I got invited to an impromptu weekend of hiking on the Garden Isle. Who can say no to free room and transportation? Brian picked me up from the airport and gathered Naomi from the hotel, where we then proceeded to drive up the winding and scenic road to Koke’e State Park.

Trailhead

Looking into Kalalau Valley, the largest on the island. Photo by Naomi Cabebe.

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To pass the time going down the initial steep descent, Naomi wanted to play “describe each other in five words.” Perverted came to my mind in regards to a certain individual.

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Looking out towards Ka’a’alahina Ridge. Just Jurassic. Photo by Naomi Cabebe.

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Naomi and Brian sitting in a tree… Oh wait, can’t finish the nursery rhyme due to weight issues.

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We soon passed a pod of people that could resemble hippies from a bygone era that looked like they got displaced from their coastal community.

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Isn’t this where the hippies said to stop and take pictures?

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I always find it amazing that fauna and flora can thrive and flourish in seemingly hardscrabble areas.

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We saw goats further down the ridge. If goats can make it down that far, we homo sapiens with two less legs planted on the ground can certainly make it as well.

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Didn’t we pass the goats?

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Is that the last hump? Photo by Naomi Cabebe.

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A steady stream of buzzing helicopters passed in and out of Honopu Valley as dragonflies danced above our heads.

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We dropped almost 1,000′ down the ridge and hit a roadblock. Or was that a body block? My body was willing to proceed, but the other bodies were not willing.

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Scrambled out to a scenic spot on our way back up. A steady stream of well meaning but misguided platitudes on my way back unsettled me more than the loose dirt underneath my feet. Photo by Naomi Cabebe.

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Why buy a Red Dirt Shirt at the store, when you can just roll around on the trail and make yourself one? Yeah, I’m cheap.

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We had to elbow our way into the now crowded spot to take our group photo.

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Leaving the crowds and the drone behind us, as the clouds rolled in from the ocean.

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The temperature started to climb along with our elevation gain, so somebody had to expose their midriff to cool off. I’m not talking about the girl.

All pau

Back at the highest point on the island that you can drive to, any higher and you have to use your own two feet.

GPS Tracks

Our short, steep and spectacularly scenic hike covered a mere 2.45 miles. This was just a warm up hike for me, as I was eager to hit the Awaawapuhi Trail that was further down the road. However, more pressing issues such as hunger, crowded that option off the table. Post hike meal at Kokee Lodge, where the chickens are truly free range. It was still a great hike with views hard to match for the amount of caloric energy expended. Although we didn’t end up hiking another trail; we finished off the day with sightseeing at Waimea Canyon and checking out the seals, turtles and sunset at Poipu Beach.

Note: I have been made aware that some hikers have been using my blog as a hiking guide and getting lost on the trails. Please note that this blog was made to document the hike for the crew(s) that did it. That is why some of my comments will seem to have no relevance or meaning to anybody outside of the crew(s) that hiked that trail. My blog was never meant as a hiking guide, so please do not treat it as such. If you find inspiration and entertainment from these hikes, that is more than enough. If you plan on replicating these hikes, do so in the knowledge that you should do your own research accordingly as trail conditions, access, legalities and so forth are constantly in flux. What was current today is most likely yesterdays news. Please be prepared to accept any risks and responsibilities on your own as you should know your own limitations, experience and abilities before you even set foot on a trail, as even the “simplest” or “easiest” of trails can present potential pitfalls for even the most “experienced” hikers.