31a. Hike Oahu continued (North Shore to Maunawili)

North Shore to Maunawili
[x] Pu'u Manamana, June 2013

Considered one of the most dangerous hikes on the island, I was pretty excited for the opportunity to finally hike this trail. Unfortunately, the hike was overhyped for me. I was anticipating very narrow cliff edges and that sort of technical difficulty, but it didn't seem as challenging as some other trails I've been on. The best part was the beginning 1/3, climbing to the Crouching Lion rock (looking over the rock was hairy) and other opportunities to rock climb. This lived up to photos and reviews. But everything after that first 1/3, the dense overgrown brush and the entire descent, was more tedious than fun.

 

Me and Jack on the Crouching Lion rock

 Atop the Crouching Lion rock

 At the Turnover lookout before heading back down the mountainside

[x] Mokoli'i (Chinaman's Hat), July 2012

This trail is located on Chinaman's Hat, which is a small island off from Kualoa Regional Park. It is possible to walk over in low tide, but I took a kayak over (first time kayaking, which was fun!). Once you reach Mokoli'i Island, take a trail up to the top. There's also a nice, secluded beach on the side of the island facing away from Oahu. It's pretty cool to see Oahu from this perspective. No pictures since we didn't want to get camera wet.

[x] Waihe'e and Hamama Falls, April 2013
These two easy-to-hike-to waterfalls that you can find at the end of Waihe'e Rd in Kahalu'u. Although there is a "No Trespassing" sign at the start of the trail since it's on Board of Water Supply land, lots of people (and dogs) go on this hike. Just follow the gravel path to the end to reach Hamama Falls. Near the top is a large banyan tree, with a side path leading to Waihe'e Falls. This one was more impressive of the two when we went (and harder to get to). Just be forewarned, there are PLENTY of mosquitoes, and they're not afraid to bite. It was fun trekking on this hike with Jack, who looked after my safety (I was particularly clumsy this day).

 I really like this picture of me and Jack, fronting Hamama Falls

 

 Notice the height of Hamama Falls

  Funny pose in front of Waihe'e Falls

 Proof of how vicious the mosquitoes here were

[x] Pu'u Ma'eli'eli, May 2013

Short trail in the Temple Valley area that Jack and I completed one day after work. Good running trail, though there are quite a bit of inclines that made it difficult to run all the way through because I'm not in that great a shape. Great views of Kaneohe at the top standing atop a World War II bunker. Fun/scary running back down as I was being chased. RAWR (inside joke).

At the top

Nice view in the background

[x] Ulupaina Trail, January 2016

I initially attempted to complete the Likeke Trail on this day, but not being able to find the route to continue the trail after reaching the falls, I turned back, went home, and then decided to try this trail. The loop trail hike was about 3 hours and quite muddy going up but nice and dry coming down. The views at the top were okay; tall grasses made it difficult to see the Kaneohe skyline. The views from the trail directly across the way (Pu'u Maelieli) is more satisfying.

[x] Ha'iku Stairs (Stairway to Heaven), August 2011

This took a lot of research and coordination since it's actually against the law to do this hike. There are legal issues with access to the trail, so a security guard is hired to stay at the trailhead to catch those who try to trespass. But if you go early enough in the morning, you'll get there before the guard. If he sees you on your way coming down, he's cool about it and makes small talk with you. Please remember to respect the residents who live there, especially if you're getting there in the wee hours of the morning. Sharon, who is afraid of heights, was a real trooper for agreeing to attempt this with me.

 View from platform 1

Directions to the stairs are not straightforward, but you can find detailed instructions on Yelp or other sites. Yet even with directions, my poor sense of direction managed to still get my friend and me lost. Luckily we were able to backtrack and figured which fork we turned the wrong way at. I read that there are 3,922 steps up this trail, and tried to train for it. It's actually not bad at all. If you hike Koko Head, you'll be fine on this trail. Jacket is necessary because it gets super cold at the top.

[x] Ho'omaluhia Botanical Garden, March 2013 

This multi-acre botanical garden is nestled in the residential area of Kaneohe near the Windward City Shopping Center. Took a nice bike ride from Jack's house to the garden. The garden is spread across rolling hills, which were quite high for me to conquer on a bike. As much hiking as I've accomplished, the leg muscles that are required to pedal a bike must be totally different because I could not for the life of me get up all the hills and resorted to getting off the bike and walking it up a few of the steeper ones. 

Anyway, at the visitor's center, we found a map of an easy hiking trail that passed by a lake and some interesting flora and fauna. Our exploration led us up a hill overlooking houses on the Kaneohe hillside, including a view of Jack's grandparents' house. The facilities and landscape are very well-maintained; makes for a great picnic spot. On the way home, we had to lift our bikes over the fence at the other end of the garden, but Jack was the man and managed to find a way. All in all, a pleasant experience.

Told Jack we didn't have any pictures of us two, so here's one of the attempts

 The best take (well, except for the fact that it looks like a tree is sprouting from my head)

[x] Kawa'ewa'e (Oneawa Hills), February 2013

This hike is along the hill that separates Kailua and Kaneohe. We did it as a one-way hike, starting in the Friendship Garden on Kokokahi Place and ending on Lipalu Street. Although it's not very long (a little over two miles), it is quite steep. It goes up and down a couple of hills, with ropes for assistance in some parts. Overlooking Kapa'a Quarry was pretty cool. My best friend and I joked that this was  make-or-break it hike for our friendship. We're still best friends :)

 Towards the start of the trail

 

Overhead view of Kapa'a Quarry

 Manmade lake in the quarry

 

 View of Kaneohe

[x] Kalaheo Hillside, April 2007

Did a double hike back in the day. This was the second hike, up the hillside from the back of the parking lot at Kalaheo High School. Tradition is for seniors to make the trek during their last year to paint the rock with their year. Notable memory from this hike was on our way down...we apparently trailblazed because the way we came down was not the right trail or even a trail at all.

Looking towards the pillboxes, which we hiked earlier that morning

 

More of Kailua town

 

 Enjoying my Teddy Grahams at the top

 Rock that seniors paint

 The way we came down, which you'll notice is not a trail

[x] Ka'iwa (Lanikai Pillboxes), April 2007

This was the first of the double hike I did years ago. We were supposed to catch the sunrise but didn't. Did the trail again several other times, but the best time was when I went with my friend Tracyn and Reid. Hiking is always more entertaining and adventurous when Tracyn's around. First, Tracyn only had coffee that morning. Let's just say she left traces of her breakfast somewhere along the trail. This trail also wins for The Best Tracyn Fall Award. When we were almost done with the trail (literally like 3 steps from finishing), Reid (who was in front) told Tracyn to run. She listened and ended up falling in a manner where she somehow flipped was facing me (who was behind her when we were coming down). If that doesn't make sense, you're right. Tracyn somehow defies physics.

 One of first, if not the first, times doing this hike

 Sun rising above Mokulua Islands in the distance

 Crew for the epic pillbox hike

[x] Olomana, April 2012

I had actually attempted this hike twice. The first time, Sharon and I only went to the second peak and chickened out because it was like an almost vertical drop down the backside of peak two. I consider this the best of all the hikes I've done. It sounds kind of cheesy, but the feeling you get being on the top of peak one is one of being on the top of the world. Go there and experience it and you'll know what I mean.

The second time I attempted this, I went with my sister. I was determined to make it all the way. They say that this hike is considered advanced, and I agree very much with that rating. When I got to the part that I turned back at the first time, I saw that it wasn't as steep as I thought it was. There was also rope to assist, so that helped a lot. It started getting pretty difficult in the technicality of the hike going to peak three. When I got to the summit of peak three, I attempted to look for the geocache that I read about. Unfortunately, I couldn't find it and so there's no physical evidence there that I made it up to the third peak. 

 To the right side is where I almost slipped

The scariest part of the entire hike was coming back from peak three. It was tricky to navigate, especially since I climbed to the section called "The Key" to take a picture. There is no easy way to get down from there, and I somehow misjudged my step. Luckily there was rope to catch me. My sister was scared crapless and yelled at me in a motherly way. Although I think she should be more adventurous, I had to agree with her that time that this was a dangerous hike.

[x] Maunawili Falls, quite a few times

This is a relatively easy trail on the Windward side. I've done this a few times, but the most recent was in 2010 (I think), during the time when my best friend and I were into hiking for a bit before our lives got busy. It starts in the Maunawili neighborhood. Gets muddy easily. I remember the last time I went, there was one section where my friend got quicksand-trapped in some mud and started to slide down a sloped portion of the trail that was headed towards another hiker. Luckily they missed each other. I also recall getting yelled at by my mom for tracking so much mud when I got home.

[x] Maunawili Connector Trail, January 2016
Getting on this trail was totally unplanned. I incorrectly assumed that I could hike from the Maunawili Falls trailead and connect directly to the start of the Maunawili Demonstration Trail. Oh how wrong I was. This section was very overgrown, so it was not fun to travel through it. It took us to a point about 1/3 of the way on the Maunawili Demonstration trail. Not very eventful. When we got onto the Demonstration trail, we did come across a family of tourists who were trying to get to Maunawili Falls. They didn't look too prepared for the hike; to this day I wonder if they did push through to the other side or if they gave up.

[x] Maunawili Demonstration Trail, March 2016
This was the last trail we completed for our training to hike Kalalau. It is an 11-miler of slight gradation and covered in shade, so it wasn't too strenuous. Didn't find this trail to have anything special or exciting to look at. But maybe because I'm spoiled with other trails that offer breathtaking views for shorter the distance.