Google Maps said our perimeter hike today should only register around seven miles. Not only humans make mistakes.

Kualoa Beach Park

We all met up at the park steeped in history as it was associated with Hawaiian royalty, refuge and spiritual significance.

Hau’ula

That was a long bus ride! You sure this is only seven miles?

Hau’ula

Some suspicious minded individuals had to conduct their own independent confirmations. Shouts of 9 and 10 miles rang out. Are we not hikers?

Kamehameha Highway

The place to get a real kanak attack. Too early in the day.

Kamehameha Highway

Navigating the Kaipapa’u Stream Bridge Replacement construction barricades and detours.

Kapalaoa Beach

Scott the swinger. That doesn’t look too hard.

Kapalaoa Beach

Train wreck in progress. Woman down! Don’t worry, I do this for a living.

Kamehameha Highway

On the Windward side, the shoulder is your sidewalk.

Hau’ula Beach Park

Bathroom break.

Kamehameha Highway

Looking for souvenirs. Look harder.

Kamehameha Highway

Crossing over Maakua Stream.

Kamehameha Highway

The only ones straddling this now stripped coconut tree are these thin shelled a’ama crabs.

Kamehameha Highway

Passing this honey stand, as this was the closest we were getting to the state park that harbors Kaliuwa’a, where a rockslide on May 9, 1999 killed eight people and injured many others. It has been closed to the public ever since that tragic day.

Hale Aha Beach

Monkey see, monkey do.

Kamehameha Highway

Splash of color on the road.

St. Joachim Catholic Church

Passing this simple clapboard church dedicated in 1919.

Kaya’s Store

Supporting local. This store has been around since 1946, where it started as a butcher shop and evolved into today’s convenience store.

Ching’s Punaluu Store

This local store has been in business even longer, since 1935.

Kamehameha Highway

Looking out towards Kahana Bay.

Kamehameha Highway

Skipped the shrimp and went straight to swinging.

Punalu’u Beach Park

Better than the bushes.

Kamehameha Highway

Even the ocean needs shade.

Kamehameha Highway

Makeshift marina.

Kamehameha Highway

The breath of life.

Kamehameha Highway

Paddlers in Kawa Stream.

Kamehameha Highway

Walking on the road that is constantly being eroded by the ocean and passing the reopened Crouching Lion Restaurant. Lunch?

Kamehameha Highway

“No bird soars too high if he soars with his own wings.” – William Blake.

Kamehameha Highway

Snack stop at the 7-11 right across Swanzy Beach Park. Walking is hard work.

Kamehameha Highway

The popular slogan plastered all over the areas not yet touched by commercial and large scale residential development originated in the late 1960s on the North Shore side of the island.

Kamehameha Highway

Walking on the road against the backdrop of wind rippled waves.

Kualoa Sugar Mill

Standing against the ruins of the first steam-powered mill on the island that was built in 1863.

Kualoa Ranch

I guess this is the closest we are getting to Maui’s fish hook.

Kualoa Beach Park

Carrying a stick with two flags all day is hard work.

Kualoa Beach Park

Our last group photo of the day with Mokoli’i in the background. Hawaiian legend has it that the basalt islet is the tip of the tail of a giant lizard that was killed and thrown in the bay by Hi’iaka, the younger sister of Pele.

GPS Tracks

Our #12 perimeter walk covered 10.7 miles on the Windward coastline with fun company. Post hike meal at Pieology as the food court was all filled up.

Photos taken by Aida Gordon, Akira Suzuki, Allison Banks, Cristy CM, Kenny Lui, Mari Saito, Marilyn Bermudez, Scott Dea, 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.