Walk Around Oahu (Waiahole to Punalu’u)

by kenji SAITO on May 20, 2023

Met up with Chico, Jen, Laredo, Lilyn, Mari, Quan, Tessa, and William for our third leg of the perimeter walk today.

Waiahole Poi Factory

Waiahole Poi Factory

We took our group photo that we missed from the last walk after Chico and Lilia staged the truck at Kualoa Beach Park.

Kamehameha Highway

Kamehameha Highway

It was too early to get a treat of Sweet Lady of Waiahole, so we pushed off on our walk.

Kamehameha Highway

Kamehameha Highway

What’s that? I forgot something? My medication?

Kamehameha Highway

Kamehameha Highway

Tessa rubbing elbows with the legend.

Kamehameha Highway

Kamehameha Highway

Somebody’s on the wrong side of the bridge.

Waikane Store

Waikane Store

Pop Quiz: What is Chico doing?
A) Panhandling from a passing car
B) Looking for free samples
C) Getting his truck keys

Kamehameha Highway

Kamehameha Highway

We saw these and other signs that loudly proclaimed “The People United Will Never Be Defeated” and “No Development Keep the Country Country” and “New City…What A Pity! No Development.” The problem dates back to the 1880s when Lincoln McCandles and brothers arrived in the islands and began drilling artesian wells to feed the sugar industry and in the process amassed considerable land holdings. Fast forward to 1974, when his daughter attempted to to urbanize 1,337 acres in Waiahole and Waikane Valleys with local developer, Joe Pao who promised affordable housing with his “New City” development. Sounds familiar? Massive protests erupted and was temporarily simmered when the State purchased 795 acres in Waiahole Valley to manage the land. Fast forward to 1987, when the Housing Finance and Development Corporation was created to promote affordable housing, the predecessor to today’s Hawaii Housing Finance & Development Corporation. The HHFDC claims they are running a deficit managing the water resources and below market rents for the approximately 100 valley residents and must raise rents to stay solvent. Both sides have retained lawyers and are slugging it out in court. Who will win? Most certainly, the side with deep and corrupt pockets will prevail against the residents.

Kualoa Ranch

Kualoa Ranch

Entering the cattle ranch and tourist attraction that sits on over 4,000 acres. This valley was considered sacred to ancient Hawaiians and was purchased by Dr. Judd from King Kamehameha III for the sum of $1,300 in 1850. That would be $50,560 in today’s money.

Kamehameha Highway

Kamehameha Highway

Passing through the often seen Coral Kingdom Shop & Restaurant but never visited.

Kamehameha Highway

Kamehameha Highway

When the traffic mirror doubles as the selfie mirror.

Kamehameha Highway

Kamehameha Highway

The public picking of parya (bittermelon) leaves.

Kualoa Ranch

Kualoa Ranch

Looking for the private tour.

Kualoa Ranch

Kualoa Ranch

Group photo in front of the 50′ artistic representation of Manaiakalani, Maui’s fish hook that was used to capture the sun.

Mokoli'i

Mokoli’i

Looking out towards the basaltic islet in Kaneohe Bay that was once owned by the Judd-Morgan family until the City & County of Honolulu purchased it back in the 1970s.

Chinaman's Hat

Chinaman’s Hat

Group photo in front of the conical shaped island. Advocates are pushing to erase the name of Chinaman’s Hat as it’s not culturally correct and politically offensive to some. But for most locals, it will always be called that.

Kualoa Sugar Mill

Kualoa Sugar Mill

Wandering through the ruins of the first sugar mill built in the islands during 1863-1865. Due to lack of rainfall, the mill ceased operations in 1871 and was left exposed to the elements where it sits today.

Kamehameha Highway

Kamehameha Highway

Leaving the prominent Kualoa ridge behind us. I wonder if anybody has ever climbed that mountain?

Kamehameha Highway

Kamehameha Highway

The fish were biting today.

Kamehameha Highway

Kamehameha Highway

Bunker exploration. Where’s Scotty?

Kamehameha Highway

Kamehameha Highway

The color of death.

Kamehameha Highway

Kamehameha Highway

When there’s no sidewalk, one has to walk on the bridge.

Kamehameha Highway

Kamehameha Highway

Roadside summer snacks. Lychee was introduced to Hawaii in 1873 when Ching Chock brought the evergreen tree from China and planted it on the Afong property on the corner of Nu’uanu and School Streets.

Kamehameha Highway

Kamehameha Highway

Chico got his own summer snack. Free shave ice!

Ka'a'awa 7-Eleven

Ka’a’awa 7-Eleven

Motorists yielding to pedestrians. Refreshments at the convenience store that was originally named Tote’m Stores and later changed to reflect the operating hours. Time to change again?

Kamehameha Highway

Kamehameha Highway

No touch the girl or the golf cart?

Crouching Lion Inn

Crouching Lion Inn

Trying to see the resemblance of the rock formation above the shuttered eatery. Originally built as the Larsen residence in 1927, it was converted to a restaurant in 1952 and closed in 2008 due to cesspool violations.

Crouching Lion Hike

Crouching Lion Hike

Where is the trailhead?

Kamehameha Highway

Kamehameha Highway

Clucking like a chicken.

Kamehameha Highway

Kamehameha Highway

Bridge crossing.

Kahana State Park

Kahana State Park

I still haven’t found a working pay phone yet.

Kamehameha Highway

Kamehameha Highway

Words to live by.

Kamehameha Highway

Kamehameha Highway

View of Kahana Bay.

Kamehameha Highway

Kamehameha Highway

Swinger.

Kamehameha Highway

Kamehameha Highway

Walking on the road next to traffic. The Handi-vans were especially too close for comfort. I think they were looking for future customers.

Punalu'u

Punalu’u

Group photo at the beach park. The town name means “coral dived for” or “spring dived for.”

Punalu'u

Punalu’u

We may have walked on the wrong side of the bridges, but never jumped from them.

Punalu'u

Punalu’u

End of the road for us. Food outside.

Punalu'u

Punalu’u

Drinks inside. Pay inside too.

Punalu'u

Punalu’u

Eating on the beach. Laredo preferred to sun on the beach.

Punalu'u

Punalu’u

Quan trying to burn off her caloric intake.

Route 60

Route 60

Everybody have exact change? Three dollars.

Route 60

Route 60

Time to get off the bus and give the riders some relief.

Kualoa Beach Park

Kualoa Beach Park

Happy Birthday Mari!

Kualoa Beach Park

Kualoa Beach Park

Pinay Hat.

McDonald's Temple Valley

McDonald’s Temple Valley

Thanks Chico for the soft serve ice cream cones!

Chico's Bar

Chico’s Bar

One shot for the road.

GPS Tracks

GPS Tracks

Our fun walk covered 10.4 miles through the Windward coastline.

Photos taken by Chico Cantu, Jen Odence, Lilyn Avendano, Mari Saito, 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.

Leave a Comment

{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }

wahinee01 June 3, 2023 at 2:20 pm

Fun long walk with awesome crew… Let’s do it again
Lol

Reply

kenji SAITO June 12, 2023 at 9:49 am

Aloha Tessa,
Yep, loads of fun. Just roughly 12 more walks to finish off the island. LOL.
Mahalo

Reply

Previous post:

Next post: