Met up at the aviation hub that was in danger of being shuttered until the State was granted a 50-year lease last year from the US Army.

Makua Cave

Thanks to Jeremy and Roger who shuttled us from Dillingham Airfield to Kaneana Cave.

Makua Cave

Group photo to kick off our walk.

Farrington Highway

Looking at the cave that wasn’t meant to be explored today due to various reasons.

Farrington Highway

Edgar had the right mode of transportation today.

Farrington Highway

Checking out a drainage pipe. Lucky it wasn’t raining today. We didn’t want to get washed out to sea.

Farrington Highway

Drone time.

Keawa’ula Bay

Entering the Kaena Point State Park. This area is more commonly known as Yokohama Bay, one of the stories of how this place got its name was that Japanese laborers landed on this very beach to build the OR&L train tracks that wrapped around the island in 1897.

US Space Force

Live long and prosper. Despite some trekkers claiming that the logo for the newly minted branch of the US military was a copy of the Star Trek logo, the delta symbol was first used by the US Army Airforce in 1942. So it seems that Star Trek copied the military and not the other way around.

Keawa’ula Bay

Walking on the last sandy stretch of beach on the west side.

Kaena Point State Park

Can you see the heart for the hole in the ground?

Kaena Point State Park

A different view of the “heart” that perhaps was “stolen” in the love triangle legend between Pele, Hi’iaka, and Lohiau.

Kaena Point State Park

Testing out Edgar’s e-bike. Did it spark interest to purchase one? Roger joked I could do the entire KST with such a bicycle. Watt a bright idea!

Kaena Point State Park

Checking out a seal basking on the rocky shoreline.

Kaena Point State Park

That’s not the arch we’re looking for on this trail.

Kaena Point State Park

Somebody was so impatient.

Kaena Point State Park

Group photo at the arch, which is a favorite among rock boulderers.

Kaena Point State Park

Taking the high road as nobody wanted to contour along the rocky shoreline.

Kaena Point Natural Area Reserve

Entering through the predator-proof fence that protects 59 acres that are home to seabirds and native plants.

Kaena Point Natural Area Reserve

Walking through one of the last intact dune ecosystem in the islands.

Kaena Point Natural Area Reserve

Sightings of wedge-tailed shearwater and Laysan albatrosses.

Kaena Point Natural Area Reserve

Seeking shade in the concrete pyramidal tower that was erected in 1919 and fell victim to erosion in 1990.

Kaena Point Natural Area Reserve

Two questions. Who wrote that message and whom is it for? Anybody sitting in close proximity?

Kaena Point Natural Area Reserve

Walking around the tide pools.

Kaena Point Natural Area Reserve

Group photo with the current lighthouse.

Kaena Point Natural Area Reserve

Walking the sandy corridor as we made our way out.

Kaena Point Natural Area Reserve

The albatross has one of the largest wingspan of any living bird, reaching a span of close to seven feet. Dwarfed only by the Wandering Albatross, whose wingspan can reach between 8 to 11′.

Kaena Point Natural Area Reserve

Passing the Spirit Leap Rock or leina a ka ‘uhane on our way out.

Kaena Point State Park

Edgar waiting for us as we exited the fenced reserve. Perfect timing.

Kaena Point State Park

Walking our way on the rocky and rugged coastline.

Kaena Point State Park

Never turn your back on the ocean. Unless it’s for a photo opportunity.

Kaena Point State Park

One was fishing and one was camping.

Kaena Point State Park

Fish of a scale swim together.

Kaena Point State Park

We think big and we dream big. It’s all a dream. Welcome back to reality.

Kaena Point State Park

Staying our distance as we saw one of 400 monk seals thought to inhabit these islands.

Kaena Point State Park

Yielding to 4×4 trucks making their way on the bumpy road.

Kaena Point State Park

No sign of Hawaii’s native yellow-faced bees, which look more like black wasps than the European honeybees. They are crucial pollinators for the native plants and without them, the ecosystem could collapse.

Kaena Point State Park

Somebody commented that the trail route was “stupid.” To each their own.

Kaena Point State Park

Remnants of the railroad tracks and trestles that used to run from Iwilei to Kahuku. The 1946 tsunami damaged the tracks, although repaired, never recovered due to the growth of automobile traffic which shifted the mode of transportation in the islands.

Kaena Point State Park

There is a distinct difference between an arch and a puka. Case in point.

Kaena Point State Park

Somebody didn’t get the standing memo.

Kaena Point State Park

Trading the sandy road for hard asphalt.

All pau

Walking back to our cars parked at Kawaihapai (Dillingham) Airfield and the end of our blistering walk.

GPS Tracks

Our eighth walk around the island covered 10.9 miles in “the heat” that were tempered with intermittent clouds and breezy winds with good company. Post hike meal at Julie’Z, where somebody was asked if they don’t eat Filipino food, as they brought their own tuna salad.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4x6_8EIn7TE

Video by Edgar Gamiao of our walk #8.

Photos taken by Aida Gordon, Akira Suzuki, Alexis Catarina, Edgar Gamiao, Jeremy Cannone, Mari Saito, 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.

Met up with Aida, Allison, Mari, Mona and Tessa at Dillingham Airfield for our perimeter walk#7 around the island.

Dillingham Airfield

Group photo at missed opportunities.

Farrington Hwy

Entering the remote coastline park.

Kaena Point State Park

The team building rope course. Do we need supervision? Adult supervision?

Camp Erdman

Passing by the YMCA camp that was built back in 1926.

Kaena Point State Park

Entering the area that is restricted to 4×4 vehicles with free permits or 2×2 with no permits.

Kaena Point State Park

Allison suggested the scenic coastal trail instead of the monotonous jeep road. Good choice.

Kaena Point State Park

I’m glad we left our 4×4 trucks at home.

Kaena Point State Park

Passing fishermen on the sandy dunes.

Kaena Point State Park

Looking at a train trestle, remnants from the narrow gauge railroad tracks that was built by the Oahu Railway and Land Company back in 1889.

Kaena Point State Park

Mona trying to look natural. Nothing worse than a forced pose.

Kaena Point State Park

Hawaiian monk seal basking on the beach. These mammals are endangered and endemic to the islands. They got their name from their short hairs on their head which resembles a monk.

Kaena Point State Park

Somebody is not a morning mammal.

Kaena Point State Park

Going slightly off trail.

Kaena Point State Park

I think I can, I think I can, I think I can.

Kaena Point State Park

Passing a rocky cove where I was encouraged to climb down and stand on a spit of a rock. I’m easily manipulated.

Kaena Point State Park

360 degree photo of the rocky cove.

Kaena Point Natural Area Reserve

Entering the reserve that was established in 1983 to protect one of the last intact dune ecosystem in the islands.

Kaena Point Natural Area Reserve

Looking at what I believe is the Leina ka ‘Uhane rock, where recently departed souls would take the plunge into the ocean on their way to heaven.

Kaena Point Natural Area Reserve

Observing a pair of nesting Laysan albatross and a chick preparing for fledging, where they exercise their impressive six foot wingspans for their maiden voyage out to sea.

Kaena Point Natural Area Reserve

Walking on the sandy trail with Kaena Point Ridge in the background.

Kaena Point Natural Area Reserve

Approaching the old and the new lighthouse in the loosest sense of the word. The fallen one that was built in 1919, fell victim to vandalism and was toppled circa 1987.

Kaena Point Natural Area Reserve

Seeking sheltered shade from the sweltering sun. This place is after all called, the heat for good reason.

Allison’s White Coral Beach

Allison may have got the credit, but Tessa got the photo.

Kaena Point Natural Area Reserve

A chick with incomplete molting of its feathers, giving it an appearance of an old bird.

Kaena Point Natural Area Reserve

Exiting the predator-proof fence that was constructed back in 2011 to protect endemic fauna and flora.

Kaena Point State Park

Let’s go this way! Guys?

Kaena Point State Park

Tessa checking out one of the rocky coves that dot the shoreline.

Kaena Point State Park

The others took the high road.

Kaena Point State Park

Walking on the train tracks of history that once ran from Iwilei to Kahuku. The Aluetian Islands earthquake of 1946 spawned a tsunami that destroyed some of the tracks that was rebuilt, but the sugar workers strike of the same year and the rising use of cars lead the company to shut down operations in 1947. Parts of the railroad still saw use by shipyards, tourists and the military until the 1970s. Today, a small section of the rail in Ewa is maintained and operated by the State and the Hawaiian Railway Society.

Kaena Point State Park

Arch your backs for the arch photo!

Kaena Point State Park

Hello from the other side.

Kaena Point State Park

Mona taking in the picturesque views of the rugged Keawa’ula side of the coastline.

Kaena Point State Park

I thought vehicular access was prohibited? Maybe they want to see the coastline from a tumbled and upside down point of view. The driver did compliment my t-shirt by uttering “New Zealand. Yassss.” in the best surfer stoner voice this side of Fast Times at Ridgemont High.

Kaena Point State Park

We’re not done yet?

Kaena Point State Park

We left our hearts at Kaena Point.

Kaena Point Space Force Station

Live long and prosper. Get some crazy glue for the girl on the left. Despite the logo for the Space Force appearing to have boldly gone where Star Trek went before, this was based on earlier Air Force Designs. So no George Takei, you will not be getting any royalties. I also messaged our pickup, Jason who was not responding. Oh oh.

Farrington Hwy

Did one of you guys drop something? I also called Chris, who luckily was not hiking and getting over a hangover. Pickup secured.

Farrington Hwy

What goes in.

Farrington Hwy

Must come out.

Farrington Hwy

Shoefie view of the drainage pipe.

Farrington Hwy

Group photo on the pipe wall.

Makua Military Reservation

Passing by the 760 acres that the US Army back in 1964 paid the State of Hawaii a dollar to lease the land for 65 years. Talk about a steal, literally and figuratively. The Army wants to keep the valley for training and others want them out when the lease ends in 2029. The history of this valley for military training stretches back to the 1920s, when WW2 struck the islands, the military took total control of the valley and promised that when the war was over, the land would be returned. Broken promises.

Kaneana Cave

Entering the 150,000 year old cave that was formed by sea erosion and is roughly 100′ high and 450′ deep.

Kaneana Cave

Exploring the upper and lower tunnels of the cave.

Kaneana Cave

Hawaiian legend has it that this cave used to be the home to Nanaue, the Shark God that developed an appetite for human flesh. He would lure unsuspecting travelers into the cave and then kill them and leave them to rot for three weeks before making a meal of them. He was eventually caught and killed.

Kaneana Cave

Another story is that the Hawaiian syndicate used to dispose of their victims here. Their spirits are supposed to still roam and haunt this area.

Kaneana Cave

Hawaiian chanting soon filled the cave chambers which slightly delayed our departure.

Kaneana Cave

Last group photo of the day as we waited for Chris to pick us up. Mahalo again CB!

GPS Tracks

Our hot as heck hike that took us around the island covered 11.12 miles with a fun group. Allison was late for church so she took her hurried leave of us. Post hike meal at Sakura Restaurant, entertainment included.

Photos taken by Aida Gordon, Allison Banks, Mari Saito, Monaliza Guillermo, 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.