Met up with Aida, Akira, Chico, David, Ferlino, Mari, Roger, Rose, Susan, Tessa, and Val to do our first hike (walk) of the year. The dirty dozen, well not today.

Mapunapuna

Group photo as we left the industrial area that is prone to flooding during high tides and parts of the land has already sunk 4-5 feet. The city promised to fix the problem in 2008. Here we are in 2025. I guess another problem is that Damon Estates sold this chunk of land that is leased to 137 different tenants on 186 separate parcels to a mainland property firm back in 2003. Passing the buck.

Nimitz Highway

Akira in front of one of American’s most iconic motorcycle brand next to Indian motorcycles.

Nimitz Highway

Fish out of water. Surfboard out of water.

Ualena Street

Approaching one of many humpback murals painted by Robert Wyland in 1985.

Aolele Street

Visiting the site where a Kamaka Air plane crashed into this unoccupied building on December 17, 2024, missing the fuel farm, rail and nearby occupied buildings. Unfortunately the two pilots, Hiram Defries and Preston Kaluhiwa lost their lives in the accident.

Dunkin’ Doughnuts

Stopping at one of the 12,900 locations to have coffee, donuts and breakfast at one of the largest coffee shop and donut restaurants in the world.

Nimitz Highway

Chico made sure that Akira got his whistle wet.

Nimitz Highway

The group waiting for the red light to change. I heard that its timed to force cars to stop every 300′ to stop speeding but does nothing for managed traffic flow.

Nimitz Highway

Passing a HFD training dummy or perhaps it was a chronic sleeping it off.

Nimitz Highway

We approached the foot bridge while keeping a wide berth of the cat lady and her cats.

Main Street Foot Bridge

Group photo on the bridge that provides safe passage over the highway.

Hokulani

The two military veterans climbed the most stable tree in the military housing area.

Kamehameha Highway

You can never find a crosswalk when you need one.

Kamehameha Highway

Chico and Ferlino examining the artwork on one of the rail columns up close. Each column depicts something related to the area and was all designed by Daniel Kanekuni. Some in the community had a beef and said they should have been designed by people that have Hawaiian blood.

Kamehameha Highway

Where one goes, two will surely follow.

Kamehameha Highway

Looking for a surfer or a homeless person.

Pearl Harbor Memorial

Group photo at the memorial that honors the sailors that lost their lives in the December 7, 1941 attack from Japan. The Arizona memorial was actually the idea of Robert Ripley, of Ripley’s Believe it or Not! fame in 1948.

Pearl Harbor Memorial

These were the only boats we were going to see today.

Pearl Harbor Memorial

If you can’t stand the water, get out of the boat.

Kamehameha Highway

Ferlino engaging in a Filipino childhood past time.

Pearl Harbor Bike Path

We soon traded the highway for the bike path that had its genesis back in 2001 as we passed underneath the Moanalua Freeway.

Pearl Harbor Bike Path

Crossing over Aiea Stream.

Pearl Harbor Bike Path

Paralleling the stream that separates the bike path from the residential homes.

Pearl Harbor Bike Path

Going over a wooden bridge that straddles Kalauao Stream.

Pearl Harbor Bike Path

Finding out how many human hamsters can fit on a non-rotating tire.

Best Buy

Stopping at one of 1,125 locations of the consumer electronics big box stores to use the bathrooms, check out the latest VR gadgets and cool off. No laptops were purchased on this walk.

Pearl Harbor Bike Path

Our last bridge crossing over Waimalu Stream.

Neal S. Blaisdell Park

Group photo at the Peace Bell that was donated and constructed by Japanese craftsmen and sponsored by Buddhist Bishop Ekan Ikeguchi on the 50th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor.

Pearl Harbor Bike Path

Does this shower have hot water?

Pearl Harbor Bike Path

Passing through HECO’s Waiau Power Plant that was built in 1937.

Pearl Harbor Bike Path

A couple questions popped into my head as we passed this taro and watercress farm. 1) What is too late next week? 2) Why is mama lonely and what kind of visit are we talking about? 3) We passed all these signs warning us not to eat any fish caught in these waters, does this not apply to this farm as well?

Pearl Harbor Bike Path

Chico hanging onto the shoe tree after he pulled down the dead fronds to better frame his predicament.

Pearl Harbor Bike Path

No good deed goes unpunished did not apply in this case, as the farmer came out to give Chico a bag of freshly plucked lilikoi for pulling down the dead fronds. Did these passion fruits grow in the same water?

Pearl Harbor Bike Path

Back on the trail after crossing over Lehua Avenue.

Pearl Harbor Bike Path

Graffiti on one of the buildings that borders the path.

Pearl Harbor Bike Path

I was wrong. One more bridge crossing. But this one wasn’t over a stream, just a marsh or pond.

Pearl Harbor Bike Path

Always one in the crowd. Can’t follow directions.

Pearl Harbor Bike Path

Looking at naval ships anchored in Middle Loch.

Waipio Pt Access Road

Crossing the heavily trafficked road to get back on the bike path that also borders the Ted Makalena Golf Course.

Pearl Harbor Bike Path

A lawn mower with a missing wheel apparently does not work as well as a shopping cart.

All pau

The bike path soon terminated at Waipahu Depot Road which did not mark the end of our walk as we still had over a mile to walk back to our staged cars. Mileage may vary depending on whom you asked.

GPS Tracks

Our fourth segment of the perimeter walk covered 13.7 miles with a fun group. Post hike meal at Kunio Japanese Restaurant. This place is not “real” Japanese per the Hapon. Thanks to Ferlino, Rose, Aida and Roger for shuttle services.

Photos taken by Aida Gordon, Akira Suzuki, Chico Cantu, David Katz, Ferlino Carinio, Mari Saito, Roger Schiffman, Rose Tsuru, Susan Katz, Tessa Bugay, Val Wang, 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.

Our hike in the mountains got rescheduled, so it was back to the pavement for our perimeter walk #11.

Waipahu

Mahalo to Chico for dropping Aida, Aileen, Akira, Lilyn, Mari, Ryan, Tessa, and myself off on Waipahu Depot Street.

Pearl Harbor Bike Path

Walking on the bike path where we soon passed the HFD Waipahu Maintenance Facility and Ted Makalena Golf Course that opened in 1971.

Pearl Harbor Bike Path

Sharing the path with bicyclists and stray dogs. Luckily, one of them didn’t bite.

Pearl Harbor Bike Path

Looking out towards the Middle Loch of Pearl Harbor that are home to 13 mothballed naval ships.

Pearl Harbor Bike Path

Yielding to two-wheeled and four-wheeled traffic.

Pearl Harbor Bike Path

Boarding the bus to shorten our time on the path.

Pearl Harbor Bike Path

Exact change only. Get behind the yellow line!

Pearl Harbor Bike Path

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas.

Pearl Harbor Bike Path

Crossing over Waiawa Stream.

Pearl Harbor Bike Path

Passing the community project that is working to restore the coastline through education and engagement.

Pearl Harbor Bike Path

We crossed over Lehua Avenue to continue on the path and passed a marker that stated 11 miles to Honolulu Depot in Iwilei, which was the old train depot of the Oahu Railway and Land Company (OR&L).

Pearl Harbor Bike Path

Measuring up to one of two shoe trees, unlike its arboreal brethren on the mainland, these shoes are nailed to the tree trunk instead of dangling from the branches.

Pearl Harbor Bike Path

Mixed messages or perhaps complementary in a patch of taro and watercress plants.

Pearl Harbor Bike Path

Passing the HECO Waiau Power Plant that started generating power for the island back in 1938.

Pearl Harbor Bike Path

Catch and release?

Pearl Harbor Bike Path

Akira enjoying the views of East Loch.

Japanese Peace Bell

We detoured off the path to visit the wooden pavilion located on the edge of Neal Blaisdell Park, that was built entirely from interlocking lumber using no nails by two craftsmen from Japan.

Japanese Peace Bell

Group photo with the bell that was donated by the Buddhist Bishop Ekan Ikeguchi of Kagoshima, Japan in 1991 to mark the 50th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor.

Best Buy

We dropped into one of 1,138 stores to enjoy some air conditioned air, use the bathrooms and pick up a laptop.

Pearl Harbor Bike Path

Somebody had the bright idea of stuffing the laptop in their backpack. Somebody ended up carrying the laptop for the remainder of the walk.

Pearl Harbor Bike Path

Akira trying to channel his inner hamster. Epic fail.

Pearl Harbor Bike Path

I guess it was hot for some.

Pearl Harbor Bike Path

Going underneath Moanalua Freeway, that was surprisingly devoid of homeless encampments.

Pearl Harbor Bike Path

Detouring around the fenced compound that is home to the COMPACFLT Boathouse.

Pearl Harbor Bike Path

Climbing and hanging onto the tree branch as we channeled our inner Ferlino.

Kamehameha Highway

Why did the hikers cross the road? To avoid getting run over.

Halawa View Apartments

Life imitating art. The mural in the background that covers one side of the 14-story building depicts Hina, the Hawaiian moon goddess, who was believed to have guided sailors with the moon and the stars.

Kamehameha Highway

Crossing over Halawa Stream. Always one in the crowd.

Kamehameha Highway

How the Grinch stole Christmas. So much for giving other people’s laptop to those in need.

Kamehameha Highway

Walking underneath the largest public works project in the State’s history. Today, it was at least good for shade. $54 per person.

Kamehameha Highway

Hitchhiker. Thumb is not big enough.

Kamehameha Highway

Trying to avoid being roadkill.

Nimitz Highway

Walking underneath Hawaii’s busiest highway and the not ready for prime time Skyline.

Nimitz Highway

Traffic mirror group selfie.

Big Kahuna’s Pizza

Who said there’s no such thing as a free lunch? Not the dentist. Hai! Hai! Arigatou Gozaimasu!

Nimitz Highway

It’s not a shopping cart, but beggars can’t be choosers.

Nimitz Highway

Unattended cart.

Nimitz Highway

Does this have a seat belt?

Nimitz Highway

Trying to make short work of our walk back to the yard.

Nimitz Highway

Pushing maximum load capacity.

All pau

Akira practicing catch and release on our way back to the cars.

GPS Tracks

Our eleventh walk around the island covered 11.2 miles through the urbanized parts of the island with a fun group. Back in the yard, we spent an inordinate amount of time transferring photos to each other. Some of us drove to Magnolia Ice Cream & Treats in Kalihi for refreshing Halo-Halo dessert to cool us down from our walk.

Photos taken by Aida Gordon, Aileen Agustin, Akira Suzuki, Chico Cantu, Lilyn Avendano, Mari Saito, Ryan Nakahara, 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 Allison, Chico, Ferlino, Laredo and Tessa at the Neal Blaisdell Park to explore some spots around the island. Thanks to Scott for the beta on some of these places.

Pearl Harbor Historic Trail

Sharing the path with bicyclists. The trail began as an ambitious venture under Mayor Harris back in 2001 to revitalize the shoreline communities by upgrading the existing bike path and extending it all the way to Nanakuli. Sad to say, it stalled and died a quiet death due to low priority and lack of interest.

Pearl Harbor Historic Trail

East Loch views.

Pearl Harbor Historic Trail

I Tawt I Taw a Puddy Tat.

Pearl Harbor Historic Trail

Passing by the HECO Waiau Power Plant that was built back in 1938.

Pearl Harbor Historic Trail

The boys keeping their balancing skills in line.

Pearl Harbor Historic Trail

Will the real scarecrow stand up in the middle of the taro and watercress patches. The sign we just had passed warned about contaminated fish and shellfish. No connection?

Pearl Harbor Historic Trail

We saw a member of the local chapter of Broke Ass Angels.

Pearl Harbor Historical Trail

Where there is a tree, there will be Ferlino.

Pearl Harbor Historical Trail

The home of extra ballots and ballots for the dead. Democracy at work.

Pearl Harbor Historical Trail

I guess it’s better than throwing them over power and telephone lines.

Drainage Canal

Dropping down into the network of over 670 miles of underground pipes and channels that discharge directly into the coastal waters to prevent flooding in built up areas.

Drainage Canal

Walking through the unfiltered runoff water and debris.

Drainage Canal

A race of one.

Drainage Canal

Pray that a sudden discharge doesn’t eject you from the pipe. That would be actually funny.

Drainage Canal

Flying flock of birds.

Drainage Canal

Tessa picked some seed pods from a nearby Pithecellobium Dulce tree. Supposedly good for treating diabetes among other things.

Drainage Canal

Tossed a Tupperware container to a lady on the bridge behind us. Thought she was a crazy cat lady.

Drainage Canal

Chico eating a jabong fruit that he found unwashed in the canal. Nobody else wanted a piece. All for him.

Drainage Canal

Passing a towel rack. Nobody was that sweaty or desperate.

Drainage Canal

Entering a dark tunnel filled with a solitary centipede.

Drainage Canal

Sample of some of the graffiti we saw down in the canals and tunnels.

Drainage Canal

Light at the end of the tunnel.

Drainage Canal

Chico and Laredo tossing the pigskin.

Drainage Canal

Walking in the relatively dry section.

Drainage Canal

Climbing out of the channel.

Kamehameha Highway

Walking parallel to the road that was opened back in 1921. Many names were considered such as Lei Ilima Drive, Aloha Drive and Rainbow Road among others before finally settling on Kamehameha Highway.

Pearl Highlands Center

We had a late breakfast of fried chicken in the food court.

Drainage Canal

Looking for the blue barrel so that we could drop back down into the channel as we saw neighborhood groups picking up rubbish in the area. No blue barrel. Maybe they picked it up? No worries, we have webbing to lower ourselves down.

Drainage Canal

I don’t need no stinkin’ webbing.

Drainage Canal

Chico outgrew the toy, but never his childhood.

Drainage Canal

Exploring one of the drainage pipes.

Drainage Canal

End of the tunnel for us.

Drainage Canal

Group photo with a swimming hole below us.

Kamehameha Highway

Climbing back to civilization and motorized traffic that we had to cross.

Wat Thai of Hawaii

Stopped at a Buddhist temple that was bustling with people as there was also an open market selling textiles and food.

Wat Thai of Hawaii

Thai Tea hit the spot.

Wat Thai of Hawaii

None of us were Buddhists, so we respectfully left. Allison and Laredo decided to end their day of exploration with us. Do we smell or something?

McDonald’s

We spotted a member of a group that helps each other recover from addiction and convictions through religion. Amen.

Kaiser Estate

Heard this historic house is still up for sale. You get certain tax exemptions with it being on the historic register.

Portlock

Ferlino hanging out in the tree that used to have a swing to enjoy the sunsets.

Portlock

Different modes of traction across the slippery moss covered rocks.

Portlock

Checking out the only private harbor and boat house on the island. Must be nice.

Portlock

The boy was so excited as he caught his first fish. Papio?

Kaiser Estate

Visiting hours are the second Saturday of each month. Today is Sunday.

Portlock

Drinking coconut water straight from the nut. Hawaiians call it niu and they were introduced to Hawaii hundreds of years ago.

Spitting Caves

We checked out the famous cliff jumping spot where adventurous souls jump 70′ into the ocean. No takers today. Chico decided to climb down and check it out for himself.

Spitting Caves

The waves were pounding today and spray was shooting out of the cave like a reverse blowhole.

Spitting Caves

Chico timing the waves so he doesn’t get washed out to sea.

Spitting Caves

Monkey see, monkey do.

Spitting Caves

We decided to venture further to where the fishermen had set up their poles.

Spitting Caves

Chico and Ferlino climbed down the ladder to check out the conditions.

Spitting Caves

Tessa standing on her fishing perch.

All pau

Climbing back up the short, steep and slippery trail to our car where we ended our fun day.

Photos taken by Allison Banks, Chico Cantu, Ferlino Carinio, 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.