Aloha from 808 blog

Canyoneering: Communication BreakdownNovember 5, 2014

Recently learning how to rappel from my friend Kitt, I was invited to tag along on a couple recent canyoneering adventures in one of Oahu’s windward gulches. I’ve hiked near this area several… Read more: Canyoneering: Communication Breakdown
Protected: East Maui Waterfall Marathon Pt 2October 30, 2014

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Twin Falls, North KauaiOctober 30, 2014

One of my colleagues who lives / works up in North Kauai strongly recommended that I explore in the back of the Hanalei watershed to see some cool features and a set of… Read more: Twin Falls, North Kauai
Honolulu 27, Waterfall LoopOctober 30, 2014

The heavy rains from a recent, mild tropical storm made for perfect conditions for us to visit a virtually dry stream gulch in Honolulu. Although I will not disclose the exact location of… Read more: Honolulu 27, Waterfall Loop
Koolau Summit Trail: Manana to Waiahole UkaOctober 30, 2014

With high clouds and an open summit, traversing the section of the Koolau Summit Trail between the Manana and Waiahole Uka Ridge termini made for an epic 14 hour day of hiking. Stay… Read more: Koolau Summit Trail: Manana to Waiahole Uka
Aotearoa – New Zealand, South Island Pt 3March 6, 2014

STAY TUNED for more photos and full description of our New Zealand Adventures!!! Queenstown Shotover / Kimiakau River – Jetboating Queenstown Shotover / Kimiakau River – Jetboating Haast River (en route to Franz… Read more: Aotearoa – New Zealand, South Island Pt 3
Aotearoa – New Zealand, South Island Pt 2March 6, 2014

STAY TUNED for more photos and full description of our adventures in New Zealand! Kaikoira, Ohau Falls and Seal Pups Mount Cook / Aoraki, Glacier Hike Mount Cook / Aoraki, Glacier Hike Mount… Read more: Aotearoa – New Zealand, South Island Pt 2
Aotearoa – New Zealand, North Island Pt 1March 5, 2014

STAY TUNED for more photos and full description of our New Zealand Adventures!!! Waipu Cave and stalactites. Waipu Cave glow worms Kaitiaki River sledging Kaitiaki River sledging Kaitiaki River sledging Rotorua Redwood Forest… Read more: Aotearoa – New Zealand, North Island Pt 1
Makaua Gulch, KaaawaJanuary 29, 2014

Despite trying to convince the crew to go tubing today, everyone (Katie, Ryan, Amanda, Will and Tango the adventurous cattle dog) wanted to chase waterfalls. With the incoming storm from the northeast, I… Read more: Makaua Gulch, Kaaawa
Chutes and Ladders, West MauiDecember 30, 2013

As with any outdoor adventure here in the islands, please properly prepare yourself, hiking with others who are capable and who you can trust. Be sure to check the weather and surf forecast… Read more: Chutes and Ladders, West Maui
Upper Makamakaole Stream, West MauiDecember 30, 2013

Soon after exploring some of the lower accessible waterfalls of Makamakaole, the crew (Katie, Ryan, Christian and I) was eager to venture to a another set of waterfalls along the upper part of… Read more: Upper Makamakaole Stream, West Maui
Lower Makamakaole Stream, West MauiDecember 30, 2013

[Part 1] [Part 2] After volunteering with the Kahoolawe Island Restoration Commission (KIRC) over the past week, Katie, Christian, Ryan and I decided to stay the weekend on Maui for some short waterfall… Read more: Lower Makamakaole Stream, West Maui
Molokini Islet, Kaho‘olawe 2013 (Pt 4 of 4)November 19, 2013

[Part 1] [Part 2] [Part 3] [Part 4] [Photo Gallery] Before leaving Kaho‘olawe, we were told by the KIRC staff that we may have time to swim / snorkel off of the boat… Read more: Molokini Islet, Kaho‘olawe 2013 (Pt 4 of 4)
Volunteer and Restoration Work with the KIRC, Kaho‘olawe (Pt 3 of 4)November 15, 2013

with contributions by Katie Ersbak [Part 1] [Part 2] [Part 3] [Part 4][Photo Gallery] On the last day of field work on Kahoʻolawe, we collected bunches of pili grass seeds for out planting,… Read more: Volunteer and Restoration Work with the KIRC, Kaho‘olawe (Pt 3 of 4)
Volunteer and Restoration Work with the KIRC, Kaho‘olawe (Pt 2 of 4)November 3, 2013

with contributions by Katie Ersbak [Part 1] [Part 2] [Part 3] [Part 4][Photo Gallery] Getting another early start, I was particularly stoked because I was asked to drive one of the trucks… not… Read more: Volunteer and Restoration Work with the KIRC, Kaho‘olawe (Pt 2 of 4)
Volunteer and Restoration Work with the KIRC, Kaho’olawe (Pt 1 of 4)October 30, 2013

with contributions by Katie Ersbak [Part 1] [Part 2] [Part 3] [Part 4][Photo Gallery] Most people never really think about going to Kaho‘olawe… Mainly because much of the island had been obliterated by… Read more: Volunteer and Restoration Work with the KIRC, Kaho’olawe (Pt 1 of 4)
Hobbs Ridge To Mount Kaala, Waianae Summit (Part I)October 14, 2013

[Part 1] [Part 2] With the increase in foot traffic on the local trails due to social media, I constantly remind our crew to make sure our time in the mountains is well… Read more: Hobbs Ridge To Mount Kaala, Waianae Summit (Part I)
Star Trek to Puu Kalena to Hobb’s Ridge, Waianae Summit (Part II)October 8, 2013

[Part 1] [Part 2] With our recent lesson from Dr. Nori, several of us were motivated to do more snail surveying along the Waianae Summit. With the same group (Nate, J, Katie, Ryan,… Read more: Star Trek to Puu Kalena to Hobb’s Ridge, Waianae Summit (Part II)
Milolii Valley, Na Pali Coast 2013 (pt 4 of 4)September 13, 2013

[Part 1] [Part 2] [Part 3] [Part 4] On our last day on the Na Pali Coast, we had a few hours to explore Milolii Valley before we kayaking to Polihale Beach. Though… Read more: Milolii Valley, Na Pali Coast 2013 (pt 4 of 4)
Kayaking from Kalalau to Milolii, Na Pali Coast 2013 (pt 3 of 4)September 10, 2013

[Part 1] [Part 2] [Part 3] [Part 4] Though our stay at Kalalau was short lived, we were still able to see what we had come for: Waimakemake Falls / Big Pools, an… Read more: Kayaking from Kalalau to Milolii, Na Pali Coast 2013 (pt 3 of 4)
Kalalau’s Waimakemake Falls and Big Pools, Na Pali Coast 2013 (pt 2 of 4)September 5, 2013

[Part 1] [Part 2] [Part 3] [Part 4] After landing our kayaks at Kalalau Beach, we quickly set up camp so that we could have the afternoon to further explore Kalalau Valley. The… Read more: Kalalau’s Waimakemake Falls and Big Pools, Na Pali Coast 2013 (pt 2 of 4)
Kayaking the Na Pali Coast, Kauai 2013 – (pt 1 of 4)August 29, 2013

[Part 1] [Part 2] [Part 3] [Part 4] After backpacking the Na Pali Coast to Kalalau a couple times over the years, I felt that I had earned the privilege of kayaking there.… Read more: Kayaking the Na Pali Coast, Kauai 2013 – (pt 1 of 4)
Temple Valley Waterfalls During A Tropical StormAugust 19, 2013

On a typical day, the waterfall chutes at the base of the Koolau Mountain Range on Windward Oahu are dry or barely flowing. Significant rainfall is required to create these waterfalls, where subsequent… Read more: Temple Valley Waterfalls During A Tropical Storm
Paddling up Kahana EstuaryAugust 6, 2013

Constantly driving over the estuary for several hikes in Kahana valley and numerous ridgelines surrounding it, I felt it was time to do a little exploration upriver. Joined by several friends, we paddled… Read more: Paddling up Kahana Estuary
Lanai Exploration 2013August 1, 2013

It’s been awhile since I’ve been to Lanai, probably > 20 years to be more precise… so as you can imagine, I could only remember a very few things about it. For one,… Read more: Lanai Exploration 2013