Happy Valentines Trout Unlimited Chapter 403 members. I was on Kauai from January 15th through the 25th up at our cabin in Kokee and I can tell you it rained 5 days out of the ten while I was up there. That said, I did accomplish a lot. I was able to read 3 books!!
AND. . .
I re-connected with the Kokee Resource Conservation Program (KRCP) at their office in Kokee. I talked to Spencer Kashiwa the head man under Katie Cassel. Spencer is leaving for the Big Island for 6 months and Brrttany Rossetti is taking over his position.
Les Blair, one of our Trout Unlimited chapter members who lives on Kauai spent time with me up at the cabin. We hiked to the “Black Pipe” one day to check out our work on the Kokee Stream Restoration project. Since we have not been back there in over a YEAR due to this virus, much of the invasive plants have started to grow back. Looks like we will have more work ahead of us to re-claim this section of the stream.
We also hiked the Canyon Rim Trail and worked our way back to the BIG pool on the Kokee Stream, just before it goes over the 800 foot drop to become the Waipoo Falls. The water was high and dis-colored due to all the rain. I did manage to catch and release 3 nice Wild Rainbow Trout but the “bite” was off.
I hiked the Waininiua and the Kumuwela trails that go through the forest and come out on the Kumuwela dirt road. The forest was WET and muddy, but oh so beautiful. These hikes gave me a chance to “push it” after my hip replacement surgery and I killed it! Never give up – never give in! And, I did it with a 30lb. “ruck”!!! Who was it that said that old fisherman never die, they just smell that way! After a few day there might be some truth to that!
Looking towards the future and obviously any tentative plans are just that – since we are still constrained by the pandemic.
Our next trip to the cabin in Kokee, Kauai is scheduled for February 21st through March 6th. Also, there are plans for a fly-in to the Waialae Cabin in July 2021. I’ll keep everyone up to date, so mark your calendars and join us for an adventure(s) of a lifetime.
See our Waialae 2018 video on the website for a “Peek” of what is involved.
Be there!!
Deane Gonzalez – Treasurer Trout Unlimited Chapter 403
