Plan B for the birthday hike. That seems to be a common theme lately.

Mokuleia

We all gathered off the side of Farrington Highway except one who decided to gather by himself further down the road. Some of us watched the surf across the road to kill time.

Kauhao Pali Trail

The group pushing off into the trail that was initially dominated by tall and itchy California grass.

Kauhao Pali Trail

When illiteracy rears its ugly head. Stay in school kids. Don’t become a dentist.

Kauhao Pali Trail

Making our way through the tree line.

Kauhao Pali Trail

The trail soon took on a steeper slant riddled with assorted shapes and sizes of boulders.

Kauhao Pali Trail

Lurker.

Kauhao Pali Trail

Pushing to the traditional top of the trail where climbers go left to start at the base of the crag.

Kauhao Pali Trail

We continued to the right of the trail to push our way to the top of the cliff.

Kauhao Pali Trail

Tessa climbing up and over jagged and protruding rocks. Theme of the day.

Kauhao Pali Trail

Climbing out of the gully.

Kauhao Pali Trail

Following the “obvious” path of least resistance up the cliff.

Kauhao Pali Trail

Running across our first assistance in the form of a rope that has been here for an indeterminate amount of time.

Kauhao Pali Trail

When you strike out on your own path, you end up working that much harder to get back to the trail. When obvious is not obvious.

Kauhao Pali Trail

The toe bone’s connected to the foot bone, the foot bone’s connected to the ankle bone, the ankle bone’s connected to the leg bone. Just making sure.

Kauhao Pali Trail

Jen standing on the edge.

Kauhao Pali Trail

Marilyn pushing her way up through the grassy slope.

Kauhao Pali Trail

Behind the scenes.

Kauhao Pali Trail

Try, try again.

Kauhao Pali Trail

Some of us went into the ironwood tree line, while the others got a drone fly over courtesy of Gamiao Airlines.

Kauhao Pali Trail

Happiest of birthdays to Quan and Marilyn. Forever 21.

Kauhao Pali Trail

Group photo in the stand of pine trees.

Kauhao Pali Trail

It’s a goat … It’s a bird … It’s an Laysan Albatross.

Kauhao Pali Trail

These large, abundant seabirds were considered to be a good omen by sailors, as it meant that land was nearby. What if we are already on land? Omen past?

Kauhao Pali Trail

We explored further uphill to discover a fenced enclosure similar to the one that wraps around Kaena Point.

Kauhao Pali Trail

Somebody was sure that we could have dropped straight down to the top of Mokuleia Crag. I only had 50′ of webbing. Surprisingly, I had to be the voice of reason.

Kauhao Pali Trail

Which way are we going down? The same tried and true way.

Kauhao Pali Trail

Looking down at Camp Erdman, summer playground to many local kids, including this one.

Kauhao Pali Trail

Rock! My back caught it, thanks.

Kauhao Pali Trail

Tessa climbing her way down.

Kauhao Pali Trail

Lilyn enjoying the view from her perch.

Kauhao Pali Trail

Chico coming down between a rock and a hard place (tree).

Kauhao Pali Trail

Making our way to the top trail.

Kauhao Pali Trail

The rest of the group making their way down the rocky gully.

Kauhao Pali Trail

No cake or crack comments. What cake? What crack?

Kauhao Pali Trail

Ferlino hanging from a tree. Let’s not have a repeat of Utah shall we.

Kauhao Pali Trail

What goes up, must be able to come back down.

Kauhao Pali Trail

Is this one of the 50 climbing routes on the basaltic band of rock?

Kauhao Pali Trail

Who’s photobombing whom?

Kauhao Pali Trail

Will the real rock climbers please stand up?

Mokuleia Wall

Thank you.

Kauhao Pali Trail

Two way traffic as we met other climbers and hikers making their way up.

Kauhao Pali Trail

Somebody has a heart of basaltic rock.

Kauhao Pali Trail

Making our way back to our cars.

Farrington Highway

Our departure was slightly delayed due to the picking of bitter melon (paria) leaves. I hope that the fruits of labor will be shared in a simmering pot later on.

Jerry’s Pizza

Post hike meal where we had pizza, chicken wings, burgers and fries. No onion rings on the menu.

Brown Bottle

I scream, you scream, Chico buys the ice cream.

GPS Tracks

Our surprisingly steep cliff scramble covered 1.4 miles in and out. Thanks to Edgar for suggesting the hike and the rest of the group for the fun birthday adventure in the mountains.

Video by Edgar Gamiao of our Kauhao Pali Hike.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ToUTjPmCjbQ

Photos taken by Aida Gordon, Chico Cantu, Edgar Gamiao, Ferlino Carinio, Jen Odence, Lilyn Avendano, Marilyn Bermudez, Quan Haberstroh, 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.