Met up with Aida, Akira, Chico, Mari, Susan, and Tessa under the shadow of the Maili Pillboxes to get our morning constitutional.

Kaukama Road

The cap heads are in the majority for our group photo.

Farrington Highway

Akira explaining the size of the nigiri sushi he had for dinner last night.

Farrington Highway

The scarecrow has taken up residence in the house.

Farrington Highway

Walking through the pebbly town that has the highest percentage of kanaka maoli or native Hawaiians on the island.

Farrington Highway

I didn’t know Groot was for sale.

Farrington Highway

CB soon caught up with us after parking at his brother’s place and test drove his 2D muscle car. If it only had one more dimensional layer.

Farrington Highway

Chico volunteering to be the human water gauge on the non-existent ledge that was also 2D as well.

Farrington Highway

No shopping cart rides today. The plight of the homeless on this side of the island is especially glaring. Not getting into politics and policy, but the fact that the majority of the homeless are Hawaiians is a pretty sad commentary on the state of affairs. If they want to get the ball rolling, they should camp at the State Capitol and all the key political leaders place of residence. That would get national news and force the levers of political power to start moving and actually do something that benefits not just the kanaka maoli but all the local residents that call this place home. Just my two cents.

Farrington Highway

Let sleeping dogs lie.

Farrington Highway

This particular canine did not want to sleep or lie.

Lualualei Beach Park

Looking for seashells or at least fragments of them.

Burger King

Nobody said “You Rule” or offered a cardboard crown. Ask and you shall receive.

FHB

Say Yes. Yes I can climb on the sign. Yessah.

Farrington Highway

Artwork or graffiti seen on the streets.

Israel Kamakawiwo’ole

Taking a photo with the 200 pound bronze bust of Braddah IZ, one of Hawaii’s most influential and successful singers.

Farrington Highway

Chico failed to get a HFD T-Shirt so he ran across the highway to join back with the group as the flags flew at half mast to honor former Representative Gene Ward who passed on April 4, 2025.

Farrington Highway

I guess this particular bus shelter avoided compliance with the sit-lie ban. No complaints from Chico.

Farrington Highway

Cotton is the new Rogaine.

Farrington Highway

Hey, those are my exact size!

Farrington Highway

The pilot showing how the helicopter chair is executed. Something may have been lost in translation.

Farrington Highway

The Flying Filipino not to be confused with Shane Victorino.

7-11

Stopping at the last outpost of snacks and refreshments before resuming our walk.

Mauna Lahilahi

We decided to do a detour and climb the world’s smallest mountain. But first somebody took their medication for clarification of their mind.

Mauna Lahilahi

It was Chico’s first and Mari’s second attempt at climbing this relatively diminutive peak.

Mauna Lahilahi

Akira guiding the girls up a relatively less steep section of the trail.

Mauna Lahilahi

This angle illustrates why it’s also called thin mountain in English.

Mauna Lahilahi

One step at a time takes one closer to the top.

Mauna Lahilahi

Leaving all the relatively steep climbing behind us as we plateaued near the summit.

Mauna Lahilahi

Aida overlooking Papaoneone Beach and its aging condos.

Mauna Lahilahi

We all made it to the 230′ summit with its panoramic views of the coastline and mountains.

Mauna Lahilahi

Leaving the summit behind along with Chico’s ex-sixth wife as we scrambled our way back down.

Mauna Lahilahi

We soon dropped back down to the base along with the volunteers who were hauling out all the rubbish that somehow finds its way here.

Farrington Highway

Just one question. Is this a silent or loud alarm?

Farrington Highway

Can you see the hikers for the flowers?

Farrington Highway

Picking the not so low-hanging fruit that was first introduced to the islands in 1824 by Captain Meek from Manila.

Farrington Highway

In search of shade.

Makaha Beach

Strolling around the beach which is where big wave surfing was born.

Farrington Highway

We decided to skip the arch at Kea’au Beach Park as the waves were hammering the coastline.

Farrington Highway

Akira balancing on the concrete dividers that separated the road and boulders from coastal erosion.

Kaneana (Makua Cave)

We escaped the sweltering heat and cooled off by entering the roughly 150,000 year old cave that was once underwater.

Kaneana (Makua Cave)

The cave reputedly is roughly 450′ deep and there are branching tunnels for those with a yearn to explore and headlamps. We had neither in stock today.

Kaneana (Makua Cave)

Legend has it that this was once home to the shark god, Nanaue who would lure unsuspecting travelers to his lair and have them for dinner. Not wanting to be shark bait, we soon exited the cool cavern.

All pau

Thanks to Dave for shuttling us back to our cars.

GPS Tracks

Our hot as heck walk strolled us around 10.6 miles today. Fun walk with good friends. Post hike meal at Denny’s, where there was something for everybody.

Photos taken by Aida Gordon, Akira Suzuki, Chico Cantu, Chris Bautista, Dale Yoshizu, Mari Saito, Susan Katz, 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.

Met up with Aida, Allison, Ferlino, Jasmin, and Mari at the parking lot of McDonald’s to start our perimeter walk #9.

Kapolei

The combat medic saved the day for Mari’s shoes when he ran to Home Depot and gorilla glued her soles shut.

Maili

Mahalo to Chico for dropping our group off in the pebbly town that has the highest percentage of Native Hawaiians in Hawai’i.

Farrington Highway

Starting out on what was originally a walking route that connected people from Central and Ewa Beach to the West side. Repeating and walking in history.

Farrington Highway

Walking on the only artery that goes in and out of the Leeward coast and is considered one of the most dangerous stretches of roadway on the island for pedestrians due to its poor design. What are we doing again?

Mike’s Bake Shop

We stopped at this hole in the wall for some delicious morning pastries. This shop among two others was part of a violent robbery spree back in 2017 that all occurred within a 24 hour period.

Ulehawa Stream

The Hawaiian meaning of the stream is “filthy penis.” I guess that’s why its located in a stream, to wash it off.

Nanakuli Super

We stopped at the family owned and operated store since 1973, to browse and came out with candy canes filled with miniature bottles of fireball whisky. I bought one and somehow ended up carrying four.

Farrington Highway

Colorful artwork that covered the utility boxes on the sides of the road.

OR&L

Ferlino standing on the narrow gauge tracks whose trains and whistles have long been silenced.

Nanakuli

Spotted a honu (green sea turtle) bobbing in the rough waters.

Mermaid Cave

Ferlino dropping into Tunnels.

Nanakuli

Can you see the heart for the waves?

Nanakuli

The peeling paint makes it easier to see the heart.

Nanakuli

We followed the shoreline with the crashing waves on our way back out to the highway.

Nanakuli

When is a pillbox not a pillbox?

Nanakuli

Aida watching the surging water come in and out of the sandy cove.

OR&L

We continued our walk until a tree stopped us dead in our tracks.

OR&L

From 1889 until 1947, Oahu Railway & Land Company (OR&L) moved passengers and cargo from Iwilei to Kahuku on its 3 foot railway.

OR&L

First a tree and now a bicycle. Is somebody trying to derail our walk?

OR&L

We detoured and climbed out of the ditch to join back up to Dillingham’s legacy to Oahu’s transportation history.

OR&L

Where there’s a tree, you’ll find Ferlino on it.

OR&L

The girls crossing over a trestle with the Hawaiian Electric (HECO) power plant in the background.

Electric Beach

Group photo at the passive sign that now serves as a backdrop instead of regulating traffic back in the day.

Farrington Highway

We soon got off the tracks as it was leading us towards Ko Olina Resorts, which was formerly called Lanikuhonua (“where heaven meets earth”), and jumped back on the congested highway.

Farrington Highway

This Good Samaritan, a person that helps other people and especially strangers, stopped to ask if we needed assistance as she thought our car had broken down. Bless her heart.

Farrington Highway

Ferlino asked the owner of this rather imposing treehouse if we could climb it. Ask and you shall receive.

Tommy’s Treehouse

Some of us took the long way and others took the more direct approach.

Tommy’s Treehouse

The owner built this faux electric chair as he used to work at the nearby HECO powerplant.

Tommy’s Treehouse

The effort that went into building this treehouse took a period of three years and the attention to detail such as the “barnacles” on the tree limbs, crow’s nest, and the interior finishing’s all paid off for his kids and grandkids enjoyment. And obviously for curious passerby’s such as ourselves.

Tommy’s Treehouse

Leaving the highlight of the walk behind us.

Farrington Highway

Walking parallel against oncoming traffic.

Kalaeloa Blvd

Going down the home stretch where we successfully avoided the merging cars going onto the H1 highway to finish off our walk #9.

All pau

Post hike meal at the nearby Panda’s Express, home of authentic Chinese cuisine. Jasmin showed off her golf ball and thirty-one cents in loose change that she found on the walk. Still not enough to buy her even an eggroll.

GPS Tracks

Our walk covered 10.11 miles that was a mixture of railroad tracks, shoreline and paved roads. A fun day with good company.

Photos taken by Aida Gordon, Allison Banks, Ferlino Carinio, Jasmin Nepomuceno, 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.

After our warm-up climb at Mauna Lahilahi, we drove towards Sea Century, a subdivision in Maili. Chris staged his truck at the end of Anaha Street and we all drove in Glenn’s truck to park on Kaukama Street where we would hike up Puu O Hulu. This volcanic hill separates Maili from Nanakuli and is actually made up of two hills, Puu O Hulu Kai and Puu O Hulu Uka.

Trailhead

The trailhead is located between the 7th and 8th street light on Kaukama Street.

Scenic view

Less than five minutes up the hill, we were rewarded with scenic views of the Waianae coastline and mountain range.

Manini rockface

Going up the rocky and grassy hill was uneventful until we came across one of numerous rockfaces that injected some sorely needed fun into this hike.

Bombucha rockface

I tried climbing up this rockface, but failed. So I took the trail that contoured around it. Guess I didn’t eat my Wheaties this morning.

Pillboxes

After about 30 minutes later, the pillboxes popped into view. There are five of them that are sprinkled on the top of the hill, affording commanding views of the ocean.

Pillbox view

Most of the pillboxes or bunkers had their blast shields and doors intact. Of course they were heavily graffitied with seemingly random shapes, letters, numbers and colors. Some of them could actually be hung on a wall.

Summit of Pu’u O Hulu Kai

We reached the 856′ summit of Pu’u O Hulu Kai under ample cloud cover and breezy tradewinds.

Headed down towards the saddle

We met another hiker at the summit, that had started from Hakimo Road, which I believe is the slightly easier route to take if one is so inclined.

Another puka

Headed down towards the saddle, we ran across another puka, which was smaller than the ones found at the Pali or Makapu’u.

Rock climbing practice

Glenn and Chris climbing down one of the last rockfaces before we hit the saddle. If rock climbing or scrambling is not your cup of tea, there are trails that contour around most of them.

Climbing up towards Pu’u O Hulu Uka

Following the fenceline up towards the sister hill of Pu’u O Hulu Uka where it soon ends to be replaced by a short section of rockfaces and ledges.

Top of Pu’u O Hulu Uka

Once past the rocky terrain, it was an easy walk towards the flag marked summit of Pu’u O Hulu Uka.

Lualualei Antenna Farm

Looking towards the twin towering 1,500′ antenna’s of the Lualualei Naval Radio Station. I believe these are the tallest artificial structures on the island. To put this in better perspective, these antenna’s dwarf the tallest building in the State, which is the First Hawaiian Center at a relatively puny 429′.

Last climb down

We made our way down the backside of Pu’u O Hulu Uka which was capped by one last rock climb down. Chris shows how it’s done with no rope. A clearly marked trail through the grass took us back to Anaha Street and Chris’s remote controlled air conditioned truck. Sweet.