The birthday boy wanted a short hike due to time constraints, so the venue picked was the extinct tuff cone also known by is original Hawaiian name of Kohelepelepe.

Koko Crater Botanical Garden

We met up in the 60 acre botanical garden founded in 1958 to celebrate the early birthday of Ferlino, since he won’t be on island to celebrate his actual date of birth. Just like a birthday wish, his birthday balloon went up in the air right before the start of the hike. Face palm.

Koko Crater Rim

Approaching the steepest climb of the rim.

Koko Crater Rim

The group followed the signs to the start of the trail where a pseudo and genuine Filipino were spotted on the rim.

Koko Crater Rim

Alexis angling the approach to make it look hazardous when in fact it was quite pedestrian. All about perspective.

Koko Crater Rim

Some took the high road.

Koko Crater Rim

Others took the low road. We all got to the same place.

Koko Crater Rim

The rim soon flattened out as our lungs got a breather.

Koko Crater Rim

Picking our way through a cluster of climbing cactus that are native to Central America and we missed the fruiting season for dragon fruits.

Koko Crater Rim

Can you see Akira for the rocks?

Koko Crater Rim

Can you see Ferlino for the flags?

Koko Crater Rim

Making our way up and over the rocks.

Koko Crater Rim

Climbing and contouring our way on the rim.

Koko Crater Rim

Some chose left. Some chose right. We all got to the same place.

Koko Crater Rim

Say hello to the birdie in the sky.

Koko Crater Rim

Following the rim while some contoured the rim. We all got to the same place.

Koko Crater Rim

Somebody couldn’t see the ground for their feet.

Koko Crater Rim

Drone view of the backside of Koko Crater Puka.

Koko Crater Rim

Why bridge the gap when you can jump the gap?

Koko Crater Stairs

Meanwhile, Allison and Mari started their climb on the 1,048 refurbished railroad ties to meet us at the summit.

Koko Crater Stairs

Scampering our way over the slanted section of the rim.

Koko Crater Stairs

Looking back against the backdrop of Kamiloiki Valley and Kamehame Ridge.

Koko Crater Stairs

Group photo with Kuapa Pond in the distance.

Koko Crater Stairs

Our final climb to the summit.

Pu’u Mai

The group collectively met at the tallest tuff cone on the island to wish Ferlino an early happy birthday.

Pu’u Mai

Watching other hikers stream their way to the top in various stages of physical conditioning with Koko Head and Hanauma Bay in the background.

Pu’u Mai

Drone views of the summit including a dog that wanted to take my drone down.

Koko Crater Steps

What goes up must come down. You can’t escape gravity.

Koko Crater Steps

Space for sticking.

Koko Crater Stairs

Hats off to the Kokonut Koalition, a volunteer group formed in 2018 that fixed decades of neglect that led to the deterioration of the steps. It’s really amazing to see, especially if you hiked the steps before all the hard work that fixed it. Night and Day.

Koko Crater Stairs

Bee’s point of view.

Koko Crater Stairs

All smiles. All pau.

Post hike meal

We had our lunch at Tex808 Hawaii where Aida joined the group. Our breeze of a hike covered less than two miles that was filled with good times and fun friends. Happy Birthday Ferlino! Next time, hold onto that balloon!

Photos/Crew taken by Akira Suzuki, Alexis Catarina, Allison Banks, Chandra Robison, Ferlino Carinio, Mari Saito, 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.