Capturing the Moment

First step is the hardest?   My good friend Phoebe was in town for a few days so I thought I would start her Oahu vacation off with a challenge, the infamous stairs of the Koko Crater hike. Over a thousand stairs heading up an old tramway translates to some calf burning, lung busting exercise that stays with you for a while. But the view from the top is totally worth it. Luckily this morning was cool but still clear and beautiful. Triumph   From the top of Koko Crater we could see across the Kaiwi Channel to Molokai, down to Hanauma Bay, and out to Diamond Head and Waikiki. Cactus hint at the dry climate although the rainforested tops of the Ko'olau range can be seen in the distance. We strained to look for whales in the calm morning waters of the Pacific but none could be seen. From Hanauma Bay to Diamond Head   Usually when you get to the summit on a hike like this the hard part is over. However, on the Koko Crater hike, the fun has just started. Musc...

Monkey in a Tree   Ed and Jamie were in for adventure when they stepped foot onto Oahu. Right off the plane we headed through muddy jungle paths to ancient ruins before driving up a winding ridge road to an overlook of  nighttime Waikiki all lit up.      Chillin at the Summer House of Kamehameha III    They experienced the underwater wonders that Oahu has to offer from the fabled Hanauma Bay to Shark's Cove on the North Shore. Jamie mastered snorkeling after only two times and Ed scored one of the best Oahu dives anyone could ask for. His underwater luck brought in some spotted eagle rays, moray eels, a sea turtle, and a rare encounter with a Hawaiian monk seal. Heidi even found a few nudibranchs to show him. Jamie saying "I've got this!" Heidi and a Wrasse   Throw in some waterfall hikes, Buddhist temples, overlooks, beaches, sea glass missions, and surf, and you would still only scratch the surface of their trip. It was gr...

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...

Hanauma Bay, Oahu   Oahu's southeast shore is very rugged and has some real gems if you look hard enough. A very popular one is Hanauma Bay. Over a million visitors come to this idyllic bay every year to sunbath and go snorkeling. But just around the corner you can find almost deserted beaches, hikes out to lighthouses, and some amazing shades of blue water.    Hanauma bay is so popular because of the easy, protected inner reef. It is a great place for people learning how to snorkel or who just want to sunbath and take a quick dip to cool off. This spot use to be notorious for people walking on the reef and the effects of this can still be seen today. Old, dead reef, which should have new coral growing on top of it still remains dead close to shore. Luckily conservation efforts were slowly put into place, and in 2002 visitors were required to pay a small fee and watch an educational movie about how to not harm the reef ecosystem. It will take a while for the inner re...