2005-2-11---Kipu, Maha'ulepu Beach:

Another place I'd read about was Kipu Falls. Another controversial spot, but we wanted to check it out. It's noted as not being a safe place to park---lots of break-ins happen there, so we didn't meander for very long. The trail took us through some sugar cane fields and brush.

After about 10 or 15 minutes walk we came to the upper river to the falls.

Reminded a lot of the area around Falls City in Oregon. Looked like a neat place to hang out, but we were afraid to be away from the car for too long.

Here is the falls. It's also known as a dangerous place because people like to jump off the falls into the pond below. We've read about many drownings here, too.

Time to explore another new area---Maha'ulepu Beach is off an old cane road on the south side. I guess they aren't too concerned about traffic on that road.

Even the monk seals like to frequent this area.

Although the ocean along here is pretty rough, it's another beautiful stretch of beach. It's usually pretty windy, too, so we've spent hours watching wind surfers here.

Also along the cane road is an old sugar cane factory. I'm not sure which factory this is, but as of late in 2009, all sugar cane production on Kauai has ended. It was once Kauai's main agricultural crop. Now the new dominate crop is seed corn. There is still lots of sugar cane growing on the island, but it's mostly wild now.