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.