We spent today roaming a different set of hills for an early easy birthday hike. A lot of trails were considered after a severe thunderstorm cell had pounded the island yesterday. I was praying that we didn’t have to visit another waterfall anytime soon, my birthday wish came true.

Kalaheo Hills

Thanks to Chico and Dave for shuttling us to our starting spot in the neighborhood. I had done this particular route over 12 years ago but from the other side, time to tackle it from the back side. Change of pace.

Kalaheo Hills

Pushing through chest high California grass as we headed towards the hills.

Kalaheo Hills

Nothing like a random stranger singing happy birthday to you. “What’s your name? Happy Birthday to you!”

Kalaheo Hills

A poor man’s version of a Schwinn bicycle.

Kalaheo Hills

Going off the beaten track.

Kalaheo Hills

Are we going the right way?

Kalaheo Hills

Following another overgrown path. The hills are honeycombed with trails that will all take you somewhere.

Kalaheo Hills

We looped back to see the painted rocks. We got time as this is not going to take all day right?

Kalaheo Hills

Headed towards the direction of Kalaheo High School, look back before we miss it.

Kalaheo Hills

We scrambled up to the paint splattered rocks with commanding views of Kailua Town, the Mokes, Olomana and the surrounding ocean views.

Kalaheo Hills

Drone view of the painted rock that is painted annually by the graduating seniors in the school’s blue and orange colors.

Kalaheo Hills

Life on the rock.

Kalaheo Hills

Painter’s point of view.

Kalaheo Hills

Time to take our leave of the pigmented soaked rocks and get back on the trail.

Kalaheo Hills

You f*cker! I got you again!

Kalaheo Hills

Leaving the oppressive humidity behind us as we left the stifling overgrowth behind us and traded it for exposed and windy ridge line conditions.

Kalaheo Hills

Chico passing the carrion flower native to South Africa down the line for a sniff test. The offensive odor is emitted to attract flies due to the absence of nearby pollinating insects.

Kalaheo Hills

Making our way to the first pillbox on exposed Mahinui Ridge.

Kalaheo Hills

The rest of the group climbing up the last steep section as we neared the summit of Pu’u Papa’a which loosely translates to scorched hill.

Kalaheo Hills

We creeped up to signs of urbanization in the hills. Stairs. Road. Communication towers.

Kalaheo Hills

Exploring the exterior of the double-decked bunker that was once used as a fire control station during WW2.

Kalaheo Hills

Drone view of the bunkers technically known as B3 S3 Base End Station and Triangulation Station Papa’a.

Kalaheo Hills

Climbing down inside the bunkers to check out the constantly changing artwork that decorates the interior walls.

Kalaheo Hills

Mahalo to everybody for our double elevated cupcakes and those that came to sing us a song. What better way to spend our early birthday than inside a phallic painted bunker complete with a decomposing rodent and ammonia infused scents. Thanks guys!

Kalaheo Hills

A UFO came and abducted Allison, Nusay and Susan for reasons known only to the aliens. They came back later to collect Dave and Ferlino as they needed gender representation.

Kalaheo Hills

Our group dropped to seven in numbers as we continued down the crumbly ridgeline.

Kalaheo Hills

Following the dropped communications cable as we made our way to the next bunker.

Kalaheo Hills

Climbing up the rickety and rusting “billboard.” Don’t try this at home kids.

Kalaheo Hills

Top of the defunct microwave relay antenna. Now how do we get down?

Kalaheo Hills

Explored the dark and dank Battery Commander’s Station (BCS) that was built in 1944 that would have directed the two 8″ guns that were located in Battery 405 further down the hillside and renamed Battery DeMerritt after the war ended. The guns were never fired in anger and were soon dismantled after the war, the battery itself consists of 210′ deep tunnels that were purchased by Gary Weller in 2000 and turned into a data center.

Kalaheo Hills

Pushing through the overgrowth to check out the water tank that was located below the BCS.

Kalaheo Hills

Climbing up the empty water tank, short legs and all.

Kalaheo Hills

We dropped into the bowels of the echo chamber to discover a graffiti message for us? Ahh, they shouldn’t have.

Kalaheo Hills

Circling the colorfully decorated cavernous tank that was supposedly cracked during test firing of the 8 inch coastal battery guns back in the day.

Kalaheo Hills

Gecko’s eye view of the group.

Kalaheo Hills

Climbing our way out of the old water tank.

Kalaheo Hills

Drone view of the tank.

Kalaheo Hills

We had to bushwhack a bit before finding the trail again.

Kalaheo Hills

Dale scooting his way down over some rocks.

Kalaheo Hills

What is that crawling all over the rocks we had just climbed down from? Centipedes?!? Glad we saw it after the fact.

Kalaheo Hills

Finding our way out of the jungle without popping in somebody’s backyard was a lot harder than expected.

All pau

We missed the actual exit trail by that much!

Nico’s

Chico suggested we walk to the second restaurant owned by French born chef Nico Chaize as it was shorter than returning to his house. Aida, Cristy, Ferlino, Lilia and Nusay joined us for our post hike meal. Many thanks to Chico and Lilia for Mari and my lunch.

GPS Tracks

Our romp in the hills covered 3.44 miles with cooperative weather, amazing scenery and explorations with fun friends. Thanks to Chico for organizing our early birthday hike and all the participants that hiked with us today. Shout out to Aida, Aileen, Akira, Allison, Andrew, Ani, Chico, Cristy, Dale, Dave, Edgar, Ferlino, Kenny, Lilia, Marilyn, Roger, Susan and Tessa for the gifts. Until the next adventure. Mahalo!

Photos/Crew taken by Aileen Agustin, Allison Banks, Chico Cantu, Dale Yoshizu, Dave and Susan Katz, Ferlino Carinio, Kenny Lui, Mari Saito, Nusaybah Roberson, Roger Schiffman, 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.

I tagged along with the Oahu Hikers Group to explore a new trail in Kailua. We met up at Aikahi Park Shopping Center and split into two groups. It was going to be another hot day.

Trailhead

Our group consisting of Jose, Khym, Ryan, Thessa and myself headed down a dead end street to start our hike. The other group consisting of Becky, Bill, Chris, Karen, Maggie, Tara and Toby went up the access road further down the street. We decided to take the scenic route.

Follow the ribbons

Ryan was guiding the group, as he and Chris had just flagged the trail yesterday.

Looking back

Our slight elevation gain gave us a peek towards the Moks or Mokulua Islands in the distance.

Water tank

We soon came upon a fence almost hidden in the tall grass, that enclosed a colorful graffitied abandoned water tank. An old gate served as a ladder to climb up to the tank.

On top

Group photo left to right: Jose, Khym, myself, Thessa and Jose. Khym and Thessa are on the other side of the structure, barely visible through the window.

Going down

Looking at the top bunkers where we would meet up with Chris’s group.

Who’s Pero?

After climbing down into the tank, we discovered the floor was covered with empty spray paint cans and water bottles. A recycler’s dream and cleanup crew nightmare. Photo by Khym Ansagay.

Appreciating art

Thessa getting up close and personal with some of the graffiti.

Leaving the tank

We followed the fence out to resume the trail.

Microwave antenna

No rocks to climb. This will do. Photo by Thessa Bugay.

Hello?

Khym entering the bunker below the microwave antenna.

Nothing to see here. Move along.

Two small sectioned rooms made up the bunker. No homeless. Oh wait, I forgot this is Kailua.

Panoramic View

Click here for the larger image.

Access road

The road that Chris’s group was taking to the bunkers.

Bunker bound

Our trail to the bunkers.

Girl on the roof

Checking out the views of Mokapu Peninsula, home to the Marine Corps Air Station and several fishponds, that separates Kaneohe Bay from Kailua Bay. Oh yeah, the painted girl looks nice too. Photo by Khym Ansagay.

Kaneohe Bay

Khym saw what he thought was a backpack in the bushes. Jose fished it out and the backpack turned out to be a folding chair, which he used to watch the rain showers sweep through Kaneohe Bay and Moku o loe or Coconut Island.

The other group

Both groups taking pictures of each other. Classic.

The Mad Hatter

Going down the rabbit hole.

Tag team

Taggers self representation? Photo by Karen Latzka.

Reunited at the top

Group photo at the bunkers standing left to right: Karen, Bill, Jose, Ryan, Chris, Maggie, Tara, Becky and Toby. Kneeling left to right: Khym, Thessa and myself.

Hear any buzzing?

Tara and Becky making their way along the fenced communications site. No sightings of winged barbed insects.

Your pic …

The group standing next to a thicket of communication towers. Everybody got 4 bars?

… for mines

My arms are getting tired. Photo by Chris Hiona.

Geodetic marker

Pu’u Papa’a means scorched hill. Yeah it was pretty hot up here.

Long road down

Road going down. Stairs going up. Ridge going down and up. Hiking cycles.

Where? There!

Chris giving directions. Follow the ridge. Pass a stand of pine trees. Go down towards Kalaheo School. Pass the painted rock. Stay to the right of the bike ramps. Got it? Good. Photo by Khym Ansagay.

Coming down the hill

Becky decided to join our group as the road was getting old. Chris’s group watched us for awhile before going back down.

Mahinui ridge

Our group walking on the ridge. Split views of Kailua and Kaneohe. Photo by Chris Hiona.

Breaking in the bench

Literally.

Rolling hills

Approaching the next hill, we saw what looked like a bench at the top. Really? Is this a state trail?

When do we get to sit?

Somebody dragged this rocking chair up here. I guess they really wanted a chair to enjoy the view. Photo by Khym Ansagay.

Windward views

The town of Kailua filled the views; with Mokulua Islands, Olomana and the Ko’olau Mountains taking a backseat.

Pine trees

I remember somebody mentioning pine trees. Who was that?

Kapa’a Valley

The view looking into Kapa’a Quarry and Valley, with Nu’uanu Saddle in the background. Photo by Ryan Leano.

Olomana

Headed down towards Kalaheo High School. Photo by Ryan Leano.

Painted rock

The trail passed the blue and orange painted rock, that is annually “refreshed” by the senior class of Kalaheo High School.

Bike ramp

Where’s my Schwinn when I need it?

Headed out

Dirt meets road.

All pau

We popped out in the neighborhood and started to walk back to the shopping center. Couple blocks later, Chris’s group picked us up in their cars. Saved us two blocks of walking. Mahalo!

GPS Tracks

Short and sweet hike at a little over two miles. Got to explore a new trail and meet new faces. Can’t ask for anything more than that. Post hike meal at Aloha Salad. Trying to eat healthy. Still miss my Outback.