Sleeping Giant, Nounou Mountain, Kauai

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Difficulty: Moderate
Length: 4.0 miles / 6.4 km
Duration: 1-3 hours

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Overview: Nounou Mountain rises from the leeward (Eastern) side of Kauai, known for some of the better island weather.

Local legend tells of a giant who feasted so much at a party in his honor that he laid down for a nap and never awoke, and when you see the mountain's resemblance to a sleeping giant from the nearby town of Kapa'a you can see why the legend persists.

This is a nice little hike if you're in the area, and a great way of sampling some of Kauai's exotic plantlife and bird population. Certainly it's not the greatest trail on the island (particularly when it's up against such stiff competition) but if you're planning to be spending some time around the leeward side soaking up some rays, then it's worth checking out.

Elevation gain:
• 1,100ft (from 200 - 1,300ft)

Tips:
• As with all Hawaii hikes we recommend footwear with good grip, since the terrain can get a little slippy & muddy.

Points of Interest

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Haleilio Rd Trailhead

Finding the trailhead is pretty easy - located as it is at the end of the suburban Haleilio Road, which connects directly to the main State Highway 56 in Wailua.

You'll find plenty of parking available here, so simply ditch the car and pick up the well signed Nounou Mountain East Trail located on the right side of the parking lot. Head straight into the forest and up the mountain.

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Plant Life Rooted in Isolation

Nature lovers will enjoy marveling at the variety of plantlife on Kauai, which is well represented on this trail.

The Hawaiian islands rose up out of the oceans of bare rock, and on one of the most remote parts of the planet. Millions of years before humans begun arriving here, the plants and animal life that took root here did so by arriving by chance - either by air or by sea - to produce a unique and isolated environment that can be seen nowhere else.

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Nounou Mountain Overlook

As you make the final climb up to the summit of Nounou Mountain keep your fingers crossed that the Sleeping Giant doesn't wake up, as you'll be clambering up his head and ultimately up his nose.

Enjoy the views all around you. Pacific Ocean to your East, the Wailua River State Park to the South, and North and West are the (usually) cloud-shrouded foothills of the Kawaikini and Waiʻaleʻale mountains.