We walked around the Windward side of the island to collect Easter eggs but failed to meet the Easter Bunny today.

Kaneohe Bay Drive

Leaving Groot and Lilia behind us as we started our day.

Kaneohe Bay Drive

Chico plucking some ripe calamansi from the nearby shrub, which turned out to be real sour and became regurgitated.

Kaneohe Bay Drive

Passing by the townhome community developed in the early 1970s that transformed this former agricultural area into a residential development.

Kaneohe Bay Drive

ChatGPT photo at an intersection. Where did those mangoes come from?

Kaneohe Bay Drive

Practicing for the Coconut Tree Climbing Championship. ‘E’ita!

Kaneohe Bay Drive

Gas prices are skyrocketing, so time to trade in the car for the ultimate green, zero-emission mode of transport, the shopping cart. This cultural symbol of modern consumerism was invented in 1937 by Sylvan Goldman of Humpty Dumpty Supermarkets in Oklahoma.

Kaneohe Bay Drive

Yielding to vehicular traffic on the road.

Kaneohe Bay Drive

Even drones fall from trees. Monkeys are safe today.

Kaneohe Bay Drive

Group photo on the tree that few climbed, the rest of us stayed on terra firma.

Kaneohe Bay Drive

Just missing the bubblegum. Is that how they used to dance back in the day?

N Kalaheo Avenue

Groot was here.

N Kalaheo Avenue

Crossing over Kawainui Canal that was constructed in 1952 for flood control but has resulted in Hamakua Marsh slowly drying out. Unintended consequences.

Beach Access

The guys sticking it on the chain link fence. All beaches in Hawaii are public with the exception of military bases and there must be public access pathways. However, some financially entitled owners try to claim the beach fronting their property as their own, which leads to friction with locals and transplants.

Beach Access

Why can’t we have nice toys like these? The usual suspects.

Kailua Beach

Getting our feet sandy on part of the 2.5 mile beach that has been ranked as one of the best beaches in the world.

Private Road

Back on the road again.

N Kalaheo Avenue

Passing by the Naupaka Kahakai flowers that are only found by the ocean. They only have half the petal as there is another half of the flower called Naupaka Kuahiwi that are only found in the mountains. Legend has it that these were two lovers that were killed due to a forbidden romance and were turned into ocean and mountain flowers, forever separated in life and death.

Mo’okua Street

We were looking for a garage sale and instead found a house filled with driftwood artistic interpretations.

McDonald’s

Sitting on hamburger stools, possibly the last restaurant out of 72 stores in Hawaii that still has these nostalgic seats.

Uloha

We decided to check out the store whose acronym means “Uncle’s Local Outfitter of Hawaiian Adventures.” The original town store opened in 2017 and this second location opened in 2024 due to strong demand. Buy local, when you can afford it.

Uloha

Thanks to Tessa for pointing out that they were Easter Eggs hidden in the store and they each were worth from 10% to 50% off on store merchandise. Our group found all five and purchased stuff we wouldn’t have if it weren’t for the discounts. We also met Micah who rang up our sales and found out he was another fleet of foot KST hiker. Watch out Derek, Dylan and Conrad. He told us he hiked from Pupukea to Pali in a day and change. To be young again.

Tokyo Central

Having fun with dollar bubbles and seasonal Peeps.

Paia Fishmarket

Ending my 46 days of self-imposed ban on Coca-Cola as we had our lunch at one of the restaurants that had its origins in the plantation town of Pa’ia.

Hamakua Drive

Ok, now how do I get back up to the bridge? With a little help from my friends.

Keolu Drive

Walk with Aloha!

Keolu Drive

All pau. Perfect timing as the rain started to fall from the heavens as we made it back to our cars. We drove to Windward Mall to take a photo with the Easter Bunny only to find out he didn’t show up for work. It’s like finding out that Santa Claus and the Tooth Fairy doesn’t exist. Crushed dreams.

GPS Tracks

Our Easter Egg walk and #16 of the perimeter walks covered 6.2 miles with fun friends and good times.

Ka hale o Cantu

The group continuing the tradition that started in Protestant Germany in the 16th century.

Ka hale o Cantu

Some found more than one Easter Egg. Lucky them.

Ka hale o Cantu

What do we have here? One egg was worth more than the 50% off previously discovered, actually the value was to the end consumer, the right end consumer. The others contained George Washington bills not yet autographed by the 47th President. Thanks to everybody that came out for the Easter Egg walk and only one more to go!

Photos/Crew taken by Akira Suzuki, Aida Gordon, Chico Cantu, Cristy CM, Mari Saito, Marilyn Bermudez, Tessa Bugay, and yours truly. Not necessarily in order.

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. One should also always let somebody know of your hiking plans in case something doesn’t go as planned, better safe than sorry.

We took a break from the mountains and pounded the pavement today. Ever since I had read about Denby Fawcett’s hike around the island back in 2013, I had always wanted to follow in her footsteps so to speak.

Kaneohe Bay Drive

The group pushed off from Chico’s house but not before we had to take an obligatory group photo as the sun started to brighten the morning skies.

Kaneohe Bay Drive

Walking past the tree silhouetted by the fiery sky.

Kaneohe Bay Drive

Trail snacks. Come back when enough ethene gas has been released to turn the starches to sugars.

Kawainui Canal

The highest peak on the Ko’olau Mountain Range was strikingly clear, the day we decided to hike below its shadow.

Kainui Drive

Walking down the street lined with coconut palm trees, which are not native to Hawaii despite what many think.

Kainui Drive

Muscovy duck out of water.

South Kainalu Drive

Motivational message from across the street. “You are amazing, remember that.”

South Kainalu Drive

Passing a collection of tiki statues that were arranged in a semi-circle, perhaps to mark the boundary of somebody’s property, like back in the old days? Except this is not your ancestor’s heiau.

Kawainui Canal

Draining the marsh into the bay.

Wanaao Road

Somebody detoured to the yard sale to find edible medicines.

Ka’elepulu Canal

Draining the estuary into the bay.

Keolu Drive

At 15,000 square feet, Keolu Skatepark is one of the largest on the island.

Keolu Drive

Walking up the hill where the three peaks of Olomana, Paku’i and Ahiki loomed ahead of us.

Kalaniana’ole Highway

Passing a highly invasive roadkill. Introduced from India in 1883 by sugar plantation owners to control the rat population that was eating their sweet exports for lunch, but instead the carnivorous critters wrecked havoc on the native fauna and flora to this day.

Kalaniana’ole Highway

Introduced in 1955 by Ernest Morgado, huli-huli (turn) chicken has been a perennial fundraiser fixture around the island.

Kalaniana’ole Highway

Somebody needs to take the Duke Aiona banner down. Old news.

Kalaniana’ole Highway

Sharing the shoulder with bicyclists.

Kalaniana’ole Highway

Can somebody come out and play?

Kahawai Stream

Passing the somewhat sad looking stream and across the street was Shima’s Market which is the only grocery store in this Windward community that was also acquired by Times Supermarket in 2008. We also dropped in at Waimanalo Shopping Center to check out the statue of Akebono, the Waimanalo native who went on to become one of the grand champions in sumo wrestling in Japan, but found out it was moved years ago to some spot in Waikiki.

Kalaniana’ole Highway

Will the real bus stop please ring the bell to get off. We also passed Bellows Air Force station which serves as a training and recreation area for the military.

Kalaniana’ole Highway

Passing the 27 acres where horseback mounted riders still play the “Sport of Kings” on the weekends.

Kalaniana’ole Highway

Walking through the rural community where for the most part, country is still country.

Kalaniana’ole Highway

Does anybody have a quarter? Do I even have a ring tone? Can I get operator assistance?

Waimanalo Beach Park

We stopped pounding the pavement at the bay that has the longest uninterrupted white sand beach on the island. Thanks to Lilia who arrived at the perfect time to pick us up.

GPS Tracks

Our 10.6 mile walk was the first installment on circling the island that was done with color-coordinated good company. Post hike meal at Kalapawai Cafe & Deli where the fresh catch was the last dish to land on the table.

Video by Edgar Gamiao of our Windward Walk.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-C5NyDXStM

Photos taken by Aida Gordon, Allison Banks, Chico Cantu, Edgar Gamiao, Mari Saito, Marilyn Bermudez, Quan Haberstroh, and yours truly. Not necessarily in order.

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. One should also always let somebody know of your hiking plans in case something doesn’t go as planned, better safe than sorry.