Aida, Aileen, Andrew, Akira, Chico, Chris, Jeremy, Mari, Roger, Ryan, Val and myself collectively gathered to do a short birthday hike on Superbowl Sunday.

We all parked nearby the seventh pole and after some discussion, went up the “normal” switchback trail.

Tessa leaving the “pebbly” neighborhood behind her.

Aida and Roger sitting in a tree. P-H-O-T-O-B-O-M-B.

One can’t escape graffiti, even in the mountains. Just wait until you get to the top.

Switch backing our way up the trail as we gained elevation and with it, stunning coastal, valley and mountain views.

Good morning sunshine.

The group reaching the top of the ridge line of the hill after climbing roughly 700′ up the hill.

Some of the girls checked out the concrete emplacements below the vantage point.

The group at the first bunker that was painted in a jigsaw pattern. The graffiti is constantly changing up here. Here today, gone tomorrow.

Chris in the first WW2 bunker.

The girls approaching the second and third bunkers.

This particular hike is very popular with the public as evidenced by the abundance of other hikers on the trail.

Looking down on the first and second bunkers.

Andrew getting two shakes for the price of one.

Mari inside the pillbox that gives the trail its current and popular name.

Outside photo of the bunker that was painted pink in 2015 to promote breast cancer awareness.

We have a liftoff at seven minutes past the hour, liftoff on Skydio 1.

Drone views.

Enjoying the sparse shade while we can.

Approaching the fourth and fifth pillboxes that are also known as Maili Pillboxes or Puu o Hulu Pillboxes.

Happy Birthday Aida! Enjoy your stick of butter.

Group photo at the summit which is roughly 800′ in elevation.

Chico working hard for his money. Nobody said retirement was going to be easy.

Leaving the summit and whatever shade that was offered.

This section offered a tad more climbing than the bunker lined trail.

Shadow watchers.

Making our way down into the saddle.

Chico climbing down the rocks.

Andrew and Aileen making their way down.

What sound does it make when a hiker falls off a rock? Marine.

The Marine looking for the easier route down.

Checking out the different routes in case the Marine got in trouble.

Tessa following the group climbing their way down.

Everybody took their own path of least resistance on the way down.

Negotiating the narrow part of the ridge line.

The graffiti guys leaves no rocks untouched.

Checking out the puka.

How many hikers can fit in and around a puka? In today’s evolution, lucky 13.

Descending down towards the lowest point in the ridge line.

Aida climbing her way down sans backpack. She’s not called Princess for nothing.

The boys checking out the available ways down. There were three choices. 1. The Climbing way. 2. The Contour way. 3. The Marine way.

Even though we were only around 400′ elevation at this point, the framing seems like we are high in the Hawaiian Alps, if such mountains existed.

Looking back at the summit of Pu’u O Hulu.

Aida and Ryan working their way around the rocks.

The group making their way down the last of the rock climbs.

Contouring our way past the water tank and to the trail that would take us out to Sea Country. The original plan was to hike to the end, but it was getting hot and the kickoff was getting too close for comfort for some in the group, so we cut the hike in half. Compromises.

Who wore it better? Text your answer to 246-6532 (AINOKEA).

Now all Chico and Mari need are real bicycles. Perhaps search the nearby chronic camps for the mode of transportation that was invented in 1817.

Hanging out near the rockfall protection fence installed to catch any errant rocks that may come tumbling down into the residential houses below us.

The last obstacle of the day as we climbed over the fence meant to keep out the riff raff from using the RORO dumpster.

The Princess Diaries. Get lost. Get picked up in a Lexus. Not as good as inheriting the throne of a small European kingdom, but for today’s purposes, all good.

Susan making it rain dollar bills. She didn’t even have to dance on a pole. Life’s not fair.

Happy Birthday to Aida and Lilia. Many more happy returns.

Group photo to end the Super Bowl blowout. I think most of the group were interested in what the bar had to offer anyway while I nursed my Coca-Cola as the Eagles beat the Chiefs 40-22.

Sunset over the saddles. Thanks to everybody that came to the birthday hike that clocked in at around 2.6 miles, chipped in and brought food and their appetites and smiles. Mahalo to the Cantus for hosting and also making too much ono food.

Photos taken by Aida Gordon, Aileen Agustin, Akira Suzuki, Andrew Green, Chico Cantu, Chris Bautista, Jeremy Cannone, Mari Saito, Roger Schiffman, Ryan Nakahara, Tessa Bugay, Val Wang, 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.

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