Jeff Lubeck

Traveling on a Hall of Fame Trail

The Ke Ala Hele Makālae trail on Kaua’i’s Coconut Coast is a dandy. The trail was recently inducted into The Rails to Trails Conservancy’s Hall of Fame. Ke Ala Hele Makālae in Hawaiian means “The Path that Goes by the Coast.”

The official trail is 7.6 miles in length. It is paved and hugs the eastern coastline of the Island of Kauai from Lydgate to Ahihi Point.

The Trail Map. South: Lydgate to North Ahihi Point.

The Ke Ala Hele Makālae trail is well maintained and built for the general population to utilize. It travels adjacent to a number of wonderful beaches. There are bridges over all the streams the trail encounters. The trail is intended for and used by bike riders, walkers and runners. Traffic levels on the trail drop considerably starting at Kealia Beach and moving north to Ahihi.

The Ke Ala Hele Makālae trail offers big wave beaches, sandy somewhat secluded coves, and rocky shoreline.

Our Trip

On this day Linda, The Border Collies (Sage and Willow) and I decide to hike the Ke Ala Hele Makālae trail from Kealia Beach to Ahihi Point. The out and back trip encompasses 5.2 miles of walking.

Kumukumu Stream crossing on the Ke Ala Hele Makālae trail

Linda with Sage and Willow on the Ke Ala Hele Makālae trail.

Linda with Sage and Willow on the Ke Ala Hele Makālae trail overlooking Kuna (aka Donkey) Bay.

Along the Ke Ala Hele Makālae trail

The Kuna (aka Donkey) Bay beach.

The Drop on the Ke Ala Hele Makālae trail.

Below is some information on the trail and Rails To Trails

Trip

Rails to Trails

* Jeff’s Thoughts and Other Worthless Trivia *

Kuna Bay (aka Donkey) beach is a lovely spot. Access to the beach from the Ke Ala Hele Makālae trail and Kuhio highway (56) is straight-forward. Donkey Beach used to be a “Clothing Optional.” beach. This is no longer the case. The setting of the beach surrounded by Ironwood trees is lovely. It is not a swimming beach as the surf is strong and the under-tow from the ocean current is notoriously dangerous.

This May Seem Stinky

The Drop or the concrete structure on the north end of the trail is a remnant of the sometimes inglorious human past.

The Sugar and Coconut Plantation companies of the 1920’s and 1930’s established it was inconvenient and costly to dispose the refuse from processing. It was determined the most cost effective approach was to drop the refuse from a railcar into the ocean.

The railroad tracks on the route from the plantations to Lihue via Kapaa were utilized. A junction, spur and large concrete dropping platform was created about 5 miles from Kapaa. There the waste refuse was dumped off the platform and over the rocky shore into the ocean.

Unfortunately, a large percentage of the waste did not disappear into the depths of the ocean. Instead the rotting waste would flow south and sit (some time for weeks on end) on the beaches at the town of Kapaa.

A Surprise Comet Appears in the Sky

Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS is a surprise visitor to heavenly sky above Earth. It was discovered in 2023 by observers in China’s Tsuchinshan “Purple Mountain” operation and South Africa’s Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS). Thus the name.

Linda and my neighbor Jack decided to take in a flyby of Tsuchinshan-ATLAS from the front yard of our home in Waimea Kauai.

Luckily our home is located on the oceanfront on the south-west of the island. So if the skies were clear we would be able to observe it about 40-45 minutes after sunset. There was one possible problem impeding a successful viewing. The moon. The moon was rising at 93% Waxing (i.e., Full) into view at the same time as the comet. The implication, is that the comet might possibly not be visible.

The Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS as seen from Waimea, Kauai Hawaii U.S.A.

Luckily the comet was visible and I captured the shot above.

For you Night Sky and Stargazer types… In the image… the planet Venus is located on lower left center… the Constellation Scorpius is located to the upper left of Venus. The bright orange light in Scorpius is Antares. On the upper right is the Constellation Hercules. Way way lower to the right is Waimea Beach Public Pier which Linda and the Border Collies (BC’s) pass by each day at dawn. The BC’s often get a second session with me later in the day.

* Jeff’s Thought’s and Other Worthless Trivia *

I have been intrigued by how, and how well, objects from outer space are tracked. A link related to the subject is located [here].

As for Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS… we did not know about it until a year ago. Calculations about where it came from and would go after the Earth Flyby have been updated as more information became available.

There was a good chance that Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS would not stop by for a visit – given many comet’s are obliterated as they pass by our sun. Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS survived that endeavor.

And a return date? As late as this week, experts project Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS came from the outer reaches of the milky way galaxy (ours) and will return in 80,000 years. An update was just made by the experts, and Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS is likely to leave our galaxy. I do have a question on the exit prediction. Who will be around to perform the Fact Checking as it relates to the Return Date?

The image was captured using a Nikon Z9 camera and Nikkor 20MM (1.8) lens. I captured the image using a manually controlled configuration. Focus: Manual (just short of infinity) ISO: 500, Time Lapse: 25 seconds. Aperture: f4.

The manual shooting is my usual method for capturing images. However the moon at 93% waxing and shining in the direction of the comet (over my right shoulder) forced immediate improvisation.

Rest & Relaxation at Jen & Kip’s

The California Ranch style homes of the 1950’s are a design I enjoy. Our friends Jen & Kip have taken that design and nurtured and extended their home into a place offering an almost unparalleled haven for rest and relaxation.

Jen & Kip were planning a trip for the end of September and early October. They offered their home to me such that it could act as a gathering point for a family reunion. Their home is located on the Carmel River in the Carmel River Valley of California. The Carmel River Valley is one of my favorite places in the world. The quick and short story… offer accepted!

The interior of Jen & Kip’s home is warm, elegant and inviting. It is finished with superb personal touches. So as not to be too intrusive, I decided against capturing images of the interior of Jen & Kip’s home. However, the interior of the home is worthy of a full spread in a magazine. The difference might be, in this place people actually live in it day-to-day.

The Grounds

One of about 748 places to sit in the house and on the grounds.

A bridge here and a bird bath there.

Road Sign Assistance.

Native Grasses Abound

The Guest Wing Late in the Day

The Flowers

The Birds

On the lookout

I want to discuss your attitude about sharing!

On Top of Things

Okay… I think I should get re-settled.

Wait a second… what is that?

*** Jeff’s Thoughts and Other Worthless Trivia ***

The property is about an acre in size and practically all of it is landscaped. Jen & Kip have a garden and we were treated to fresh tomatoes and zucchini.

Birds and bird feeders abound. We fed them. So much fun.

My brother Roger – who loves to photograph wildlife – noticed a couple of White-tailed Kite high in the trees at Jen & Kip’s property line. He alerted me to the fact and asked me to join in. Luckily, I had brought my photo-gear for capturing images of wildlife.

Roger and I maneuvered to a spot that offered a clear shot of the birds. It was late afternoon and the sun advancing towards the horizon offered a more golden effect on the image. I was able to capture a number of images.

The bird photos were captured with a Nikon Z9 using the Nikon Z f2.8 Telephoto Prime lens of 400MM and 560MM. I also added the Nikon Z 2x Teleconverter (effectively 1120MM) for the Kite captures.

The Grounds and Flower images were captured using the PHASEONE IQ151 with XF Body and PHASEONE Blue Line F3.5 35MM lens.

I shoot in manual configuration. This approach versus using the Camera’s Auto Program modes can be time consuming and lead to missed opportunities. However, in my experience, this approach yields to materially more compelling image captures. I like to capture images as I see/experience them, and this approach allows me to do so more effectively.

Traveling on a Hall of Fame Trail