Sleeping Giant refers to the mountain that overlooks Kapa’a and the East Side of Kaua’i. Its official name is Nounou Mountain.
Why Sleeping Giant? It’s a quick 3/4 of a mile to the top where a relatively flat clearing and views of the ocean await. While the trail climbs and winds up the mountain, it is extremely child-friendly. In fact, we started carrying Tamayo up the Giant when he was one month old. Now, our boys love running up this trail to explore the Norfolk Pine forest and various tree tunnels.
Where is Sleeping Giant? Sleeping Giant is on the East Side of the island, approximately 20 minutes away from Lihue Airport.
What is the parking situation like? Parking here can be limited however there are a few different trail heads. We recommend parking alongside the fenced pastureland 2.5 miles up Kuamo’o Road.
When is the best time to go? Our babes are early risers so 90% of the times we’ve hiked this trail have been at sunrise. It really is a spectacular sight to see the sun rising over the ocean from the top of the mountain. Otherwise, it’s a perfectly beautiful hike any time of day so long as it’s not raining or there haven’t been recent heavy rains. The trail becomes extremely muddy and rather slippery when wet.
What should I bring? Insect repellent! In terms of footwear anything both sneakers and sandals with straps are fine. Honestly, we typically go barefoot on this trail (especially when it’s muddy).
What food should I bring? This hike is so close to the main drag in Kapa’a that simple snacks and water will do. Traditionally, we head to Kountry Kitchen for a big meal when we’re pau hiking–the boys love the gigantic pancakes while we are fans of their signature scrambles.
Insider advice: The covered pavilion at the top is a lovely place for a picnic or even a read aloud of The Sleeping Giant: A Tale from Kaua’i. It’s next to a small grassy field and nearby theres a nice bench to take in the view from.
Fun fact: If you are feeling particularly adventurous, there is a narrow trail that continues on past the clearing. In less than ten minutes you’ll reach a rock wall to scramble up–go straight and you’ll reach the peak, follow a teeny tiny trail to the left and you’ll reach a cozy cave with a view of the ocean. *Once you scramble up the rock wall please be mindful of the extremely steep drops. I would not recommend this section of the trail for young children with limited hiking experience.
Photo ideas: It can get dark along the trail so play with the sunlight whenever you can. Look for rays of light peeking through trees and crawling across the forest floor.
Standing tall with the Captain Cook Pines on the Sleeping Giant Trail
