernous tunnels. We also had to duck down so as not to bonk our heads as the tunnels were so low. They were very long and very dark so we had to wear head lamps. Our guide was extremely knowledgeable and we even got to try some of the herbs that were growing alongside the flumes. However within these 2.5 miles you cruise through a wild jungle, cross water flumes, go through 10 crazy earth tunnels and learn all about the native plants. The kayak part of the tour is only 2.5 miles long. Once reaching our destination we did a very short hike over a 150-foot flume that overlooked a waterfall. Then we loaded into cool 4×4 vehicles to start the climb up the mountain.Ī 5th generation Hawaiian family runs the tour with a huge amount of knowledge about the area, the ditches, and about Hawaii in general. The tour started with a safety briefing and we were given these weird yellow life preservers that belted around the waist.
These were longer models designed for group paddling. These kayaks were different than the regular AIRE inflatable kayaks that you or I would use to paddle in. They are incredibly tough and I was not surprised that an eco tour company chose to use them for their daily adventures. AIRE is known to produce some of the top inflatable kayaks on the market. When I arrived at the meeting point for the tour I was thrilled to find out that the company was using AIRE inflatable kayaks for paddling through the ditches. It is now once again responsible for moving millions of gallons of water every year. The Big Island community rallied hard to save the ditch and eventually raised over 6.5 million dollars in public and private monies as well as in federal funds and construction began to repair the damage. However there was much damage with the earthquake and in a matter of mere seconds, many towns and farms on the coast below were without water. Up until the earthquakes in 2006 – measuring 6.7 and 6.0 on the Richter scale – the ditch still carried 8 to 10 million gallons of water per day across North Kohala. The Kohala ditch trail was originally used to channel ground and stream water to a local sugar cane plantation. The Japanese laborers worked day and night in dangerous conditions to build this ditch system and seventeen men died during the eighteen months of construction. It is an intricate system that consists of cavernous tunnels, flumes, open ditches, dams, and reservoirs all winding its way through valleys, mountains and open pastures. Facts about the Kohala Ditch Systemīuilt in 19 by more than 600 Japanese laborers the ditch system is over 17 miles in length. To really appreciate what the tour has to offer it is important to know a little bit of history on the famed Kohala ditch system. It is rated as one of Hawaii’s top cultural and historical adventures and I could see on the website that the company that ran these tours used inflatable kayaks so my interest was piqued even more. This adventure was going to take me kayaking through the Kohala ditch trail high up in the mountains. Kayaking in Hawaii is a must but usually it is done on the ocean. Mountain Kayaking – The Kohala Ditch Adventure One of my favourite adventures was the Kohala Ditch System eco tour. Consequently there is lots to explore from lush rainforests, beautiful sandy beaches, an abundance of waterfalls, the possibility of snow at the top of Mauna Kea Mountain, volcanoes, jagged cliffs, and all the marine life you could possibly imagine.īesides enjoying the surf and sun I also did a lot of touristy stuff. The landscape changes every 5 to 10 miles as you enter a new ecosystem. The Big Island of Hawaii is truly a scenic wonderland. This time I got to know the whole island and really fell in love with everything it has to offer. I had been to the Big Island before but only for a brief visit to Volcano Village.
This past winter I did a fair amount of traveling and was fortunate enough to spend six weeks on the Big Island of Hawaii.
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