Met up with the “Japan Fab Four” at Kapolei to start our perimeter walk #10.

Kapolei

Catching the sunrise as we started walking on the old railroad tracks which paralleled Renton Road.

Kapolei

Going to have put a little more elbow grease to get it turning plus generous amounts of WD-40.

Kapolei

Who’s that guy sitting behind the broken railroad car?

Kapolei

Did somebody throw the railroad switch?

Kapolei

We crossed over Fort Barrette Road which was constructed to permit access to the Barbers Point Naval Air Station as we followed an access road which paralleled the train tracks. A steady stream of planes landing and taking off at the airport kept us company.

Kapolei

Santa and his protege. We soon crossed over another road complete railroad crossing gates, that was in the back of Ka Makana Ali’i (royal gift), a sprawling shopping center that opened in 2016.

Kapolei

Chico showing us the proper pushup form and technique.

Hawaiian Railway Society

We soon stumbled onto the rail depot of the Hawaiian Railway Society, which is the only operating railroad museum in the State.

Hawaiian Railway Society

All Aboard! Weekly train rides are operated that run from Ewa to Kahe Point at a lickety-split speed of 15 mph. They even stop for ice cream!

Hawaiian Railway Society

Checking out #85 – which is the only surviving Oahu Railway and Land Company (OR&L) road engine that pulled passenger trains during WW2.

Hawaiian Railway Society

Photo with three out of the four operating locomotives left in the State.

Hawaiian Railway Society

Exploring Parlor Car 64, that was the showpiece of OR&L’s rolling stock. It was built in 1900 for Benjamin Dillingham, the founder of OR&L, for his personal use and to entertain noted guests, amongst whom were members of the Hawaiian royalty.

Hawaiian Railway Society

Kauila 6 was the first locomotive to be operated by OR&L. It now sits at the front of the museum. We left the non-profit organization and continued on the bike path that had roughly 100′ of cobblestones which soon turned into asphalt. I guess they ran out of money.

West Loch Bike Path

Looking both ways before crossing. There might be a train around the bend.

Historic Ewa Villages

Group photo on the mill wheel that serves as the landmark of the storied history of the sugar plantations and the different ethnicities that toiled in the fields and lived here.

West Loch Bike Path

Staying our distance from a colorful rainbow tree that was introduced to the islands in 1929. It was also home to a bee nest.

Betty Nagamine Bliss Overlook

We detoured off the trail to visit the overlook that was built in 2016 to honor the McKinley High School teacher who was instrumental in establishing the Pearl Harbor National Wildlife Refuge.

Betty Nagamine Bliss Overlook

Group photo overlooking the habitat for numerous species of Hawaiian water birds.

West Loch Bike Path

Crossing over Honouliuli Stream that also ran through West Loch Golf Course.

West Loch Bike Path

Standing on the pier that juts into the waters of Pearl Harbor. The piers were built for the State Park.

West Loch Bike Path

Nobody wanted to check out the second pier with me. I guess when you seen one, you seen them all.

West Loch Bike Path

Third pier was off limits due to unsafe conditions. But it was still good enough for a hangout spot.

West Loch Bike Path

I guess the shopping cart races will have to wait.

West Loch Bike Path

Passing the residential area.

West Loch Bike Path

A bridge too far? We soon came across a bridge under construction over Waikele Stream.

West Loch Bike Path

With a little help from my friends.

West Loch Bike Path

The last crossing over Kapakahi Stream was a piece of cake.

All pau

Mahalo to Lilia for picking us up on Waipahu Depot Road and taking us back to Kapolei.

GPS Tracks

Our walk covered only 8.77 miles that covered train tracks, bike paths, and partially built bridges. Fun times with good company. Post hike walk at Outback Steakhouse. Can’t get enough of that clam chowder.

Photos taken by Aida Gordon, Chico Cantu, Mari Saito, 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, Ferlino, Jasmin, and Mari at the parking lot of McDonald’s to start our perimeter walk #9.

Kapolei

The combat medic saved the day for Mari’s shoes when he ran to Home Depot and gorilla glued her soles shut.

Maili

Mahalo to Chico for dropping our group off in the pebbly town that has the highest percentage of Native Hawaiians in Hawai’i.

Farrington Highway

Starting out on what was originally a walking route that connected people from Central and Ewa Beach to the West side. Repeating and walking in history.

Farrington Highway

Walking on the only artery that goes in and out of the Leeward coast and is considered one of the most dangerous stretches of roadway on the island for pedestrians due to its poor design. What are we doing again?

Mike’s Bake Shop

We stopped at this hole in the wall for some delicious morning pastries. This shop among two others was part of a violent robbery spree back in 2017 that all occurred within a 24 hour period.

Ulehawa Stream

The Hawaiian meaning of the stream is “filthy penis.” I guess that’s why its located in a stream, to wash it off.

Nanakuli Super

We stopped at the family owned and operated store since 1973, to browse and came out with candy canes filled with miniature bottles of fireball whisky. I bought one and somehow ended up carrying four.

Farrington Highway

Colorful artwork that covered the utility boxes on the sides of the road.

OR&L

Ferlino standing on the narrow gauge tracks whose trains and whistles have long been silenced.

Nanakuli

Spotted a honu (green sea turtle) bobbing in the rough waters.

Mermaid Cave

Ferlino dropping into Tunnels.

Nanakuli

Can you see the heart for the waves?

Nanakuli

The peeling paint makes it easier to see the heart.

Nanakuli

We followed the shoreline with the crashing waves on our way back out to the highway.

Nanakuli

When is a pillbox not a pillbox?

Nanakuli

Aida watching the surging water come in and out of the sandy cove.

OR&L

We continued our walk until a tree stopped us dead in our tracks.

OR&L

From 1889 until 1947, Oahu Railway & Land Company (OR&L) moved passengers and cargo from Iwilei to Kahuku on its 3 foot railway.

OR&L

First a tree and now a bicycle. Is somebody trying to derail our walk?

OR&L

We detoured and climbed out of the ditch to join back up to Dillingham’s legacy to Oahu’s transportation history.

OR&L

Where there’s a tree, you’ll find Ferlino on it.

OR&L

The girls crossing over a trestle with the Hawaiian Electric (HECO) power plant in the background.

Electric Beach

Group photo at the passive sign that now serves as a backdrop instead of regulating traffic back in the day.

Farrington Highway

We soon got off the tracks as it was leading us towards Ko Olina Resorts, which was formerly called Lanikuhonua (“where heaven meets earth”), and jumped back on the congested highway.

Farrington Highway

This Good Samaritan, a person that helps other people and especially strangers, stopped to ask if we needed assistance as she thought our car had broken down. Bless her heart.

Farrington Highway

Ferlino asked the owner of this rather imposing treehouse if we could climb it. Ask and you shall receive.

Tommy’s Treehouse

Some of us took the long way and others took the more direct approach.

Tommy’s Treehouse

The owner built this faux electric chair as he used to work at the nearby HECO powerplant.

Tommy’s Treehouse

The effort that went into building this treehouse took a period of three years and the attention to detail such as the “barnacles” on the tree limbs, crow’s nest, and the interior finishing’s all paid off for his kids and grandkids enjoyment. And obviously for curious passerby’s such as ourselves.

Tommy’s Treehouse

Leaving the highlight of the walk behind us.

Farrington Highway

Walking parallel against oncoming traffic.

Kalaeloa Blvd

Going down the home stretch where we successfully avoided the merging cars going onto the H1 highway to finish off our walk #9.

All pau

Post hike meal at the nearby Panda’s Express, home of authentic Chinese cuisine. Jasmin showed off her golf ball and thirty-one cents in loose change that she found on the walk. Still not enough to buy her even an eggroll.

GPS Tracks

Our walk covered 10.11 miles that was a mixture of railroad tracks, shoreline and paved roads. A fun day with good company.

Photos taken by Aida Gordon, Allison Banks, Ferlino Carinio, Jasmin Nepomuceno, Mari Saito, 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.