Hike Pihea Trail above Kalalau Valley & Pacific Ocean, Na Pali Coast, Kauai, Hawaii, USA.

The potholed Pihea Trail traverses a spectacular cliff edge of Na Pali-Kona Forest Reserve, overlooking the Kalalau Valley in Na Pali Coast State Park down to the Pacific Ocean, a breathtaking 4000 feet below, on the island of Kauai, Hawaii, USA. On the right, Dicranopteris linearis is commonly known as Old World forked fern, uluhe (Hawaiian), and dilim (Filipino), Climbing Fern, or False Staghorn. This fern is a keystone species in Hawaiian ecosystems and often forms deep thickets. Dicranopteris linearis is widely distributed in the wet Old World tropics, Polynesia and the Pacific. The stem grows from the rhizome, branches at a 45° angle, and forms fronds that continue to bud and branch at great length, 20+ feet. Being intolerant of shade, it climbs over other plants to reach direct sunlight. As a pioneer species in ecological succession, it can colonize bare lava flows, talus, and abandoned roads. Where humans eliminate the fern, invasive species of plants can move in. Slippery wet clay makes Pihea Trail a challenging hike of 2.6 miles round trip with 500 feet gain to Pihea Peak. Pihea Trail begins at Pu'u O Kila Lookout at the end of the road in Koke'e State Park. This image was stitched from multiple overlapping images.

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Contained in galleries: 2017 Jan 16-Feb 6: Hawaii: Oahu, Kauai, Big Island, Hawaii: Kauai

The potholed Pihea Trail traverses a spectacular cliff edge of Na Pali-Kona Forest Reserve, overlooking the Kalalau Valley in Na Pali Coast State Park down to the Pacific Ocean, a breathtaking 4000 feet below, on the island of Kauai, Hawaii, USA. On the right, Dicranopteris linearis is commonly known as Old World forked fern, uluhe (Hawaiian), and dilim (Filipino), Climbing Fern, or False Staghorn. This fern is a keystone species in Hawaiian ecosystems and often forms deep thickets. Dicranopteris linearis is widely distributed in the wet Old World tropics, Polynesia and the Pacific. The stem grows from the rhizome, branches at a 45° angle, and forms fronds that continue to bud and branch at great length, 20+ feet. Being intolerant of shade, it climbs over other plants to reach direct sunlight. As a pioneer species in ecological succession, it can colonize bare lava flows, talus, and abandoned roads. Where humans eliminate the fern, invasive species of plants can move in. Slippery wet clay makes Pihea Trail a challenging hike of 2.6 miles round trip with 500 feet gain to Pihea Peak. Pihea Trail begins at Pu'u O Kila Lookout at the end of the road in Koke'e State Park. This image was stitched from multiple overlapping images.