June 2011

After doing a Laie 18 and Kalo Falls (in Hauula), Lost Trailblazers Troy Takara, Reanne Solomon and I decided to tackle another northeast Oahu hike to shine a little limelight in the area. Honored to be in the company of veteran hikers, Baron Yamamoto and Josh Serrano (of the 808 Goonies), we began the trek to the trailhead near Polynesian Cultural Center around 930am. Getting to the trail does involve trespassing on agricultural/farm land, and therefore I cannot detail the exact directions we took to get to get here... though a little mapping research will help, and there are several service...

Since today is Father's Day, The Lost Trailblazers opted to do a short ridge hike so that we could all go home to spend time with our families. Most of our hiking crew had not done the Koko Crater Rim loop trail, and therefore today was a great opportunity to check this one off our lists. Though not as intense as the Koko Crater Arch/blowhole route or Koko Crater Stairs (other short hikes one could do to reach the summit of the crater), I have been told that the loop can be completed in a little over an hour. To be honest, I was happy everyone was on board for this one, as my legs were pretty...

Laie Falls Trail is known by many Oahu hikers as a fairly easy trail. The trailhead is located on Poohaili Street, just up the road from Laie Neighborhood Park (Please mind that a permit is required for this trail). However, instead of just seeing Laie Falls, rumors of there being 18 waterfalls in Kahawainui Gulch, were circulating amongst many of my fellow hiking colleagues. After seeing some of the photographs taken by The 808 Goonies; Baron Yamamoto, Francis Jimenez and I decided to find the illusive Laie 18. So yeah, we found it and what can I say but, "WOW." Laie Falls 18 blew my mind...

Many Hawaii hikers have watched the sunrise from Stairway to Heaven (also known as Haiku Stairs), and those who haven't definitely want to. I have done this too many times, and have opted to watching "full moonrises" from the stairway. I often come down when other hikers are frantically climbing up, trying to make it for the sunrise. It is very difficult to time this climatic event, as the windward side of the island is typically overcast on a given day. The consistent NE trade-winds blow moisture evaporating from the warm ocean towards the steep Koolau palis (cliffs), which gets deflected...

This summer has been unusually rainy thus far, and waterfall hikes appear to be the early summer trend by many Oahu Weekend Hikers. With an invitation by Josh Serrano of the 808 Goonies, Lost Trailblazers Jennifer Liu and I joined Baron Yamamoto, Karla Faria, Kamae, and Josh for a superb 9-mile waterfall hike in Hauula. Located in the back of Koloa Gulch, the 80-foot high waterfall, gets it's name from the small Kalo (Taro) Loi (irrigated terrace), adjacent the falls (see below). Kalo Loi just above the east bank of Kalo Falls. In addition to typical hiking gear required for a 9-mile trail,...

Renowned for its tsunami sized swells in the winter and calm, relaxing beach in the summer, Waimea Bay on the North Shore is a regular escape for both locals and tourists alike. Jumping off Waimea Rock, catching some waves, swimming, sun bathing and rock climbing... Wait a minute, ROCK CLIMBING? Well, to be more specific, bouldering. "Some" simple differences between the two: bouldering is often a short, quick climb, involving little equipment and a quick problem solving approach (See Below); rock climbing on the other hand, is mostly the opposite, where the climber will often use ropes and harness(es)...

With the recent heavy rains here on Oahu, the Lost Trailblazers decided to do a popular waterfall hike to Kalihi Ice Pond. I have only been to this location once before a couple of summer ago, however not after several inches of rainfall the day prior. Though being a stream biologist, I was surprised to how much the stream topography had changed from my prior visit. With respect to the residents of this area, I cannot publicize it's exact location in this community, but you may be able to find more information about it elsewhere. If you do get to the point pictured, I strongly suggest you use felt-bottomed...

Since we did a longer hike the previous day, the Lost Trailblazers decided to go on an easy adventure for the Memorial Day holiday. Not a difficult trail, if even considered one, the Makapuu Lighthouse Trail and Makapuu Tidepools are an easily accessible outdoor activity for people of all ages. Located East of Honolulu, the pools are large enough to snorkel in. Please exercise caution in summer months as large Northeast swells/waves frequently crash on the rocks, in and over the pools. The water exits at the east end of the pools, and you should therefore avoid those areas to wade in as you do not want...

Most of our hiking crew has either been on vacation or working on the weekends lately, so this was the first hike back for two of our members (Jennifer Liu and Jenelyn Castillo). They were hesitant about taking on the right fork of bear claw, as it is some of an intermediate-to-advanced ridge hike. However, with their climbing abilities, I reassured them they'd have no problem. Despite my descriptions of the hike to them, the elements were not on our side... the wind constantly shifted our balance as we climbed up several rock faces, which would have not been much of a problem for any of us on a typical...