Hiking Trails on Oahu

Kahikilani (Washington Stone) This ancient site has been much harder to find than the rest of the North Shore Old Ancient Hawaiian sites. Starting in around 2013-2014, I've tried a a number of times, following the books directions, scouting, coming up with ideas, but all roads have led to dead ends. I've persistently tried to look for clues only to come up disappointed every time. I even bought binoculars to go look for this damn thing.  I think I have narrowed the search down to a particular location, but I still can't find it. Fellow OAG member, Daniel agrees with me on the location. Here are the clues on a ridge in the Pamalu Area can see it from the Chevron bus stop the rock has an old Lehua lei around it supposedly a plaque to identify it near the Ehukai pillboxes second bunker March 23, 2016 On this day, we went for the gusto. It would be Daniel, David, Aprille, Kellie and I. Daniel had a strong hunch it was a rock face on the next ridge over from the second pillbox o...

Kawailoa - April 12, 2014 It all comes down to this...maybe not. Kawailoa has been on my checklist since 2011. Dave F. had the last write up of it in 2012. The last time Kawailoa was on the HTMC schedule was September 2010, but I’m not sure if they went through with it. In summary, trail use is nonexistent. The HTMC quarterly April-June schedule is probably the best I’ve seen since I joined the club in 2011. With Kawailoa and Poamoho as the showcase, back to back no less, its a very impressive schedule. A reliable source said that Mr. Koolau Summit himself has been working on putting together an interesting schedule. Erik and I did an exploratory hike on Thursday and had a conversation that Kawailoa would bring out the veterans of the HTMC. It did not disappoint, all the ‘legends’ came out. I can sort of understand why hikers consider certain people of the HTMC legends. Take Pete Clines for example - he (along with Laredo) were the first documented hikers to do True Manamana. Pete is a...

  Kawainui – September 1, 2013 The hype of Kawainui came and went today, it did not disappoint. One of the gems of the Ko’olaus, Kawainui features this big pool, the best swimming hole on the island. I joined the HTMC as they did their bi-annual hike of Kawainui. I saw some familiar faces including Caveman Marcus G., Nate, Jay and OAG’s – Darren, David, Daniel, and Erik. I also met Bernice who usually hikes with OAG members. We met at Haleiwa Beach Park at 8:15am. From there we carpooled to the Kawailoa Farm, entered the gate, and drove about 6 miles to the trailhead going through 2 locked gates in the process. OAG w/ Caveman We started going uphill on a graded trail that was built on the side of the mountain. Below us was Kawainui stream and a 100 foot drop.  Erik led us on a side trail to a tunnel and a flume. I assumed it was used for sugar cane back in the day. We got back onto the main trail. There, we passed along a ton of ginger, strawberry guava, regular guava, ti...

  Hau'ula Loop Trail - June 10, 2011 I could be on to something today. I wanted to take the kids out for a hike, and of course they resisted. But I added an incentive this time.  We would go on a hike first. There would be no complaining. If they could follow through, then we would go to the beach. Agreement made (The kids had no choice). If all went well, both parties would be happy . We got to Hau'ula Homestead Road at about 11 am. The Hau'ula Loop trail is about 2.5 miles. There is also a longer sister trail to the left of the Hau'ula Loop trail called the Papali Loop trail. Good hiker's usually do both hikes during the same day, therefore most hiker's on Oahu call it Hau'ula-Papali Loop trail.  My kids at the trailhead sign     The Hau'ula Loop trail ascends up the mountain via lazy switchbacks. Its a gradual ascent, so there is some huffing and puffing, but not too difficult. When you get to the top of the hill, a view of Laie comes into view, but...

Laie Falls - June 6, 2011 Erik S. and I did this trail last August (2010) and the result was disappointment. Add to that, I didn't document the hike and so the experience only exist in our minds. I vaguely remember going up hills and stopping a little over an hour into the hike because it appeared we were going nowhere. Regardless of how it went, we didn't get to see Laie Falls. I reread the Laie Trail chapter in Stuart Ball's Book,  The Hiker's Guide to Oahu  to gain a better understanding of the Laie Falls Trail. Based on what information I gathered, it seemed that Erik and I missed the critical junction that goes down to Laie Falls during the August 2010 hike. I started heading down to the North Shore at about 8:15am. Can you believe it took 60 minutes to get to Laie from Kapolei. I guess people from the mainland who are reading this are laughing right now. But, yes a 60 minute drive on Oahu is a long one. Most people, I'm assuming don't get a permit. I didn...