Final Walk around Oahu (Enchanted Lakes to Waimanalo Beach)

We wrapped up our last segment (#17) to complete the second perimeter walk around the island.

Thanks to Akira and Chico for shuttling Allison, Mari, Marilyn, Scott and myself over to the starting point. Tessa also gifted Chico with a Baby Groot in a soda can. Now all we need is the real Groot.

Starting off in the community that sprang from what was once a large fishery sprawled over 280 acres. Developer Joseph Pao with deep political and union connections built residential homes starting in 1959 on over 700 acres around Kaelepulu Pond, which shrank the pond by a third. Further development is being stalled by locals who don’t want to see more homes since they already got their own. NIMBY.

Is there a library fine?

We saw two native waterfowls with the burnt forehead, ‘alae’ula who got its red frontal shield from the demigod Maui when they stole fire to give to humans according to Hawaiian mythology. The larger black crowned herons, ‘auku’u, was waiting patiently on the shore for its chance of catching some fish. Overlooking it all was a nice looking treehouse. Nobody wanted to knock.

Marilyn and Scotty taking a picture while the rest of us were looking at the native birds.

Dance like everyone is watching.

That sistah stay akamai crossing the street with the red hand.

Did we find the rightful owner(s)? We did find Patrick.

Group photo within the 15,000 square feet skate park built in 2002.

Akira and Chico skating like they have no skateboard and vying to be the next Tony Hawk.

Enjoying the ringside seats for the spectator sport.

Graffiti art that is a direct byproduct of urbanization itself.

We love Keolu, but can’t afford to live in this affluent neighborhood.

Meeting Chad Starr who has walked around the island multiple times to raise awareness of youth suicide.

Taking a load off my feet as this walk was extremely exhausting.

Stepping foot on the 36 mile coastal highway that connects Waimanalo to East Oahu.

Dale discussing his financial retirement plans with Jordan. Oh wait, he’s already retired.

Paniolo tryouts in front of the ranch that is missing a vowel.

The pace was too slow for Allison, so she set off on her own pace. The “I have to get back to my kids” pace.

We soon met up with Kenny who had started from Waimanalo and had come empty-handed from his morning toy show.

Can Roseann come out to play? All work and no play makes YawYaw a dull girl.

Nothing to see. Move along. Kahawai means stream in Hawaiian. So you have the Hawaiian and English words side by side.

Perfect timing as it started to briefly rain, so we ducked into the store that has fallen to another buyout by a bigger store, namely Times Supermarket. We tried some of the poke and was stuck in the line when the uncle was berated by the cashier on not knowing how to use his EBT card despite being a frequent shopper.

The group wandered over next door to see what was so crazy about the pop up sale.

We found expired but still edible knock offs, tart lemonade and awesome artwork on the walls.

Crossing the highway in search of ice cream.

We found the ice, but not the cream.

Can you see the hole for the hikers?

Everybody took their own way to get back on the road.

Met up with CB who had hiked Lulumahu Falls earlier this morning.

Dale frolics with the dolphins in and out of the water.

Passing vehicles were honking at us for either friendly greetings or get off the road greetings.

Group photo in front of the 437 acre installation used for recreation and training.

Chico scored a free shirt from his food truck buddy, Dustin “Dut” Leandro. Does that come with a meal as well?

Passing by the 27 acre field that is home to the player’s club that was founded in 1986. Polo itself is Persian in origin and was introduced to the islands in 1886 by the British.

Leaving the highway as we made for Sherwoods Forest, named due to the dense ironwood trees that seem straight out of a Robin Hood fairy tale.

Looking out at the buoyant seabird sanctuary framed by the ironwood trees that were imported to the islands in the 1870s.

Some danced the day away while others ate their pork adobo.

We left the powdery white coral sand to pound the pavement again.

Can the hobbits come out to play?

Interior photos by Sotheby’s International Realty of the 3,300 square foot slice of Middle Earth. In 2020, it was listed for sale at $3.7 million dollars. Any buyers?

Exterior photo by 808 Random Hikers Sandwich Islands Realty. Price is still a nickel, even adjusted for inflation.

Walking the back roads of the potable water community.

Stopping at one of 67 convenience stores in the islands; where we looked around and somebody got pantsed. Indecent exposure was thankfully avoided. We left before they had to escort us off the premises.

Walking on yielding grass as we entered the home stretch of the walk. It was actually more like a hop, skip and a jump.

Finished before lunch time. Yay!

Congratulations to Mari for completing the island perimeter walks both clockwise and counter-clockwise.

Can you guess what Dale and Chico are doing?

I had heard so much about this lunch wagon’s frickn chicken, that I had to have it for lunch. The rest of the group with the exception of Chico decided to hold out for something more promising.

Sorry guys, the wait is almost an hour. I was half expecting somebody to jump up and say f*ck that! I can cook my own food! Everybody else had lunch at the nearby L&L Hawaiian Barbeque where the wait was more tolerable and gratifying. Edgar also joined us for lunch. Nearby Waipuna Sushi threatened to bring flashbacks.

Our final walk covered 6.38 miles with good company and fun times.

Photos/Crew taken by Aida Gordon, Akira Suzuki, Alexis Catarina, Allison Banks, Ani Lagpacan, Chico Cantu, Chris Bautista, Cristy CM, Dale Yoshizu, Ferlino Carinio, Jordan Baird, Kenny Lui, Mari Saito, Marilyn Bermudez, Roger Schiffman, 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.

Tagged as: bellows air force station, enchanted lakes, hobbit house, honolulu polo club, Hunananiho, keolu hills skateboard park, sherwoods forest, waimanalo