[x] Diamond Head Crater, April 2011
The hike that all tourists know and are wowed about by the view at the top. Not so much for locals who know of other more awesome trails that are free (pay $1 per person or $5 per car to access Diamond Head). I remember as a little kid when I did the trail with my family, the highlight of the trail was the tunnel, which was pitch black and exciting to go through. Now, it's well-lit so takes the enjoyment out of that part. And I guess the infamous 99 steps that I remember when I was little aren't as daunting now as an adult. Anyway, still had a good time.
Sporting our cool shades at the top
Another lookout point
[x] Lanipo/Mau'umae, February 2016
This 7-8 mile hike in Kaimuki offers excellent panoramic views from town to the windward side of Oahu. It's a relatively quick hike for the reward at the end. I would recommend going with long pants (for the uluhe ferns), when it's overcast (much of the trail is exposed), and with good shoes (it's pretty muddy, but not as muddy as other trails I have seen). I quite enjoyed this hike, though I'm sure doing it when the sun wasn't beating on us placed it in higher ranks for me.
[x] Ka'au Crater, June 2014
A challenging waterfall hike deep in Palolo Valley. Challenging not in the technical difficulty of the trail, but in the length. Took Jiahong and me about four hours to hike to the three waterfalls (all of which were impressively tall), reach the top of the crater, and head back down. There is the option of hiking a loop around the crater, but we were tired by the time we reached the top. Hiking down from the valley can also be a little taxing since tree roots along the path prevent flat foot placement, which puts strain on the knees. The views are spectacular. Hiking up the third waterfall is also quite fun. Luckily the trail is covered for the most part (except atop the crater). Although you're in the valley and mosquitoes are present, they are not as vicious as in other waterfall environments (like Manoa).
In front of waterfall one
Selfie with the second waterfall
Posing in front of the second waterfall
Hiking up the third waterfall
First hike with Tracyn. Little did Reid and I know how awesome a hiking partner Tracyn is for her entertainment value and that this would begin a hiking bond amongst us three that would lead to many more enjoyable hikes over the years. Within 5-10 minutes of this trail, Tracyn had her first fall. Everything about her fall was perfect; how unexpected it was, the way in which she seemed to float in the air for a while before gravity doing its thing and pulling her down, to falling perfectly into a spot in the mountain that was like nature's chair made specially for Tracyn. But that wasn't the end of it. When we came back, Reid told her to run and she did, resulting in a slip and slide in the mud. My description doesn't come anywhere close to how beautiful a memory she created for Reid and me.
[x] Pu'u Pia, August 2011
A trail I attempted on my own one weekend morning. I got lost on the road to the trailhead, but once I figured out that I was supposed to turn to my other left (I shake my head to myself sometimes, with how old I am and still confusing my right from my left). Anyway, after I got to the trail though, I managed to make my way to the top with ease. Nice view of Manoa.
[x] Waiakeakua Falls/Seven Bridges with side trip to part of Manoa Middle Ridge, February 2013
A hiking experience before Reid, Tracyn, and I did community service at the Lyon Arboretum. The Seven Bridges Trail is an urban legend where if you travel on the trail at night, you'll count seven bridges going in, but only six coming out. We went in the daytime and didn't manage to hit all seven of the bridges (I think we got up to five?). It was kind of eerie to see really old cars with tall grass growing through them (I think this trail used to be a habitable area, but not sure how come no longer). Instead, I accidentally led them up what I later found out was the Manoa Middle Ridge, which I think eventually connects to the Wa'ahila Ridge. It was kind of steep. I could tell this stressed Tracyn by her threats of killing me, but of course everything was fine later on :) After backtracking, and managing to find the falls, we got back in time to eat Boston's Pizza for lunch and get to our service project.
Reid's view when looking up after setting his camera ready to take a shot of the steepness of the trail
[x] Manoa Falls and also to Aihualama, August 2011
Done this trail a bunch of times. When I went with my sister, we also traveled up the Aihualama trail, but only went as far as a junction that connected to other trails. The Manoa falls are especially nice after rain; when not so wet, then just an unexciting trickle. Took the ambassadors here for a social since one of the ambassadors, who's from the mainland, had this on her things-to-do-in-Hawaii bucket list.
Ambassadors know how to set picture poses
Nice gal group photo
Failed attempt at the fanned out pose
Nice picture at the falls...I think this supposed to be the model pose?
[x] UH Manoa Boulder, Spring 2010
There was a period of time during my senior year that Sharon and I tried to get into hiking. But since we were both in school, we could only do a few, short hikes every now and then. This was one of them, conveniently located near the UH faculty dorms. It was a nice scramble up the short mountain; the not-so-nice part was getting stuck in some angel hair. Those thorny things hurt.
[x] Kaminiki Ridge, June 2013
This lesser-published trail is located in Kalihi Valley. Thanks to the one Yelp review for the detailed instructions to the trailhead. Although this trail was deemed as easy, there was a lot of stair-climbing in the beginning that got my heart pumping. Because the trail is mostly shaded, it's a good hike to do any time of the day. Hard to tell where the top of the trail was since it seemed to continue to the Koolaus.
Snacking on crackers at the top
I consider this trail, also located in Kalihi Valley, to be the best waterfall hike. It's not the biggest or highest falls, but the easy hike (it's an asphalt road most of the way with one steep but roped section right before getting to the falls that can be classified as hiking) to the substantial falls made for a great reward. It was only about an hour roundtrip.
I Spy a Hawaiian at the top (joke from the stranger who took our picture)
All this hiking got another best friend who was coming back to Hawaii for a bit exciting to try some hiking out for herself. She has never been on a trail, and so I tried to select a relatively easy one to start her off with. Read that this hike was suitable for all ages, and seeing as how Allison was staying in Pearl City, it was the perfect trail to go on. It did turn out to be a nice hike; along the way we observed helicopters overhead trying to drop off materials that some guys were trying to fix the telephone poles running through the mountains with. This trail is actually pretty long, but since the view is pretty much the same the entire way, we just walked for about an hour, turned around, and went back so Allison wouldn't miss her family dinner that night.
One of the many bridges you can walk on or next to
The reflection of the water fascinated me
[x] Aiea Loop, January 2011
Completed this trail twice. The first time was with Reid and Larry, where we got lost at one point and I got grouchy because I was beginning to get hungry. The second time was with my family. It's a nice loop trail that's about 4-5 miles and is mainly covered, so no need to worry about the sun. You can see the H-3 from here. I read that a view of a bomber plane that crashed here during World War II is visible somewhere along the trail, but both times I tried looking for it and failed.
[x] Upper Waimano Trail, January 2016
Another trail hiked with Tracyn and Reid, this time recommended by Reid. We went through lava tubes (where Tracyn managed to get all muddied up and hit her head when Reid and I were fine) and somehow got lost at one point. Reid went semi-delirious, chanting for sushi in a zombie-like fashion. Luckily we got out and managed to get our sushi fix at Kuru Kuru Sushi and dessert at Baskin Robbins. I don't think we technically completed the trail this time, but it was definitely a memorable hike.
As I was training for the Na Pali coast hike on Kauai, I wanted to complete a high-mileage trail. This trail is 7.2 miles from the end of Waimano Home Road to the edge of the Koolaus overlooking into Kahalu'u. The trail itself was not arduous; the elevation gain was very gradual. It was just a very long hike. Our GPS marked the trail as a little over 8 miles one way, so it took us about 8 hours and 40 minutes to complete a roundtrip hike of 16.5 miles. Although the legs were sore afterwards, it didn't last until the next day or two as expected, probably because it wasn't physically demanding.
[x] Lower Waimano Trail, January 2016
On the attempt where Jack and I went to the end of the Upper Trail, we took a detour to complete our return leg on the Lower Trail as we were coming back. It was muddier and didn't offer any special views. I definitely prefer the Upper Trail, but if you want to complete a short loop hike, then the Lower one fits the bill.
As I was training for the Na Pali coast hike on Kauai, I wanted to complete a high-mileage trail. This trail is 7.2 miles from the end of Waimano Home Road to the edge of the Koolaus overlooking into Kahalu'u. The trail itself was not arduous; the elevation gain was very gradual. It was just a very long hike. Our GPS marked the trail as a little over 8 miles one way, so it took us about 8 hours and 40 minutes to complete a roundtrip hike of 16.5 miles. Although the legs were sore afterwards, it didn't last until the next day or two as expected, probably because it wasn't physically demanding.
Proof I made it to end of this very long trail
Nice views (see Chinaman's Hat on the left?)
Immediately socked in, but luckily not accompanied by rain
[x] Lower Waimano Trail, January 2016
On the attempt where Jack and I went to the end of the Upper Trail, we took a detour to complete our return leg on the Lower Trail as we were coming back. It was muddier and didn't offer any special views. I definitely prefer the Upper Trail, but if you want to complete a short loop hike, then the Lower one fits the bill.
[x] Waimano Falls, December 2012
Mary came home for winter break, and of course I took this as an opportunity to try a new hiking trail with someone. I chose the Waimano Falls one to offset the ridge hike we did the last time Mary came back, thinking waterfalls would be a nice change. There is one part of the trail labeled as cardiac hill, which lived up to its name. There is a house near the trail head with a pig and a goat, so that too was a highlight.
Falls was pretty substantial
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