Walk around Oahu (Waipahu to Mapunapuna)

Our hike in the mountains got rescheduled, so it was back to the pavement for our perimeter walk #11.

Waipahu

Mahalo to Chico for dropping Aida, Aileen, Akira, Lilyn, Mari, Ryan, Tessa, and myself off on Waipahu Depot Street.

Pearl Harbor Bike Path

Walking on the bike path where we soon passed the HFD Waipahu Maintenance Facility and Ted Makalena Golf Course that opened in 1971.

Pearl Harbor Bike Path

Sharing the path with bicyclists and stray dogs. Luckily, one of them didn’t bite.

Pearl Harbor Bike Path

Looking out towards the Middle Loch of Pearl Harbor that are home to 13 mothballed naval ships.

Pearl Harbor Bike Path

Yielding to two-wheeled and four-wheeled traffic.

Pearl Harbor Bike Path

Boarding the bus to shorten our time on the path.

Pearl Harbor Bike Path

Exact change only. Get behind the yellow line!

Pearl Harbor Bike Path

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas.

Pearl Harbor Bike Path

Crossing over Waiawa Stream.

Pearl Harbor Bike Path

Passing the community project that is working to restore the coastline through education and engagement.

Pearl Harbor Bike Path

We crossed over Lehua Avenue to continue on the path and passed a marker that stated 11 miles to Honolulu Depot in Iwilei, which was the old train depot of the Oahu Railway and Land Company (OR&L).

Pearl Harbor Bike Path

Measuring up to one of two shoe trees, unlike its arboreal brethren on the mainland, these shoes are nailed to the tree trunk instead of dangling from the branches.

Pearl Harbor Bike Path

Mixed messages or perhaps complementary in a patch of taro and watercress plants.

Pearl Harbor Bike Path

Passing the HECO Waiau Power Plant that started generating power for the island back in 1938.

Pearl Harbor Bike Path

Catch and release?

Pearl Harbor Bike Path

Akira enjoying the views of East Loch.

Japanese Peace Bell

We detoured off the path to visit the wooden pavilion located on the edge of Neal Blaisdell Park, that was built entirely from interlocking lumber using no nails by two craftsmen from Japan.

Japanese Peace Bell

Group photo with the bell that was donated by the Buddhist Bishop Ekan Ikeguchi of Kagoshima, Japan in 1991 to mark the 50th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor.

Best Buy

We dropped into one of 1,138 stores to enjoy some air conditioned air, use the bathrooms and pick up a laptop.

Pearl Harbor Bike Path

Somebody had the bright idea of stuffing the laptop in their backpack. Somebody ended up carrying the laptop for the remainder of the walk.

Pearl Harbor Bike Path

Akira trying to channel his inner hamster. Epic fail.

Pearl Harbor Bike Path

I guess it was hot for some.

Pearl Harbor Bike Path

Going underneath Moanalua Freeway, that was surprisingly devoid of homeless encampments.

Pearl Harbor Bike Path

Detouring around the fenced compound that is home to the COMPACFLT Boathouse.

Pearl Harbor Bike Path

Climbing and hanging onto the tree branch as we channeled our inner Ferlino.

Kamehameha Highway

Why did the hikers cross the road? To avoid getting run over.

Halawa View Apartments

Life imitating art. The mural in the background that covers one side of the 14-story building depicts Hina, the Hawaiian moon goddess, who was believed to have guided sailors with the moon and the stars.

Kamehameha Highway

Crossing over Halawa Stream. Always one in the crowd.

Kamehameha Highway

How the Grinch stole Christmas. So much for giving other people’s laptop to those in need.

Kamehameha Highway

Walking underneath the largest public works project in the State’s history. Today, it was at least good for shade. $54 per person.

Kamehameha Highway

Hitchhiker. Thumb is not big enough.

Kamehameha Highway

Trying to avoid being roadkill.

Nimitz Highway

Walking underneath Hawaii’s busiest highway and the not ready for prime time Skyline.

Nimitz Highway

Traffic mirror group selfie.

Big Kahuna’s Pizza

Who said there’s no such thing as a free lunch? Not the dentist. Hai! Hai! Arigatou Gozaimasu!

Nimitz Highway

It’s not a shopping cart, but beggars can’t be choosers.

Nimitz Highway

Unattended cart.

Nimitz Highway

Does this have a seat belt?

Nimitz Highway

Trying to make short work of our walk back to the yard.

Nimitz Highway

Pushing maximum load capacity.

All pau

Akira practicing catch and release on our way back to the cars.

GPS Tracks

Our eleventh walk around the island covered 11.2 miles through the urbanized parts of the island with a fun group. Back in the yard, we spent an inordinate amount of time transferring photos to each other. Some of us drove to Magnolia Ice Cream & Treats in Kalihi for refreshing Halo-Halo dessert to cool us down from our walk.

Photos taken by Aida Gordon, Aileen Agustin, Akira Suzuki, Chico Cantu, Lilyn Avendano, Mari Saito, Ryan Nakahara, 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: east loch, halawa stream, heco waiau plant, japanese peace bell, kamehameha highway, middle loch, moanalua freeway, neal blaisdell park, nimitz highway, pearl harbor, pearl harbor bike path, waiawa stream, waipahu