HANNAH PARRY
  • Home
  • Hannah
  • Critical Acclaim and Media
  • Contact
  • Hannah the traveller
  • Buy A Gift for someone in Need

Finding Narnia: a secret hike in Hawaii

13/3/2018

65 Comments

 
Picture
Narnia Falls, Hilo, Hawaii
I could hear it before I could see it. As I hiked down a gentle slope towards an opening in the trees the noise grew louder. The continuous thundering rush of gallons and gallons of water pouring down multiple waterfalls. White foam starkly contrasting against the black, shiny lava rock that makes up the riverbed of Hawaii’s second longest river.


I had apparently found Narnia.


I was staying with friends in Hilo on the Big Island of Hawaii when I asked for advice about what to do with my day. My friend dropped a pin on a map and said “that’s the way to Narnia”. I googled it and found some very vague and conflicting directions about where to go to find the start of this secret trail known locally as Narnia, but went along to have a look. After a short walk at the side of a quiet road I came to a turning with a chain across the entrance and a bold yellow sign reading DEAD END. Others had clearly skirted the chain and proceeded down the road, just as I did now. It definitely looked like a dead end until, right at the back I saw a muddy track leading steeply upwards. “I can always turn back”, I thought as I squelched my way up in the drizzle. Still skeptical about what I was doing and mostly watching my footing to avoid the worst puddles, I was surprised when the path suddenly flattened and opened out to a wide, stony track in the middle of a forest. The wet palm trees and vines looked just the part for a journey to another world. I was through the wardrobe.

Picture
As I walked briskly along with peaceful track it seemed impossible to imagine the roads and houses of the sleepy town of Hilo. I was surrounded by greenery on all sides and entirely alone with the sounds of nature. Coming to a junction of paths I had to decide. Chance (and a vague sense of direction) took me towards the Wailuku River which had been such a feature of my previous adventures too. It’s easy to imagine Hina - mother of demigod Maui - and the antics of giant lizard Kuna whose stories intertwine with the life of the island and the water.


Turning my back on the water and retracing my steps I smiled to myself, pleased that I had found this secret spot despite the lack of information and the rain. As the drizzle turned heavier I couldn’t help but be grateful and proud to be in such an amazing place.



Want to find Narnia too? Message me using the Contact Form (not via a comment, I can't reply to you then) with why you want to visit and I’ll give you some clues!
65 Comments

    Hannah the traveller

    is a travel and lifestyle blog with focus on running, vegan eating and of course global travel.

    Categories

    All
    Adventuring
    Afghanistan
    Africa
    Backpacking
    Bike Ride
    Book Review
    Bosnia
    Calais
    Farm
    Festival
    Fitness
    Germany
    Guest Post
    Half Marathon
    Hawaii
    Hiking
    Kayaking
    Kindness
    London
    Marathon
    MEXICO
    Microadventure
    Middle East
    Migrant Crisis
    Mindfulness
    Music
    Norfolk
    Politics
    Product Review
    Ramadan
    Recipe
    Refugees
    Running
    Scotland
    Scuba Diving
    Serbia
    Travel
    UK
    Vegan
    Volunteer
    Women
    Yoga

    Archives

    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    June 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.