Phallic Rock & beyond hike

September 21
At the top of the Kalaupapa peninsula a short walk into the woods is a 6 foot high sacred rock, the phallic rock. Legend holds the god of fertility, Nanahoa, was turned to stone after striking his wife, who was also turned to stone.  (abbreviated version)  There is another rock that looks like a yoni nearby. 

We saw this on our first trip to the island and this time set out on a longer walk for views of the Pali and Kalaupapa peninsula.
We walked through ironwood forests,

eucalyptus forests, a grove of guava trees (with some ripe enough to eat) to arrive at a road/trail that looks like it would take you another 15 miles to the West end of the island.

 

It was beautiful looking up through the green leaves of the tall trees through to the blue sky.  The smells were refreshing and clean.

Kalaupapa peninsula is bounded by the ocean on 3 sides and Pali (sea cliffs) towering over 2,000 feet, some of the highest in the world. This is where people with Hansen's disease (aka leprosy) were banished to between 1866 until the mandatory isolation law was repealed in 1969.  Today it's a National Historic Park.  There are still some residents who live there, by choice, and they do allow visitors on organized tours.  We plan to do the tour this year, as well as walk up the 3 mile 2,000 foot trail.  Mules are the norm.