Walk around Oahu (Koko Marina to Dillingham Fountain)

by kenji SAITO on November 3, 2024

Walk around Oahu (Koko Marina to Dillingham Fountain)

Decided to keep nice and dry and stay off the mountains this weekend. We would still get a little wet on our perimeter walk today.

Taco Bell

Taco Bell

Met up with Aida, Alexis, Akira, Chico, Deborah, Ferlino, Mari, Marilyn, Robin, Roger, and Tessa at one of the franchise restaurants founded in 1962 by Glenn Bell in California.

Koko Marina Center

Koko Marina Center

The group cutting through the shopping center founded in 1963. Some of them needed a caffeine start to the morning.

Starbucks

Starbucks

Will that be a tall, grande, venti or trenta size? Just a fancy way of paying more bucks for Starbucks coffee.

Koko Marina Center

Koko Marina Center

The guys keeping themselves entertained with a free hand puppet show. Doesn’t take much.

Hawaii Kai Marina Bridge

Hawaii Kai Marina Bridge

Aida and Roger taking photos over the bridge that allows maritime traffic to travel to and from the salt-water marina.

Maunalua Bay

Maunalua Bay

Caught a glimpse of morning paddlers making their way across the bay that was once home to the largest fishpond on Oahu, until it was filled and developed for the current housing development called Hawaii Kai.

Kuli'ou'ou Beach Park

Kuli’ou’ou Beach Park

We detoured off the highway to go through the family friendly beach park.

Paiko Lagoon

Paiko Lagoon

Following the trail as we entered the bird sanctuary established in 1974.

Paiko Lagoon

Paiko Lagoon

Time to leave the sandy beach and get our feet wet.

Paiko Lagoon

Paiko Lagoon

I look the part, but I don’t think I can pull it off.

Paiko Lagoon

Paiko Lagoon

It’s not that deep!

Paiko Lagoon

Paiko Lagoon

The rest of the stragglers wading into the water.

Paiko Lagoon

Paiko Lagoon

Joining up with the rest of the group that took the longer but shallower route to dry land. Are we still getting wet?

Paiko Lagoon

Paiko Lagoon

One of these are not a real couple.

Paiko Lagoon

Paiko Lagoon

Passing a family of fishermen as we continued to wade in the waters while the rest of the group decided to plunge in the overgrowth and stay dry.

Paiko Lagoon

Paiko Lagoon

The breath of life about to be washed away by the ocean.

Paiko Lagoon

Paiko Lagoon

Drying our feet out while we waited for the rest of the group to join us.

Paiko Lagoon

Paiko Lagoon

Looking back at the historic fishpond named after a Portuguese whaler, Manuel De Pico (Paiko).

Kalanianaole Highway

Kalanianaole Highway

We got ourselves a parking garage and no car and nowhere to go.

Niu Stream Bridge

Niu Stream Bridge

Crossing over the bridge that discharges the waters flowing down from Pia and Kupaua Valleys into the ocean.

Kalanianaole Highway

Kalanianaole Highway

Rolling resistance was pretty low on the sidewalk.

Calvary by the Sea

Calvary by the Sea

Exchanging hiking vows.

Aina Haina McDonald's

Aina Haina McDonald’s

Ferlino having a slice of ube bread ala mode soft serve ice cream at the first McDonald’s in Hawaii that opened in 1968 and was brought here by Maurice Sullivan, founder of Foodland.

Aina Haina McDonald's

Aina Haina McDonald’s

Fishing for recognition.

Kalanianaole Hwy

Kalanianaole Hwy

Chico twirling the flag in the middle of the highway. Stay in the crosswalk!

Kalanianaole Hwy

Kalanianaole Hwy

Shadows on the sidewalk.

Kalanianaole Hwy

Kalanianaole Hwy

We didn’t have any signs, so we just engaged in flag waving. It must be election year.

Kalanianaole Hwy

Kalanianaole Hwy

Now we have a sign! Are those cheers or jeers from the passing motorists?

Kalanianaole Hwy

Kalanianaole Hwy

Leaving the highway for greener pastures aka Waialae Country Club, where a paltry $52,000 will get your golf club on the green.

Aloha Island Mart

Aloha Island Mart

It’s never too early to start drinking for some people.

Kahala Ave

Kahala Ave

Shopping cart + flag waver = Trump supporter?

Kahala Ave

Kahala Ave

Halloween has not left the house.

Kahala Ave

Kahala Ave

Ferlino pushing another Trump supporter down the road. Vote Trump! MAGA!

Kahala Ave

Kahala Ave

Marilyn next to an anatomically correct skeleton? 206 bones?

Kahala Ave

Kahala Ave

Social experiment. We hung out for over 20 minutes in the upscale residential area with no sign of the boys in blue. The luxury neighborhood was once home to cattle and pig farms back in the 1800s. The upper crust later decided to gentrify the area and all the farms were shut down. From sloppy to swanky.

Kahala Ave

Kahala Ave

Sitting room only. How many people can fit in a Big Agnes Fly Creek tent? Apparently seven of us. Five over the limit.

Kahala Ave

Kahala Ave

Alexis doing her best to look terrified. Don’t quit your day job.

Fort Ruger Park

Fort Ruger Park

Ferlino waving the flag at the spot known as “Triangle Park” for obvious reasons but was renamed Fort Ruger the Operation Red Wings Medal of Honor Park back in 2008 on Veteran’s Day, to honor the Pearl Harbor based SEALs who perished in 2005 in Afghanistan and Hawaii Medal of Honor recipients.

Diamond Head Rd

Diamond Head Rd

A couple of surfers going down to Diamond Head Beach to catch some waves at the surf breaks known as Cliffs and Lighthouse. We’ll just continue walking on the pathway known as Diamond Head Road.

Diamond Head Rd

Diamond Head Rd

Going out on a limb. Literally.

Diamond Head Rd

Diamond Head Rd

The guys hanging out in a tree, their favorite past time.

Diamond Head Rd

Diamond Head Rd

Passing by the navigational aid that was built in 1899 and whose red light can be seen 17 nautical miles from the shoreline.

Leahi Beach Park

Leahi Beach Park

Happy Birthday Roger! Tried not to make a fuss over your special day.

Seawall

Seawall

Following the walkway that connects the two beach parks as the ocean continues its slow and steady erosion of the rock wall.

Makalei Beach Park

Makalei Beach Park

Leaving the small park that was home to people sunning themselves rather than surfing out at the breaks known as Graveyards and Suicides.

All pau

All pau

We ended at the Dillingham Fountain that was built in 1967 and apparently is under renovation as the lights and water pumps are not working. Deborah went off to swim with the turtles and tourists. The rest of us got shuttled back to our cars by Akira and Robin.

GPS Tracks

GPS Tracks

Our second perimeter walk was made with the “dirty dozen” that covered roughly 10.15 miles. Fun group, the more the merrier as they say.

Post hike meal

Post hike meal

Late lunch at Tex808 where catching food with your mouth is more entertaining than just eating with your mouth.

Photos taken by Aida Gordon, Akira Suzuki, Alexis Catarina, Chico Cantu, Deborah Tom, Ferlino Carinio, Mari Saito, Marilyn Bermudez, Robin Farr, Roger Schiffman, 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.

{ 0 comments }

Poamoho Cabin (Falls)

October 26, 2024
Thumbnail image for Poamoho Cabin (Falls)

An upper level disturbance brought heavy rain and disturbed our camping and hiking plans this weekend. Aida, Chico, Jeremy, Roger and myself met up with Anne-Marie, Jenny, Emi and Akio at the base of HMR and then we all piled into Chico’s truck for the ride up. The drive up the six mile jeep road […]

Read the full article →

Walk around Oahu (Waimanalo Beach to Koko Marina)

October 20, 2024
Thumbnail image for Walk around Oahu (Waimanalo Beach to Koko Marina)

Due to popular demand, does two people count? The perimeter walk around the island was re-started. Clockwise. Mahalo to Ferlino who picked up Aida, Akira, Mari, Robin, Tessa and myself from Taco Bell and shuttled us to the area that was probably one of the first spots on the island explored by Polynesians, where Dave […]

Read the full article →

Kalauao Falls (Birthday Hike)

October 13, 2024
Thumbnail image for Kalauao Falls (Birthday Hike)

It was that time of year that we all gathered again to celebrate Mr. Lawrence Murray’s another year around the sun or is that rainbow? Shout out to Aileen, Menchie, Mona and Sandra for arriving early to secure our spot and for decorating the picnic shelter. The girls testing out the party blowers. All those […]

Read the full article →

Kalihi Saddle (Powerlines) to Alewa Heights

October 6, 2024
Thumbnail image for Kalihi Saddle (Powerlines) to Alewa Heights

A friend came out of his hiking hibernation to start wrapping up loose ends on the KST. Slight exaggeration. Just slight. Thanks to Ferlino for dropping Akira, Chico, Ryan, Scott and myself off to the starting point where we met up with Aileen to round out today’s group. Walking up the service road used by […]

Read the full article →

Opae’ula Cabin (Army Cabin)

September 28, 2024
Thumbnail image for Opae’ula Cabin (Army Cabin)

The cabin is calling and we must go. Met up with Akira, Chico, Mari and Tessa for another weekend adventure in the mountains. We dialed in the lock combination and closed the gate as we left civilization behind us. Group photo at the start when we are all nice and clean. Hugging the uluhe carpeted […]

Read the full article →

Manana to Waimano

September 22, 2024
Thumbnail image for Manana to Waimano

Met up with Aida, Akira, Chico, Roger, and Scott who kept me company in the mountains as I continued to connect the dots ad nauseam. We all showed up before the crying cats to start our early morning hike. Hey, where’s Chico? Passing multiple tents camped out by the picnic shelter. Akira going underneath the […]

Read the full article →

Lualualei Lookout

September 15, 2024
Thumbnail image for Lualualei Lookout

In search of a relatively “easy” welcome back home, we settled on what was named Waimanalo 1/2 Ramble which took us to Lualualei Lookout in the end. Thanks to Susan for the beta and suggestion. Met up at Waianae Steve’s house where he graciously allowed us to park outside his house and Jasmin was nice […]

Read the full article →

Houston-Cusco (Cuzco)

August 31, 2024
Thumbnail image for Houston-Cusco (Cuzco)

Day 1 Our bags were packed for an adventure that was many years in the making, one that was delayed by the manufactured COVID pandemic that swept the globe in 2020. We arrived at the airport that opened in 1969, the year that man first landed on the moon. It is also the only airport […]

Read the full article →

Manoa Falls to Maikiki Valley

August 25, 2024
Thumbnail image for Manoa Falls to Maikiki Valley

Hurricane Hone which eventually dissipated into a tropical storm but was still lashing the islands with torrential rain aborted my KST hike, so I met up with Aida and Roger, Akira and Tessa, David and Susan, and Scott to do a relatively “safer” hike in the rain. Even Chico showed up due to him mistaking […]

Read the full article →