August 3, 2013 Pai`olu`olu Point Rock Bridge (Koko Head)

Finally got out to the Rock Bridge at Pai`olu`olu, the Southern/Western point on the rim of Hanauma Bay. The hike up Kuamoʻokāne (Koko Head) and out to Pai`olu`olu is short but HOT! There is NO shade along the trail. Today was a great day to be out hiking, but the sun was blazing! We definitely did not take enough water on this hike.

While making our way down to the twin craters of Nonoʻula and ʻIhiʻihilauākea there were random bunches of rose petals along the trail. Soon we saw what those were about. Shelby's boyfriend was going to propose!

Just as we passed ʻIhiʻihilauākea crater we ran into Shelby and her boyfriend, now fiancée, making their way back up Kuamoʻokāne.  Of course Sommer made me get a picture of Shelby's ring. Congratulations!

We made our way down the dry slippery sandstone at Pai`olu`olu point.

Across the bay was Palea point, the Norther/Eastern point of Hanauma Bay, and the forbidden Toilet Bowl.

Just west of Pai`olu`olu point is the Rock Bridge.

I don't know how people stand on this thing! It's terrifying! If you fall in or the bridge collapses, you're done for!

We took some family pictures, then headed back up Koko Head and back to air conditioning in the car! It was so hot on the way back and we were severely lacking in water. Thankfully the trail is short and the air conditioning (and water in the car) was cold!

Rest of the pictures here.  Write up of my last trip up and around Koko Head.

July 27, 2013 Ka`ena Point Sunset

Two months in a row!!! Sommer and I went hiking every Saturday in June; now every Saturday in July, too! I always wanted to catch the sunset from Ka`ena Point, the western tip of O`ahu. We had planned on doing another sunrise hike, but Hōkūle`a stayed up all night Friday night, not going to bed until 4:00 am Saturday morning! Now I had my excuse to catch the sunset from Ka`ena Point.

We pushed off about a quarter mile from the end of Farrington Highway at the back of Keawe`ula (Yokohama) Beach Park. From experience (and the mounds of broken glass at the end of the road) I know that parking at the end of the road isn't safe for your automobile, especially since we will not be back until well after dark. The extra half mile walk will be worth it in the end. While looking for a place to park a pack of campers showed up in their Lexus and Mercedes-Benz SUVs. They started setting up camp for the night, so I pulled next to their camp, knowing our car would be safe with them nearby. Ka`ena Point is a 5+ mile hike along an old abandoned sugarcane train track that went from Wai`anae, around Ka`ena Point, and up to the sugar refinery in Waialua. There is no shade on this trail and starting at 5:00 pm meant it was going to be HOT.  Sommer carried Hōkūle`a in her ErgoBaby and I packed in our water and supplies.

It was hot, but the view of the northern tip of the Waianae Coast is amazing. Waves break on lava rocks and jagged cliffs.

We reached Ka`ena Point about 30 minutes before sunset. We made camp at the old concrete beacon tower and waited for the sun to go to bed.

The sunset was amazing!

YOLO!

Once the sun set we quickly made our back to the trailhead. I didn't expect the trail to get so dark, so fast!  By the time we got back to the entrance of the nature reserve it was already dark. There was no moon out and the overcast sky cut any light from the stars. We hiked completely by the light of our flashlights and headlamps. The walk back - though pitch black - wasn't scary (except the unexpected "bellow" from the blowhole about halfway back to the trailhead). The scariest part of the walk back was the quarter mile from the start of the road to where we parked. There were some "unsavory characters" hanging out at the end of the road!

Alive!  Cruising Yokohama Bay at 9:00 pm!

Rest of the pictures here.  Write up of our last trek out to Ka`ena Point (before baby).

July 20, 2013 Ka`iwa (Lanikai) Ridge - 100th Post!!!

Another spectacular sunrise from the pillboxes/bunkers atop Ka`iwa Ridge in Lanikai.  It was packed!!!  I'm always surprised how much traffic this trail gets!

Sommer saved a spot for us on the top bunker and we enjoyed the start of another beautiful day!

Once the sun came up we headed back down the trail (the first time I've ever gone down the Lanikai Pillbox trail or been at the trailhead in daylight) and headed back to the car where Hōkūle`a was already to go home!

Rest of the pics here.  Past treks along Ka`iaw Ridge: Lanikai Loop I, Ka`iwa Ridge to Keolu Hills & Lanikai Loop II.