I decided to connect the dots with a trail that I haven’t done yet. Met up with Analyn and Janell on the North Shore for another HTMC hike. Making use of my hiking membership, since I’m letting my gym membership go to waste.

Trailhead

Met up with the HTMC group, where we saw familiar faces in Art, Christine and Dale at Sunset Beach Elementary School parking lot where we then carpooled to the end of Pupukea Road to begin our hike.

Paalaa Uka Pupukea Road

Leaving the trail and hitting the road.

Kaunala Trail

Leaving the road and hitting the trail.

Kaunala Trail

Following in the footsteps of the HTMC trail clearers from the week before.

Kaunala Trail

Our forward momentum was momentarily stalled as some confusion existed as to where to turn off from the main trail. Where are the people that know the path? Oh, all the way in the back of the group.

Trail

Making our way through a patch of mixed forest.

Trail

Passing through the cleared trail topped by power lines.

Trail

Looking out towards the military installations that populate central Oahu.

Trail

Yielding to bikers on the path.

Beer goggles

Yeah, everybody is starting to look pretty good in this heat and humidity.

Lilikoi Junction

Arriving at the picnic bench area and the seeming nexus of the well maintained bike trail system that exists back here.

Lilikoi Junction

Signs pointing everywhere and nowhere.

Just need the Queen

Isn’t this stating the obvious, or am I just that oblivious? Photo by Janell Tuttle.

Trail

The rest of the club continued down the trail to the bunkers, while Dale took us on the higher road to see a giant swing.

Spare

One of many spares hanging on the trees.

Ellbo junction

Analyn using some grease to move the trees as we headed the wrong way.

Trail

Headed back to the right way.

Bowling

Props to the biking community that keeps these trails maintained and their creative expressions.

Swingers

Some of us had fun on a giant unstable swing.

Roost

Others had their fun climbing or soaring higher than a metallic bird.

Bowling

We soon had our fill of climbing and swinging and made our way back to catch up with the group.

Opener

Now all that was missing were the wine bottles. Red or white?

Trail

Switch backing our way up as we trudged through the thick carpet of pine needles.

Trail maintenance

Raking the pine needles from one side of the trail to the other side. Just trying to make a difference. Irrelevant difference, but a difference nonetheless.

Splish Splash

There’s nothing like soaking in a hot tub after a long hike. And this is nothing like that. Photo by Christine Galiza.

Sunset Beach

We soon met up with other dog walkers, hikers and bikers on the trail as we neared the sandy beaches of Paumalu.

Chief’s arrival

Passing another creative sign marker and other bikers sharing the trail.

Running out

Left, right, straight or back. So many choices. Not enough time.

Trail

Pushing up the final hill where we soon arrived …

Top Bunker

… at the three storied WW2 bunker with commanding views of the North Shore coastline.

Personal Bunker

Finding my own personal space to enjoy my carbonated bliss. Photo by Dale Yoshizu

Bottom Bunker

Drone view from the lower bunker. Hey, where did everybody else go? And why didn’t I point the drone towards the ocean view?

Chill

It seems the picnic bench undergoes many paint changes. Just like the seasons.

All pau

Our mountain meandering covered a little over 6.2 miles with a fun group, thanks to Quintin for leading the hike. Post hike meal at Ted’s bakery. The wait was insufferably long and I almost forgot to grab my slice of chocolate haupia pie. GYOD. Where’s the petting pig?

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.