All posts tagged Oahu

Cascade of Waterfalls Blanket the Koolau’s + View From Ho’omaluhia Botanical Garden

by Coty on March 8, 2012 in Photography, Sights with 8 Comments

Over the last few days Hawaii has been experiencing moderate to very heavy rainfall. The weather seemed to be at its worst on Tuesday with heavy rain and flash flooding throughout the state. On Wednesday, Governor Abercrombie declared a state of disaster for the islands of Oahu and Kauai. Some areas on Oahu saw more than 15 inches of rainfall, while Kauai saw 35 inches. Many schools and golf courses closed due to the severe weather. The state even shut down Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve because of the surface runoff from the heavy rain.

We pulled over on the side of the H-3 and this is what we saw. Photo by Coty Gonzales.

The View of the Koolau Mountain Range from Hoomaluhia Botanical Gardens. Photo by Coty Gonzales.

With the rain falling like crazy, Joel and I decided to set off on Tuesday to see if we could catch a peak of the many natural waterfalls flowing down the Koolau Range. We decided that our best bet would be to jump on the John A. Burns Freeway or, as it is better know, Interstate H-3. The H-3 runs along a viaduct through Halawa Valley for about 6 miles. This particular stretch of the freeway was entirely socked in. It was as if we were driving through the clouds. However, things cleared up a bit and we had amazing view of the Koolau Mountain Range just after the Tetsuo Harano Tunnels. We pulled over on the side of the freeway and proceeded to admire the many waterfalls surrounding us.

This was one of the views that we had from the H-3. This was across from us adjacent to the westbound side of the H-3. Photo by Coty Gonzales.

I came prepared for this moment (sort of). I donned my surf shorts and decided to jump out of the 4Runner to snap some photos. We brought along my Sony NEX-5N, Joel’s Canon EOS 50D, my GoPro HD HERO, and of course our iPhones. Unfortunately, the only waterproof camera we had (the GoPro) was dead (including the spare battery). For a good 15-20 minutes it was just drizzles with intermittent rainfall. We took advantage of this by taking as many photos as we could, however, because of the rain we had to get creative in order to protect our cameras. I flexed and contorted my body in ways that I never knew I could.

Triple Waterfalls. Photo by Coty Gonzales.

Waterfalls in the background. Taken at Hoomaluhia. Photo by Coty Gonzales.

A long waterfall. Photo by Joel Sabugo.

The clouds were also beautiful. Photo by Coty Gonzales.

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Timelapse of Sunrise Over Makapuu Beach and Sea Life Park

by Coty on November 21, 2011 in Hikes with 2 Comments

This sunrise timelapse takes place somewhere along the Ko’olau Summit Trail, just above Sea Life Park and overlooking Makapu’u Beach. To get to this point Team Exploration: Hawaii hiked up the Makapu’u end of the Ko’olau Summit Trail at 5am in pitch dark and then reached this destination an hour later. We stopped at a lookout point just above Sea Life Park but before the puka that Marvin mentioned in this post. This is what we saw:

Music: Us Against The World by Coldplay from the album Mylo Xyloto. Buy now from Amazon or iTunes. 

This timelapse is a bit more personal and interactive than my previous timelapse videos. You’ll notice us moving around throughout the video. Andy (red jacket and hat; lanky haole) makes his first video appearance on Exploration: Hawaii. You might remember him from the kayak adventure to Mokoli’i Island (Chinaman’s Hat). His dad was also visiting from Pennsylvania, so you’ll see Timbo, as Andy affectionately calls him, pop up in the video.

Coty OWLing over Sea Life Park and Makapuu Beach. Can you spot him? Photo by Marvin Chandra.

Marvin hasn’t stopped talking about this spot ever since he snapped this photo. And although I hate to admit it, I really enjoyed this location and the view. From this vantage point we had excellent views of Manana and Kaohikaipu Island, both of which are located just off of Makapu’u Beach. You can also see Makapu’u Point Lighthouse as well. Look closely in the video and you will see the lighthouse flickering.

A curvy panorama of Makapuu. Marvin's playing around with a new technique. Photo by Marvin Chandra.

The trek in was a bit more strenuous than I tend to like for early morning timelapse sessions (lugging around a full-size tripod is heavy business). However, when we finally reached the final lookout point and I had realized how beautiful the view was, my complaints vanished. Kudos, Marvin.

Explorers: Marvin Chandra, Andy Dewald, Coty Gonzales, Joel Sabugo, and Timbo.

Timbo, Andy, and Coty soak in the views. And laugh about something. Photo by Marvin Chandra.

Father and Son. Photo by Marvin Chandra.

A Marvin on a Cliff. Photo by Coty Gonzales.

Yes Marvin, your MEGA UMBRELLA is still there. Photo by Coty Gonzales.

Mr. Blue. Photo by Joel Sabugo.

Blown Away. Photo by Coty Gonzales.

Thank goodness for camera timers. Photo by Coty's Tripod and Andy's Camera.

Mt. Olympus to Konahuanui: An Alternate Route to the Highest Point on the Ko’olaus

by Marvin on September 16, 2011 in Hikes with 8 Comments

View of Diamond head, Honolulu, HNL Airport and the Waianae mountain range from a clear day at the Konahuanui summit

At 3,150 feet tall, the first summit of Konahuanui is the highest point on Ko’olau mountain range in Oahu. While a traditional route starts in the Manoa Tantalus trail, an alternate way to reach the summit is to go through one of HTMCs super hikes via Mt. Olympus (Wa’ahila Ridge). This is a time consuming trail that requires going through some overgrown sections and will at times stress your fear of heights. You will also need need to be ready to for a muddy experience despite which time of year it is. While on the junction ridge between Olympus and Konahuanui, you will be rewarded with excellent views of both sides of the island. You will also find some flora on the ridge you may have not seen during the traditional sections of either trails.

Directions:

Refer to the Manoa Middle post to gain access to Mt. Olympus.

Once you are done with the rock climbing section on Manoa Middle, keep straight until you hit a junction with a couple ribbons. If you go left, you will end up on the Pu’u Pia trail, and eventually near where you started the Mt. Olympus trail head if you used the Manoa Middle directions. If you go left, you can also detour into Waiakeakua Falls. Instead of going left on the ridge intersection, keep right and continue on the ridge until you arrive at the Konahuanui summit.

Plenty of nice Huluhulu (moss) on the ridge section

The ridge section will provide many different flora to observe. The flora may not rival Mánana in terms of beauty, but it certainly has a lot of diversity. The ridge can be narrow at times but it is never too dangerous. In fact, it is very wide for the majority of the trek. The trail will be obvious and there are no confusing junctions until you reach the summit. Be prepared for a couple long and steep climbing sections before you hit the summit. Use the surrounding trees for support as you go up muddy hills.

Standout plant on the side of the mountain

The ridge section will be overgrown and it will slow down your journey. Although the junction between Olympus and Konahuanui is only about 1.6 miles, it will take close to 3 hours to finish this section. The whole trip may take between 8 and 10 hours to complete. Once you reach the Konahuanui summit, you may descend back to Manoa via a scenic but strenuous ridge trail or take the contour option. As you are going down the Konahuanui trail, you will shortly find a section that is covered with multiple ribbons. Going up and left will take you on the ridge while staying low and taking the right part will put you on the contour trail.

Whether you take the ridge or contour route, you will eventually end up at Pauoa Flats lookout (there will be a bench here). From here, you can head down the Pauoa Flats until it junctions into the Aihualama trail. This will lead you into the very popular Manoa Falls trail which you can use to exit the trail system. Manoa Falls is a couple miles away from the Mt. Olympus trail head, you may take the bus to the other trail head or stage 2 cars at both ends.

Bring plenty of water for this long trek and consider pants for there will be thorny sections. You will find the Manoa Middle section to be mostly clear and easy to traverse due to an excellent trail clearing that happened earlier in the year. One of the commentors from the Manoa Middle informed us:

“Manoa Middle took 13 full days to clear, from walls of dense uluhe.  Many more man hours were put in by others to maintain and open up the MM trail itself, including the KST section between Awaawaloa and Manoa Middle.”

 

Many overgrown sections in the junction will slow you down

On a clear day, you will have amazing views of both sides of the island. Sometimes simultaneously while on the ridge!

View from Konahuanui summit of Northern section of the island, featuring Olomana and the ridge just traversed (right)

Explorers: Marvin Chandra (I also went to the summit with Ahnate Lim a couple months ago via the traditional route)

All photos by: Marvin Chandra

How to get to Haiku Stairs (Stairway to Heaven in Hawaii)

by Marvin on August 30, 2011 in Hikes, Tips with 21 Comments

If you are trying to get here, read the following guide

Note: Stairway to Heaven (Haiku Stairs) trail has been closed since 1987. Neither the State of Hawaii or the City and County of Honolulu have no plans to re-open the stairs. It is illegal to hike this trail and to do so would be cause for citation or arrest. There is also a risk of falling boulders, landslides, and drowning. As such, all accounts here are fictional. This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. Adobe Photoshop is a wonderful piece of software that allows one to superimpose another into a photo making it seem as if they were somewhere when if fact they were not. Got it?

First, the Stairway to Heaven trail is off limits and it is illegal to trespass. This post does not encourage people to break any laws. But, we know many people attempt to reach the stairs every week and this post attempts to increase safety for those attempting the steps and also to discourage additional illegal activities.

The main reason the Stairways are closed is because of the neighborhood disturbance created by hikers. The complaints from residents have left the trail closed. This guide will show you how to reach the stairs from the bottom of the steps, review the Bowman to Stairways and Moanalua Saddle to Haiku Stairs posts for alternate routes to the top of the stairway.

Directions (from downtown Honolulu via Google Maps):

First, you need to drive to Haiku Village in Kaneohe.

  • Take the Interstate H-1 W/Lunalilo Fwy ramp to HI-61 N/Pali Hwy. Keep left at the fork, follow signs for Interstate H1 W and merge onto I-H-1 W/Lunalilo Fwy. Take exit 20A to merge onto HI-63 N/Kalihi St toward Likelike. Hwy Continue to follow HI-63 N. Take the HI-83/Kahekili Hwy ramp. Merge onto HI-83 W (signs for Kahekilli Hwy). Turn left onto Kahuhipa St.

You will turn into this neighborhood (Google Maps)

Once at Haiku Village, drive towards the back of the neighborhood. Drive to Kuneki Pl. to find an excellent parking spot. Remember, do not park in front of a driveway or in front of someone’s mailbox. Not only will you not upset the residents, you will decrease your chance of getting your vehicle towed and perhaps even broken into. From this parking spot, you will be closer to entrance #2 (see map below), but approach entrance 1 for an easier to follow route.

Walk to the corner of Kuneki St. and Makena St., here, you will find a gate stating the stairways are closed. To get to the stairways from this point, go around the gate from the right side and continue on the concrete road. You will eventually find your first fork on the road, make a left here. Continue until you see a second fork on the path, make a right this time. While continuing on the concrete path, keep a lookout on your left side for an opening in the grassy area. You will find a clear path that can follow. Start walking on this short trail through some bamboos and tall trees until you arrive at another paved road. From the trail you were on, go left on the road. Follow the road until you see an erected blue tarp. This is where the security guard usually stays while on duty. From the tarp, make a right into the jungle while walking towards the H-3 freeway above you. You will soon find another gate that you will have to contour from the left side to reach the stairs. You can now continue up the 3,922 steps of Stairway to Heaven! Remember: left, right, left, blue tarp.

If you find a 3rd fork on the concrete road, you have gone too far and will need to return. If you do continue going on this wrong path, you will find one of the Dharma stations from Lost (small green building).

Do not block any of the residents when you park (Google Maps)

Alternatively, if you decide to use entrance 2, you will be walking through a dry canal to reach the stairs. In the canal, past the sign to not approach the stairs, continue to the end of the canal until you are in an open field. Keep walking in a straight line in this area until you find a fence. At the fence, look for spots that you can easily crawl under. On the other side, continue walking in a relatively straight line towards under the highway. You will eventually find a paved road. Go right on the paved road for about 10 minutes until you find a blue tarp. Go left from here to enter the stairway to heaven trail. If you ever get lost on your way to the stairs while on either path, head towards the sound of the cars on the freeway.

As of this writing (8/30/2011), it has been noted that the security guard arrives at 4 AM everyday. Plan accordingly if you decide to start the trail before the security guard arrives. You may be fined if the security guard catches you near the trail head, although fines have been very rare so far. Do not create any conflicts with the guard. He does not carry any weapons and is only there to direct people away from the stairs.

Be sure to bring a well lit and fully charged flashlight as you will be walking in complete darkness once you pass the neighborhood and the gates. Entrance 2 may be more straightforward overall but you risk waking up dogs that will continually bark while you are near. You will spend most of your time within the clouds at stairway to heaven and bringing a light jacket may be helpful. Most importantly, respect the neighborhood and the trail (do not leave garbage in the building at the top of the stairs). Bring your camera, you will get some of the best views on the island on stairway to heaven! Also be prepared for an intense walkout. The stairs are more like a ladder at certain points and will tax your legs. Although personally, I found the Koko Crater stairs more difficult as those steps get steeper as you get closer to the end.

Kaniakapupu: The Summer Home of King Kamehameha III

by Coty on August 29, 2011 in Sights with 23 Comments

Note: Kaniakapupu is not open to the public. It is illegal to hike this trail and to do so would be cause for citation or arrest. There is also a risk of falling boulders, landslides, and drowning. As such, all accounts here are fictional. This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. Adobe Photoshop is a wonderful piece of software that allows one to superimpose another into a photo making it seem as if they were somewhere when if fact they were not. Got it?

You can count this one as a totally awesome find. Why? Because you will not find Kaniakapupu in any Oahu guide book. It’s a hidden treasure that few locals know even exist. Tucked away in Nu’uanu lay the ruins of the summer home of King Kamehameha. These ruins are known as Kaniakapupu, or ”the singing of the land shell.”

A few of us decided to venture out to the outskirts of the Pali highway to find this ancient Hawaiian ruins. This is the perfect excursion for those of you who want to do a little exploring but don’t have a lot of time to spare. The trail to the ruins is located off of Nu’uanu Pali Drive and takes about 5-10 minutes to access the site. You’ll need to navigate though about 600 ft. of bamboo to reach the ruins.

A view from the front of Kaniakapupu.

A view from the back of Kaniakapupu.

Kaniakapupu is the only remaining structure associated with Kamehameha III. Furthermore, since Kaniakapupu was the home to a king, it was considered to be kapu (Hawaiian word meaning forbidden, though it also carries the meaning of sacred, consecrated, or holy). It honestly did feel a bit eerie to be roaming the home of a former Hawaiian monarch. There were a few chicken skin moments that I experienced while I was exploring the back of the ruins by myself. It was like I could feel the mana (Hawaiian word meaning supernatural or divine power, or to have authority, privilege or power) being exuded from the site.

There isn’t much left of the home, however, there is a memorial placard posted toward the front of the home. It reads:

Kaniakapupu

Summer Palace of King Kamehameha III and his Queen Kalama

Completed in 1845, it was the scene of entertainment of foreign celebrities the feasting of chiefs and commoners. The greatest of these occasions was a luau attended by an estimated ten thousand people celebrating Hawaiian Restoration Day in 1847.

Directions:

From Honolulu, you will take the Pali Highway towards Kaneohe. You will then take the Nu’uanu Pali Drive exit. Follow this road until you see the Board of Water Supply building on the left. Park your car on the side of the street. You will find a bamboo pathway across the street of the Board of Water Supply building which marks the start of the short trail. Follow this trail about 300′, then take the first left turn and walk another 300′. The ruins will be at the end of this short trail.

Kaniakapupu Ruins Tips:

  • Use bug repelant. The Pali is notorious for being wet and mosquitos love wet things!
  • Respect the ruins. This was the stomping grounds of Hawaiian royalty. Pick up your trash before your leave.
  • This is a high break in area. Do not leave your valuables in your car.

Look for this bamboo passageway on Nu’uanu Pali Drive. It marks the start of the trail.

Navigating the Bamboo.

Once you reach these three trees, you’re close to the ruins.

View of Kaniakapupu.

The Front Door To Kaniakapupu.

Closer view of the Kaniakapupu Memorial.

Fresh Bananas.

Map of the site of Kaniakapupu done by an archaeology field school in 1999. The Luakaha property extends below the “stone perimeter wall.” Nu‘uanu stream lies off to the right. Via PacificWorlds.

 

Hawaii Loa Ridge: A Nice Intermediate Hike

by Coty on August 28, 2011 in Hikes with 7 Comments

I first completed Hawaii Loa Ridge many years ago, back in 2004. I remember the trail as being a very brutal one with steep inclines and challenging rope climbs. Of course, that was way back in 2004 and Hawaii Loa was my first big hike.

I revisited this hike a few days ago with Joel, one of the friends that I originally did this hike with. The rest of the people that originally hiked this trail with us have long moved away from the islands. Needless to say, the memories of the previous hike flowed like one of the many waterfalls that we’ve since visited. I remember our group taking multiple breaks on the way up to the summit of Hawaii Loa Ridge. I remember vowing never to do this hike ever again. And I vividly remember one of my friends being so grumpy towards the end – I wasn’t even sure if she was going to make it up (we miss you Annette!).

Seven years later, I’m back on Hawaii Loa Ridge. Was it as brutal as the first time I did it? Not at all. Joel and I pretty much blazed our way up the trail, only stopping once about halfway. It took us 1 hour and 44 minutes to reach the top of Hawaii Loa Ridge. The first time we did it, it took about 2 hours and 45 minutes (over 5 hours round trip).

The trail will start off very dry, however, the deeper that you go into the ridge, the more muddy the terrain will become. There are no narrow ridges to walk on this trail, so it’s a good one to do if you’re not a fan big drop offs. Overall, Hawaii Loa Ridge offers a relatively safe upwards climb towards the Ko’olau Summit Trail. I counted about 5-6 steep climbing sections (nothing too hairy though, just take your time as you navigate your way up).

Flora on Hawaii Loa Ridge. Photo by Coty Gonzales.

Coty doing some yoga. Photo by Joel Sabugo.

The trail path on Hawaii Loa is very straightforward. You can't get lost on this one! Photo by Coty Gonzales.

 

Tall Trees. Photo by Coty Gonzales.

We found this locked toolbox about midway through the trail. Photo by Coty Gonzales.

Throughout our way to the top, I kept telling Joel that “we better get a view this time.” The last time we did this trail, we were totally engulfed by the clouds and had absolutely no view of the Windward side of the island. This made for a horrible reward after completing the upward climb to the top of the ridge. Speaking of the climb, if you are able to complete the Koko Head Crater Steps Trail, then you should have no problem doing the last part of the Hawaii Loa Ridge Trail. The last quarter of the hike will involve you climbing up a few Koko Head like steps. The main difference is that these steps are much more muddy and therefore there is a greater chance of you slipping. There will be some rope installations to also help you navigate your way up.

I was initially disappointed when we reached the top of the trail. We were once again engulfed by the clouds! There was absolutely no view! Fortunately for us, this lasted for just 10 minutes or so. After that time, the clouds cleared up and were rewarded with excellent views of the Windward side of Oahu. Even better, two people that we had passed earlier on the trail reached the top and proceeded to gift us with some homemade oatmeal cookies and even some Toblerone chocolate bars! Both were excellent treats after a great cardio workout. We talked story with our new friends for a little while, took some pictures of the little green army men, and most of all we soaked in the view. Once our friends left us, we proceeded to enjoy our lunch, fried chicken bentos from 7-11, on the edge of the ridge! Anything will taste gourmet after a strenuous workout. In total, we spent an hour relaxing on the Hawaii Loa Ridge summit. That was an excellent hour.

The trek down the mountain can be a little tricky, especially navigating the slippery and muddy steps. The rope will be helpful in working your way down. We took our time walking down and it took us a total of 1 hour and 30 minutes to reach my car. I’d rank this hike as an intermediate one and a nice next hike if you’ve already completed the Mariner’s Ridge hike.

Directions: Get on to H1 freeway east bound towards Hawaii Kai. The freeway will eventually end and turn into Kalaniana’ole Highway. You will then bear right at Kawaiku’i Beach Park and make a slight left loop onto Pu’u ‘Ikena Drive. You will then be at a stop light, cross across Kalaniana’ole Highway and make your way into the Hawaii Loa Ridge gated community. Stop at the guard station to check in. From there you continue to drive up on Pu’u ‘Ikena Drive until you reach a park. you will see a board of Water Supply tank on the right side of the park. Park on the right side of the tank.

Hawaii Loa Ridge Trail Tips:

  • The trailhead to Hawaii Loa Ridge is located within the Hawaii Loa gated community. In order to gain access, you will need to stop at the guard shack and present a local ID (the driver’s license will suffice). So be sure that at least the driver has his/her ID. Everyone in the car will then have to sign off on a liability form.
  • There are only about 10 stalls for parking for those wishing to do this trail. You will be turned away at the guard shack if all 10 stalls are talen Get there at least before 10am to have an increased chance at scoring a parking stall.
  • Vibram FiveFingers would probably work well throughout the dry half of this trail. However, you’ll wish you had a good pair of hiking shoes once things get a bit muddier.
  • The Hawaii Loa Ridge  trail offers one of the fastest and easiest routes up to the Ko’olau Summit Trail. Once at the summit of Hawaii Loa Ridge, you will be provided with two optional trails, one to the left towards Wiliwilinui and another trail which will lead you to the Kuliouou and Makapu’u. Both trails are narrow ridge trails and are for advanced hikers only.

Explorers: Coty Gonzales and Joel Sabugo.

Joel climbing the steps of Hawaii Loa. Photo by Coty Gonzales.

When we reached the top we were greeted by some little green Army men. Photo by Coty Gonzales.

Happy to have reached the top. Photo by Coty Gonzales.

Hawaii Loa Ridge. Photo by Coty Gonzales.

Windward side in the background. Photo by Coty Gonzales.

Hawaii Loa Ridge. Photo by Coty Gonzales.

Joel enjoying his Fried Chicken Bento on the edge of the ridge. Photo by Coty Gonzales.

East Oahu in the background. Photo by Coty Gonzales.

Back at the start of the Hawaii Loa trailhead. Photo by Joel Sabugo.

Mánana: An Essential Hiking Experience in the Heart of Oahu

by Marvin on August 27, 2011 in Hikes with 5 Comments

Rare view from the summit

Mánana starts at the end of Pearl City and offers one of the best views on the island after a long trek through a diverse group of plant life. Featured in the center of the island, Mánana is a 12 mile loop with many climbs and an excellent ridge section that leads to its summit. August and September may be the best times of the year to complete the trail as that is when the strawberry guava will be in season. On my last trip just a week ago, I saw well over 200 ripe fruits near the trail head alone. Although this is long trail, you will be walking in the shade the majority of the time. Once you get to the open ridge section, you will very likely be surrounded by clouds and it is also often very windy. Although the clouds make the journey easier, it makes the view seen here extrememly rare. The summit is often completely surrounded in clouds. But, on rare day or moment it is clear, you will be provided with an excellent view of the windward side of the island that stretches to Makapu’u, the Eastern most point on the island.

Directions:

Bus: From Honolulu, take the A bus headed towards Waipahu. Exit at Waimano Home Rd. stop and transfer to the #53 bus headed North on Waimano Home Rd. Exit at Komo Mai and ‘Auhuhu street and walk to the end of Komo Mai street.

Driving: (From Stuart Ball’s Hiker’s Guide to Oahu)  At Punchbowl St. get on Lunalilo Fwy (H-1) heading ‘ewa (west). Near Middle St. keep left on Rte 78 west (exit 19B, Moanalua Rd.) to ‘Aiea. By Aloha Stadium bear right to rejoin H-1 to Pearl City. Leave the freeway at exit 10, marked Pearl City–Waimalu. Turn right on Moanalua Rd. at the end of the off-ramp. As Moanalua Rd. ends, turn right on Waimano Home Rd. At the third traffic light and just before the road narrows to two lanes, turn left on Komo Mai Dr. The road descends into Waimano Valley and then climbs the next ridge. Drive through Pacific Palisades subdivision to the end of the road. Park on the street just before the turnaround circle.

Trail is simply beautiful

The trail starts on concrete and there may be many bikers and dog walkers in this section. You will have many lookout points near the beginning of the trail that offers views of neighboring ridges. Keep left to continue the trail or you may go right for a short trip to a swimming hole. Although this side trip is only .75 miles long, you will descend a steep rooted hill. Climbing back up is fairly strenuous. About half a mile after the concrete section, the trail becomes narrower and you will not have many chances to deviate. Simply follow the remainder of the trail.

Prepare to climb. There will be many hills that you will have to go up and down on. There are around 10 ropes on the trail, but they are not essential to reach your goals. There will always be many plants and sometimes rocks that will help you climb. You will never be climbing while near an edge of the trail so danger is very low. Be prepared to climb both ways as well. The trip back on the trail requires you to climb all the hills you descended on your way to the summit. The trip to summit will take between 4 and 5 hours while the trip back can take over 3.5 hours. Start the trail early and keep a flashlight in your bag just in case you are on the trail when it gets dark.

Branches are also covered in interesting plant life

The trail can be divided into 3 different parts in increasing difficulty. There’s an easy stroll to the picnic table that is about 1.5 miles long. The next 2 or so miles increases the steepness of the hills and muddy sections will be introduced. It is never frustratingly muddy, but be prepared to have mud up to your ankles at certain points. The last part of the trail is a walk on the ridge. You will be out in the open and it may be very windy to the point where it is impossible to breathe if you are facing the wind. There will be more overgrown sections on the ridge and at times you will have to duck under branches. You may be walking in the clouds during your whole trip on the ridge.

 

More examples of diversity on the trail

There will be many opportunities to see a variety of plant life and select number of birds. Unless time is an issue, take opportunities to look around the trail to discover many hidden treasures.

There will be many standout branch formations

The length and steepness of certain points of the trail qualifies this as an advanced trail. But there is never any danger and the steep sections are not tiring on a steady pace. You will be well rewarded for taking your time on this trail and also if you finish. The view from the summit is often hidden in clouds, but some patience will give you glimpses of the windward side of Oahu. On an extremely rare day, you will enjoy more than just moments of excellent views. Despite the high liklihood of clouds at the summit, this trail remains the author’s favorite hike on the island in his short hiking career.

Explorers: Marvin Chandra

All photos by: Marvin Chandra

Papa’iloa Beach: A Playground for Turtles

by Coty on August 24, 2011 in Beaches with 3 Comments

I have a friend that is from Hawaii, but moved away to the mainland for graduate school. He mentioned to me that he had never seen a Hawaiian Sea Turtle in action at the beach while he lived on the islands. I was blown away because they are so numerous … if you know where to look. One of the places on Oahu where you are guaranteed to have an encounter with a turtle is at Papa’iloa Beach in the North Shore town of Haleiwa. The beach is actually tucked away behind residential homes and so it is often the perfect place for a secluded beach experience.

Me and Joel stopped over today to check out Papa’iloa because I’ve been itching to test out my new GoPro Hero HD camera in the water. After testing the timelapse capabilities of the new GoPro (see video below), we decided to go and seek out those turtles. I was hoping to see some turtles and my goodness did I see turtles. We actually found a family of turtles. I counted about 15 Hawaiian Sea Turtles all in one spot of the beach. They were just chillin’,  riding the waves, and having a great time.

Papa’iloa Beach was also a major filming spot for the television show LOST. In fact, take a look of some of the shots below and you’ll probably recognize the background. The beach was used as the official beach camp for LOST – pretty awesome, huh! During this time, Papa’iloa was also known as Police Beach, because it was common for it to be heavily guarded with Honolulu Police Department (HPD) officers during filming.

Explorers: Coty Gonzales and Joel Sabugo.

You'll need to find access Area 269 to find Papa'iloa Beach. Photo by Coty Gonzales.

Just beyond this sign paradise awaits. Photo by Coty Gonzales.

Beautiful view of Papa'iloa Beach. LOST fans wil recognize this as the main beach camp for the stranded Losties. Photo by Coty Gonzales.

 

Joel Stabilizing The Tripod. Photo by Coty Gonzales.

Slippers are the best way to get around the island. Photo by Coty Gonzales.

Rocky Papa'iloa Shoreline. Photo by Coty Gonzales.

 

Hawaiian Sea Turtle Just Chillin. Photo by Joel Sabugo.

 

A Hawaiian Sea Turtle popping up to say hello. Photo by Joel Sabugo.

 

Makapu’u Tom Tom: Rocky trip along the coast

by Marvin on August 23, 2011 in Hikes with 4 Comments

One of the views along the trail.

[Note: This post is inaccurately titled. The trail presented here documents a hike from Kamiloiki to Makapuu. To read about the Makapuu Tom-Tom trail please check out this post.]

This past Saturday, I did the Kamiloiki to Makapu’u hike. Kamiloiki starts in Hawaii Kai and is a good alternate to Mariner’s Ridge if you would like a trail in the same area but one that provides a better workout. You can junction to the Makapu’u Tom Tom trail and end up near the Eastern most point on the island (see the lighthouse in one of the latter images). Kamiloki is nice but Tom Tom is much more fun so I will discuss that one in this post. Although I started in Hawaii Kai and only did Tom Tom one-way, you can start Tom Tom  near the lighthouse and do a loop.

Directions -

Bus: Take the #23 from Waikiki towards Sea Life park and arrive at Sea Life Park. Walk back half a mile on the freeway until you reach the parking lot for Makapu’u lookout.

Driving: From Honolulu, head east onto Lunalilo Hwy until it changes to Kalanianaole Hwy. Continue until you see the Makapu’u lookout on your right.

From the parking lot, you can walk a short paved trail towards near the lighthouse. For the Tom Tom trail, cross the street and you will be on your way onto the Tom Tom trail as you walk up the small hill.

You'll be walking along the coast most of the time

The trail is mostly straightforward but is not always obvious. Keep going along the side of the mountain as you walk with the coast. Luckily, because the path is mostly rocks, you will not find many muddy spots even after it has rained. There have been reports of giant spiders on the trail, but I did not see any on my trip. You will be greeted with great views of the ocean along with residential areas along the coast. There will also be many sturdy rock formations should you fancy bouldering along the way.

One of the interesting finds in the ocean

Be careful around sentry plants, they easily pierce clothing and skin!

One of many steep areas

Be prepared to climb up and down many rocks. This can be physically taxing, so bring enough nutrients and pace yourself. Overall, this is an intermediate hike as there is not a high sense of danger. A loop trail would be 8 miles but you have the choice to turn around at one of the many scenic break points on the trail.

There is one section with a strap, but you most likely won't use it going up or down

Sea Life Park and Lighthouse (Eastern most point on the island)

You might even get a free dolphin show!

Along the way you will encounter an excellent top view of Sea life Park. You will be able to hear and see dolphins if they are performing. You will also find a few spots where people bodyboarding is visible.

Rabbit island seen in the center, $50 fine if they catch you trespassing

Tom Tom ends up being an excellent trail if you want a break from the many muddy trails on the islands. It provides excellent views throughout the trail and gives you a chance to boulder at various places as well. Although not very difficult, this will provide a great workout at the end of the day.

All photos by: Marvin Chandra

Explorers: Marvin Chandra and 8 members of the O’ahu Hikers and Adventurers meetup group.

Manoa Middle: An old trail refound

by Marvin on August 22, 2011 in Hikes with 6 Comments

View of Honolulu on the left and northern Oahu on the right

Manoa is home to many trails and trails on other parts of the island can easily be connected while walking on the spine of the Ko’olau Mountain Range. Manoa Middle is a short trail that was cleared possibly over a hundred years ago but had been lost for many years. Less than a year ago, a small group of hikers rediscovered this trail and spent over a week clearing it. It is currently easily accessible and well maintained. To reach Manoa Middle, one method is to start the Mt. Olympus trail and junction into Manoa Middle before reaching the summit of Mt. Olympus.

Directions:

Bus: Take the #6 headed towards Woodlawn Ave. and stop at Alani Dr. and Woodlawn Ave.

Driving: Head towards the back for Manoa by going to the end of East Manoa Road. At the end, make a left on Alani Dr. and go to the end of the street. There will be plentiful parking opportunities in the neighborhood.

Once at the end of Alani Dr., keep walking into the small section with houses. At the end of the road, you will find a sign indicating a state trail is about to begin. Soon after you are on this trail, you will see a sign for the Pu’u Pia trail, turn right into this trail. After a mile or so into the trail, you will approach a cliff that forks the trail. On the left, you will see a sign to not continue because of dangerous conditions. Continue in this direction.

 

Traveling along Mt. Olympus ridge

Traveling along the Mt. Olympus ridge

Continue along this straightforward path. Often, you will be surrounded by clouds the deeper you go. But, on a clear day, you will be provided with excellent views of Honolulu, especially Manoa. At a certain point on the Mt. Olympus trail, you will have to scramble up a steep muddy wall in order to reach the summit. Instead of climbing, find a trail that contours the scramble on the left side. A short walk through a slightly overgrown path will lead you into an open, but narrow, area that provides views of both sides of the island. Continue going along East on this ridge. You will now spend most of the hike on a narrow ridge.

Making our way along the side of the mountain

Shortly into the Manoa Middle trail, you will be confronted with a rock climbing section. This can be a quite scary if you have a fear of heights. But don’t worry, the rocks are sturdy and there are plenty of footholds and good areas to grip as you walk towards the end of this section. The last portion is made easier with a rope that is already attached.

Start of rock climbing section

 

Narrow, steep and windy!

 

A look behind us after finishing climbing section

 

Once the climb is finished, continue along the ridge until you reach a turning point.  This is a great spot for a snack break before you begin the steep decline back to Alina Drive. On your way down, hang on to the branches as you make your way down. There will be many slippery sections so take caution. Often, controlled sliding will get you to your destination quicker than climbing down traditionally. Mt. Olympus is an intermediate trail while Manoa Middle is slightly more difficult and also has a higher scare factor due to its narrow ridges. Together, this hike can takeover 6 hours and the steep climbs up and down will tax your legs. The rock climbing section does not require any climbing experience but this hike should be avoided altogether if you have a high fear of heights.

Kaleo Lancaster recently made a video of this hike (going in the opposite direction) that provides information in how the rock climbing section looks like.


All photos by: Marvin Chandra

Explorers: Marvin Chandra and 4 members of the O’ahu Hikers and Adventurers Meetup group.

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