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.

In the mood for a new and short trail to hike, Hiram and Jasmin met me on the Windward side of Oahu. Lipalu Place to be exact. Hiram and myself then jumped into Jasmin’s car and we drove to Kokokahi Place, as the hike was going to be a one way trail for us.

Friendship Gardens

We took one of the two parking spaces and walked downhill to the trailhead. The garden and the surrounding community of Kokokahi which means of one blood, was developed to promote racial harmony back in the 1920s.

Check out the posted bulletins

The stone steps led us to a locked teahouse with maps and bulletins posted below. I was looking forward to practicing the Way of Tea. Instead, we continued the Way of Hiking.

Picnic and lookout spot

The lower loop of the trail led us to this open air pavilion. Great spot to enjoy the views of Kaneohe Bay and have a picnic.

dai-doro

A stone lantern, donated by a Japanese University, sat watch on the trail.

Gilligan’s Island!

Looking out towards Moku o Lo’e, better known as Coconut Island. This 28 acre island located in Kaneohe Bay is used by the University of Hawaii for marine research. Fans of Gilligan’s Island will recognize this island as it was featured in the opening sequence of the TV show back in the 1960s.

Four legged hiker

Instead of looping the lower trail, we backtracked and connected to the upper trail.

Kawaewae Ridge

The climb up towards the ridge was marked by eroded and overgrown parts. This trail is also called Oneawa Hills or Kokokahi Ridge.

Panoramic view of the Windward side

Click here for the larger image.

Scenic point

Group photo overlooking Kaneohe Bay left to right: myself, Jasmin and Hiram.

Industrial-military complex?

We all tried to guess what the staging yard below us was. Military? Industrial? Anybody knows?

Cell phone reception should be pretty good here

Keeping a safe distance from the enclosed cell antenna towers.

Kaneohe town

The building towering over the town is Pohai Nani, a retirement community, Jasmin had worked there last night. The trail continued over a series of small hills, up and down.

Kapaa Quarry

Looking down into Kapaa Quarry and the green pool of water below it. Stay on the right or Kaneohe side and follow the pink and orange ribboned tree branches as you make your down from the last hill. Being on the Windward side, the sprinklers soon turned on.

Hmm

I wonder how long the tree took to swallow this rope.

Coming down

Coming down, we missed the trail that would have led us to Kawaewae Heiau. Next time.

Riverbed crossing

Crossing the riverbed. Amazingly, it was dry. And we were in Kaneohe! Global warming?

All pau

We returned back to civilization to be greeted by a No Trespassing sign. Auwe!

Dog on the roof

All around protection for this house. They have a four dog alarm system in place.

GPS Tracks

The hike was a tad shy of three miles. Not a bad way to spend a couple hours on the Windward side.