Walk Around Oahu (Waiahole to Punalu’u)

Met up with Chico, Jen, Laredo, Lilyn, Mari, Quan, Tessa, and William for our third leg of the perimeter walk today.

We took our group photo that we missed from the last walk after Chico and Lilia staged the truck at Kualoa Beach Park.

It was too early to get a treat of Sweet Lady of Waiahole, so we pushed off on our walk.

What’s that? I forgot something? My medication?

Tessa rubbing elbows with the legend.

Somebody’s on the wrong side of the bridge.

Pop Quiz: What is Chico doing?
A) Panhandling from a passing car
B) Looking for free samples
C) Getting his truck keys

We saw these and other signs that loudly proclaimed “The People United Will Never Be Defeated” and “No Development Keep the Country Country” and “New City…What A Pity! No Development.” The problem dates back to the 1880s when Lincoln McCandles and brothers arrived in the islands and began drilling artesian wells to feed the sugar industry and in the process amassed considerable land holdings. Fast forward to 1974, when his daughter attempted to to urbanize 1,337 acres in Waiahole and Waikane Valleys with local developer, Joe Pao who promised affordable housing with his “New City” development. Sounds familiar? Massive protests erupted and was temporarily simmered when the State purchased 795 acres in Waiahole Valley to manage the land. Fast forward to 1987, when the Housing Finance and Development Corporation was created to promote affordable housing, the predecessor to today’s Hawaii Housing Finance & Development Corporation. The HHFDC claims they are running a deficit managing the water resources and below market rents for the approximately 100 valley residents and must raise rents to stay solvent. Both sides have retained lawyers and are slugging it out in court. Who will win? Most certainly, the side with deep and corrupt pockets will prevail against the residents.

Entering the cattle ranch and tourist attraction that sits on over 4,000 acres. This valley was considered sacred to ancient Hawaiians and was purchased by Dr. Judd from King Kamehameha III for the sum of $1,300 in 1850. That would be $50,560 in today’s money.

Passing through the often seen Coral Kingdom Shop & Restaurant but never visited.

When the traffic mirror doubles as the selfie mirror.

The public picking of parya (bittermelon) leaves.

Looking for the private tour.

Group photo in front of the 50′ artistic representation of Manaiakalani, Maui’s fish hook that was used to capture the sun.

Looking out towards the basaltic islet in Kaneohe Bay that was once owned by the Judd-Morgan family until the City & County of Honolulu purchased it back in the 1970s.

Group photo in front of the conical shaped island. Advocates are pushing to erase the name of Chinaman’s Hat as it’s not culturally correct and politically offensive to some. But for most locals, it will always be called that.

Wandering through the ruins of the first sugar mill built in the islands during 1863-1865. Due to lack of rainfall, the mill ceased operations in 1871 and was left exposed to the elements where it sits today.

Leaving the prominent Kualoa ridge behind us. I wonder if anybody has ever climbed that mountain?

The fish were biting today.

Bunker exploration. Where’s Scotty?

The color of death.

When there’s no sidewalk, one has to walk on the bridge.

Roadside summer snacks. Lychee was introduced to Hawaii in 1873 when Ching Chock brought the evergreen tree from China and planted it on the Afong property on the corner of Nu’uanu and School Streets.

Chico got his own summer snack. Free shave ice!

Motorists yielding to pedestrians. Refreshments at the convenience store that was originally named Tote’m Stores and later changed to reflect the operating hours. Time to change again?

No touch the girl or the golf cart?

Trying to see the resemblance of the rock formation above the shuttered eatery. Originally built as the Larsen residence in 1927, it was converted to a restaurant in 1952 and closed in 2008 due to cesspool violations.

Where is the trailhead?

Clucking like a chicken.

Bridge crossing.

I still haven’t found a working pay phone yet.

Words to live by.

View of Kahana Bay.

Swinger.

Walking on the road next to traffic. The Handi-vans were especially too close for comfort. I think they were looking for future customers.

Group photo at the beach park. The town name means “coral dived for” or “spring dived for.”

We may have walked on the wrong side of the bridges, but never jumped from them.

End of the road for us. Food outside.

Drinks inside. Pay inside too.

Eating on the beach. Laredo preferred to sun on the beach.

Quan trying to burn off her caloric intake.

Everybody have exact change? Three dollars.

Time to get off the bus and give the riders some relief.

Happy Birthday Mari!

Pinay Hat.

Thanks Chico for the soft serve ice cream cones!

One shot for the road.

Our fun walk covered 10.4 miles through the Windward coastline.

Photos taken by Chico Cantu, Jen Odence, Lilyn Avendano, Mari Saito, Quan Haberstroh, 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.

Tagged as: chinaman's hat, crouching lion inn, hakipuu, kaaawa, kahana valley, kamehameha highway, kualoa ranch, kualoa sugar mill, manaiakalani, maui, mokolii, punaluu, waiahole poi factory, waikane valley