Capturing the Moment

  Even on misty rainy days Lanikai can have its own batch of sunshine. The weather turned beautiful and sunny as soon as we started the hike.    The pillbox hike heads into the brush back behind the luxurious neighborhood of Lanikai. A bright pink sign tells you that you are on the right path. After a steep climb the hike emerges on the open ridge line. Beautiful views of Lanikai beach and the offshore islands greet you at each new stopping point. It's important to keep an eye on the trail though as a false step could lead to long tumble down the mountain.   Three old military pillboxes are set on the high points of the ridge. Colorful graffiti lines the concrete structures. It provides a lot of color to an already colorful scene. I've taken a picture of Heidi sitting on top of this structure before but the lighting today was perfect.   We continued on past the second pillbox where the ridge line turns away from the coast and heads back towards enchan...

Koko Crater Hanauma Bay   With a last minute trip cancellation and a surprise day off I took to the unknown. I have been on a forbidden hike kick for the past week so I thought I would keep the momentum going by finding the off limits Hanauma crater rim hike. I also knew that there was a natural rock arch in the area but couldn't find great directions. I've had such good luck lately with finding secret waterfalls and hidden ruins that I thought my luck might hold. The long path up A rain squall moving in   I knew to access the crater rim hike I should park in the neighborhood just west of the crater. After this I was on my own. I headed up the next road and started to climb up the hill next to a fenced off water tank. It didn't look like a trail but I was headed up which was the right direction. I scored some beautiful views of Koko crater with arid grasslands in front and a dark and storm sky behind. I typically hike in sandals so I had to pay special at...

Rocky outcropping in Kawai Nui Marsh    The Kawai Nui marsh is the largest wetlands in Hawaii at a little over 800 acres. I've seen people walking far out through the marsh over a levy but I've never stopped to really search for the trail head. Heidi and I searched for a bit and found a trail leading to this big, lava rock outcropping. It provided a great view over the marsh and even a little trail down to a fresh water pool, but no access deeper into the marsh. Secret Swimming Hole   After admiring some of the beautiful flowers growing around the trail we got some advice on where to find the trail to the levy. Our local advice proved much better than our smart phones so we were soon on the path leading out into the Kawai Nui marsh. Heidi checking out the levy Mountains and Marsh   It is always interesting hiking through a part of the islands that is so unique. There are so many different environments here from rainforest, to desert, to wetland...

Entrance thru the bamboo Kaniakapupu Ruins   I have been researching 'off the beaten path' hikes and hidden natural treasures here on Oahu for the past few weeks. There is an underground network of hikers here that trade information regarding hikes that are not marked, and some that are marked 'no trespassing'. Photos of natural rock arches, hidden waterfalls, and beautiful landscapes turn up in my searches, but one image stood out. I came across the image of old stone ruins, but not like the ancient heiaus or temples, this had some intact doorways and walls, and was surrounded by jungle.   Heidi and I searched for more information and once we got a starting point we decided to begin our search. We had high confidence after finding Lulumahu Waterfall the day before. We had an idea of where to go, but once again it turned out to be search.   We met a couple of hikers coming back down the trail who told us we chose the wrong turn at the fork and the ruins mu...

  There are all kinds of hikes here on Oahu from ridge line hikes, to coastal treks, to muddy hikes thru lush rainforest. This hike was definitely the latter. This is one of Oahu's popular forbidden hikes. It is off of the Pali highway, and cars are often parked at the trailhead, but keep out signs are posted all along the first park of the hike.    After a brief walk through a dense bamboo thicket the trail emerges at a huge reservoir. "No Diving" signs were posted along the concrete pier. I've always wanted to explore this part of Nuuanu valley. On rainy days I've seen numerous waterfalls cascading off the steep cliffs in this valley. Now was our chance to explore.   I found out about this hike after doing a little research online. I couldn't find very precise directions, so we initially followed the path marked with pink ribbons tied around the trees. Turns out that it was the wrong trail. We followed the ribbons deeper and deeper through the mud, ...

  A beautiful Chinese cemetery sits atop a green hill deep within Manoa Valley. Also known at Lin Yee Chung Manoa Chinese Cemetery, this spot is open for visitors until 6pm daily. Heidi and I had turned back from doing a late Manoa waterfall hike due to some rain showers so we decided to walk around the cemetery grounds instead.   I had been here before but never close to sunset. The low sun cast long shadows on the gravestones and gave the entire scene an ethereal aura. We could look down the valley towards the ocean and see the high rises of Waikiki, but it seemed very far away from our serene spot. Giant plumeria trees offered easy pickings for flower offerings for the deceased. And intricately carved animal statues stood guard over some of the bigger graves. At the top of the hill stood a huge banyan tree and the grave of Lin Yee Chung , the grand ancestor.   Heidi and I walked around for a while, never seeing another soul. In our exploration we stumbled ...