Wiliwilinui Trail

Being in the rainforest means that hiking can get a little...well, messy. There is something to be said for listening when thehiking book says to wait until 2 days after it rains to tackle the trail. Unfortunately, I'm not sure if there are more than 2 days in a row when it doesn't rain. Kim and I thought we were well prepared in our hiking shoes, with plenty of water and even afirst aid kit (when it comes to being prepared, the Boy Scouts ain't got nuthin on me-lol). However in this case, a climbing harness, a few carabiners, and a whole lotta soap would have been welcome additions to our supplies. The Wiliwilinui Ridge Trail is 4.5 miles roundtrip and has a 1,200 ft elevation gain. Here we see Kim at the start of the trail and it doesn't look so bad, does it? Oh but wait.

You might think this photo is some kind of optical illusion. Maybe I took the photo lying down? No my friends, this was the first vertical ascent of the trail. Up until this point there had been a road, a muddy road, but a road nonetheless. But it was at this particular point that I was REALLY glad I wore all brown. But wait, it gets even better...

So here I am, displaying my very best Vanna

White pose, at the top of the stairway on the hike. What my photo cannot show you is the rope that we had to use to climb those stairs. Here is where the harness and carabiners would have been mighty helpful. If you look closely, the ridge on the left of the photo is where we hiked. The abundance of greenery was just breathtaking and I saw a wild orchid for the first time in my life (I thought they only grew in Publix or Grandpa & Grandma Johnson's greenhouse-lol).

The radio tower was the highest point and the end of the hike for us. There weren't stairs here, just muddy ropes, rocks, and places where people before us had dug some footholds. When we reached the radio tower (which by the way I thought was a modern marvel of ugliness in such a beautiful place but who am I to complain...it did grant my holy iPhone the life-giving signal it needs to survive) we were at just under 2,400 ft. We had actually hiked into the clouds and watched them hover below us, blocking out some of the view. It really was a beautiful and humbling experience. As we gingerly hiked back down we were a little annoyed to see a perky little dog and his "in tune with the Earth" dad hiking up the trail like it was a jaunt in the park. Apparently they weren't bothered by the slick terrain & we felt a tad foolish being lapped by them since we took so long to climb down.

And once again I show off my skills of display (isn't there a game show that would appreciate my talent???). The contrast of greenery to the houses built into the valley and out to the ocean is amazing to me. I wonder how many people who live here truly appreciate the wonder of this island...

Pirates 4!!!!!

As Chris, Ryan and I were driving one afternoon, traffic slowed up near the Halona Blowhole. This is a popular tourist spot because the water "surges through a submerged tunnel in the rock and sprouts up through a hole in the ledge" (thanks Lonely Planet for that riveting description). Anyway, some of you classic movie buffs would recognize this location as the steamy love scene spot from the movie "From Here to Eternity".

If you don't remember it, you will now have the opportunity to commit it to memory. For as we drove by, we saw loads of props and equipment being moved into place. The next day, I drove back from the beach and was able to park at a lookout a short ways down the road, walk back and check it out (Ryan was so jealous). "It" was filming of a scene from the new Pirates of the Caribbean movie (yes I'm sure. I googled it on my holy iPhone of course). Now before you get all excited, no I did not get to swoon over Johnny Depp

or Orlando Bloom (although I think maybe I did catch aglimpse of Orlando...) but I had never seen a movie set up close and oh my goodness were there a load of people involved! I completely understand why movies cost so much to make. I think I even saw a guy carrying water for the guy who carried water out to everyone! I stayed for a bit and took some shots. Keep your eyes peeled for this scene when you see the movie...

Koko Crater Stairs and then some...

You are looking at the beginning of a .5 mile, 1,200 foot elevation gain cardio junkie's dream. This is the Koko Crater stairway. More than 1,000 railroad ties make up this climb and there is no shade anywhere. I have now made this my once a week fix because the workout is so intense but the view from the topis second to none. Now apparently, legend has it that the GoddessKapo flung her sexual

organ across the sky to distract thepig-god Kamapuaafrom forcing himself on Kapo's sister. The organ landed on the southernmost tip of Oahu and Koko Crater is where Kamapuaa flung himself upon the Earth and landed. This is just oneof the "fun facts" that can be found in handy Frommer's Best Hiking Trips in Hawai'i.

Yeah. Like I said the view is second to none. By the way, that's what you see as you head down...

This view is of Hanauma Bay(as seen from Koko Crater), where the best snorkeling on the island can be found. Sarah and I headed out there for a morning of snorkeling and had a blast. We saw parrotfish, surgeons of all types, convicts, and even a sea turtle! All within 50 meters of the shore!

The reef here is amazing, it stretches over almost the entire bay. Snorkeling is tricky during low tide since the water only rises maybe 1 meter above it. Part of what I love about Hanauma Bay is that when you arrive, you must walk through an exhibit that educates you about the reef, what you might see, and how to help preserve it. Then you also must watch an 8 minute video reinforcing the importance of preservation. I was thrilled to see how many families stopped and talked the things they were seeing in the exhibit and why preservation is important.

The exhibit and educational aspect is run by Sea Grant, which is the agency I am doing some work for while I am here. They work on many projects regarding preservation and education of marine resources.

Finally, here is a view of Koko Crater from Hanauma Bay. Just gorgeous...

A Trip to the North Shore

For those of you who haven't seen my Facebook page (yeah, yeah I know I was fighting it but so many people post their kid photos that I finally caved since I am now so far away from all of them) this photo is the view of the backyard at Chris & Sarah's in Honolulu. Yes peeps, that is the rainforest. Love it! The inside of their house is awesome too and I have a really sunshiny room with my own bathroom-gotta love that:) The house is fairly centrally located and the bus system is comprehensive enough that I could travel all over the island without a car. However, Sarah bikes to work almost everyday so I have the use of her car (a Subaru Forester-not so shabby) which has been very convenient :)

Part of what I love about Hawai'i is

that it reminds me so much of Costa Rica. The lush mountains climb so steeply into the sky and the ocean changes from a light aquamarine (wonder where that colour name came from...) to a deep cobalt blue that you can get lost in. The climate

doesn't change much here and the temps have been in the upper 80s but there is always a breeze to keep everything comfortable.

Here are my Hawai'i peeps on an excursion to the Pupukea Beach at Waiamea in the North Shore. It was quite an operation but I'm pretty sure everybody had a great time. Haliewa (the north shore town) was really cute and I look forward to going back and wandering around in the shops (although it seems like there is shopping EVERYWHERE!!!).

The beach itself wasn't your typical touristy place where families drop anchor and unload a mountain of toys for the day. It was a bunch of shallow tide pools where you could wander around, look at coral, snorkel, climb on the lava (but preferably with shoes), and hang out in

the little tide pools (kinda like a north shore jacuzzi of sorts). To the east of this photo was the area we went snorkeling. It was fairly windy and the visibility was poor but I still loved being so close to the reef and seeing so many different fish and creatures. I can't wait to go back on a clear day!

At the end of the day we headed out for dinner and Chris insisted we go for "shaved ice". Snow cones anyone?

Apparently this is hugely popular here in Hawai'i so we went to Aoki's.

Okay, so maybe I am just a New England girl at heart but flavored syrup on shaved ice doesn't hold a candle to maple syrup on snow. One interesting addition though, you can have sweet Adzuki beans added to the bottom of your shaved iced. I can only imagine that the Hawai'ians are trying to add fiber wherever they can....

It was a outstanding day all around!

Makapu'u Tide Pools

Here is the view from the top of Makapiu'u. This hike is on the windward side of the island and it is relatively easy to get up to this view. And oh what a view it is. This was a great first hike to help me get acquainted with the island and to witness the care that is taken by Hawai'i when it comes to their natural areas. In most cases I have found the trails to be clean and the lookout areas to be spectacular. However one thing I will note, Hawai'i leaves you to be responsible for yourself. There are

no railings or prominent warning signs at many lookouts. You are on your own with no one to blame if you get too close to the edge...

Here is the lighthouse on the side of the mountain overlooking the tide pools. The guidebook told me "though difficult to spot and hold, a thin trail of switchbacks can be

discerned from the plunging mass of loose rocks and boulders...step with caution." What an understatement.

There really was no discernable trail and although I am a fairly confident hiker, I only climbed down ab

out a third of the way and then stopped to hang out on a ledge. Being alone,

I thought that maybe getting stuck at the bottom would not be such a desirable thing...

The List...

So. Now that I am in Hawai'i, I have loads of unforeseen time on my hands. Thankfully Chris has many Hawai'i travel books that I have been using to explore Oahu. One of them is Frommer's Best Hiking Trips in Hawai'i. I have made it my goal to tackle all of the Oahu hikes. There are fifteen of them:

1. Makapu'u Tide Pools

2. Koko Crater Stairs

3. Kuliouou Ridge Trail

4. Hawaiiloa Ridge

5. Honolulu Mauka Trail System

6. Manoa Falls

7. Lanipo

8. Diamond Head

9. Aiea Loop Trail

10. Moanalua Valley Trail

11. Wiliwilinui Trail

12. Kaiwa Ridge Trail

13. MT. Olomana

14. Maunawili Falls

15. Puu Manamana

16. Kealia Trail and Access Road

I of course plan to hit every beach I can as well in addition to the largest outdoor shopping mall (Ala Moana) which is absolutely fabulous!!! So stay tuned for scenes from my adventures in paradise!

End of an era...

Well, I finally made it to Hawai'i, although getting here was a journey in itself. After ten years in South Florida I packed up all of my stuff (now comparatively I suppose I don't really have that much stuff, but in my eyes it was a whole lot) and had to say see ya later to my peeps and especially to Kinja, my little princess. And although I miss my friends in Florida terribly, I have shed tears regularly at leaving Kinja. I know that must sound silly, but it wasn't until about a week before I was leaving that I had to make the decision to leave her in Florida until Scott and I settle into a place in October. There were going to be too many transitions that would have freaked her out and because I have such awesome peeps in Florida, she is staying right in my old apartment and being loved and cared for until I can get her.

So this trip is very much an end and a beginning. I have spent the last ten years on a journey of figuring me out.

Leaving Florida is the end of my ties with Shawn and the life we had. It is also the end of my time as a crazy single girl. Finally, it is the end of my time in limbo. I believe that I have truly figured me out. Not that I have perfected me or that there is no more room for growth, but I have figured out how to be true to me. That is where my beginning starts. I have left Florida with my head on straight and my soul at peace. I am so ready for the new great adventures of my life and feel that I can stay true to what is important to me while experiencing all that this next chapter has to offer. I will freely admit that I never believed that this chapter would involve me being head over heels in love and preparing to get married or contemplating the possibility of having children (yes, that's right. Your eyes are not playing tricks on you. I have finally found someone who I am looking forward to possibly having children with. And I know that I said never but I really believed that until I met Scott. So get your "I knew its" out amongst yourselves cuz I don't wanna hear 'em) but as John Lennon so wisely said, "Life is what happens while you are making other plans." So true.

One final note to this post, I would love to hear feedback but also how everyone is doing. I have caved to peer pressure (no names here...KIM!!!) and now have a facebook page so you can "friend request" me or just email me. Either way, keep in touch :)