About

Welcome to Exploration: Hawaii. This is the official website of the Oahu Adventure Dudes aka Scott’s Pilgrims. Exploration: Hawaii is your new guide to some of the most exciting and thrilling things that you can do in the 50th state.

Exploration: Hawaii was founded in August 2011 after a couple of intrepid University of Hawaii students completed the infamous Bowman Trail to Haiku Stairs (Stairway To Heaven). This was our first hike together as a group. We’ve been hiking tons ever since. The core members of our crew are:

Marvin Chandra, MA: Endurance hiker and our resident daredevil with a heart of gold. Extreme chocolate raisin eater and master of sensory dominance.

Coty Gonzales, PhD: Founder of Exploration: Hawaii, Pro Blogger, T-Shirt Reviewer, Fearless Hiker, Apple Aficionado, Foodie, Beverage Enthusiast, Psychology Lecturer, and Rogue Scientist.

Ahnate Lim, MA: Uh oh, I can’t think in 3rd person. I grew up in Thailand and climbed water towers for fun. My right leg is slightly shorter than the left. I’m an activist (sometimes inactivist) and enjoy discussing participatory visions for a future society. While hiking!

Joel Sabugo, MS: Fan of 1-hour hikes, future physician, intense gamer, Zelda advocate, KidRobot collector, avid viewer of the Game Show Network, and our resident cautious hiker.

Special explorers who have participated in multiple adventures with us:

Jeremy Armstrong: Motocross rider and fixed-gear enthusiast. The youngest of the group but the biggest motivator! Jeremy also completed the Bowman to Haiku Trail but has since forsaken us.

Allison Baird: A native of the Evergreen State and co-inventor of the poketatoe bowl.

Mark DeBlois, MA: Hearts animals (except dolphins), naturalist, student of evolutionary functional morphology, hardcore gamer, adventure-seeker with a fear of heights, and could eat meat jun (only from Gina’s Korean BBQ) everyday.”

Andy Dewald, PhD: Lover of cats and all things Philadelphia, owns a PhD in Cognitive Psychology.

Katherine Livins, MA: Climber, triathlete, diver, and master relational reasoner.

Laredo Muredo: Legendary hiker of Oahu who once guarded the Haiku Stairs.

Quyen Nguyen, PhD: Clinical psychologist, vegan, fan of shave ice and one of the newest extreme hikers on Oahu.

Ryan Salvador, BS: Former emo kid that used to wear black all the time, current Immunology PhD student at Tufts University, mega fan of Avatar: The Last Airbender, once chose an all-you-can-eat buffet over Hawaii Loa Ridge, and an alcoholic.

Troy Solano: Super grinder and pioneer of urban trails on Oahu. An Elder Hiker who nurtures new hikers more than his own kids.

Andrew Wilhite: The lankiest dude in Hawaii that enjoys hiking and many parts of Japanese culture.

Official FAQ

Who’s Scott?

Scott Sinnett is a professor at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. He is the principal investigator of the UH PARLAB (Perception and Attention Research Laboratory). He served as Coty’s dissertation advisor and is Marvin and Ahnate’s current thesis advisor. Scott has an affinity for cheese, yogurt, and tennis. Scott hates sushi but loves pugs.

Who are the Oahu Adventure Dudes aka Scott’s Pilgrims?

We are a group of friends who are into doing a lot of fun stuff in Hawaii. We are students and alumni from the University of Hawaii at Manoa and all we want to do is have some adventurous fun in this beautiful state.

The stuff you do on Exploration: Hawaii looks dangerous. Why do you do it?

Because it’s fun. Having said that, please review our disclaimer before you attempt anything posted on Exploration: Hawaii.

What kind of video camera do you use to shoot those awesome videos?

We use a GoPro HD Helmet HERO Camera. You can buy it from Amazon.

What kind camera do you use to take those awesome photos?

Coty uses a mix of Point-And-Shoot (Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-W80 and Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-W570) and Micro Four Thirds (Sony NEX-5N) and Canon 7D.

Wait, so no one on the Exploration: Hawaii crew uses a fancy DSLR with fancy lenses?

Yep. None of use a fancy DSLR with fancy lenses. We all use DSLR’s now. How times have changed.

I really like the Exploration: Hawaii website, what else should I do? 

You should Like the official Exploration: Hawaii page on Facebook. We keep it updated with exclusive photos!