Nuuanu Judd Trail

Trail Name: Nuuanu Judd Trail

Difficulty: Beginner

Length: depends on which trails you end up on

Tips: Make sure you have a general idea of which direction you want to go as there are many trails in this area.  One other popular area is Jack Ass Ginger, a swimming hole about a 10 minute walk into the forest.

Directions: Take the Pali Road Kailua Bound and take your last right at the stop light before you ascend into the mountains.  Follow the Old Pali Road until you cross a bridge and see a trail marker, about 2 miles down the road.  Park along the road and begin the trail.  Note: do not leave any valuables in your car as it is a common spot for break ins.

Highlights: The beginning of the trail has a river crossing and thick bamboo.  Then you ascend into cook pines and back into bamboo up a steep mountain side.  The view at the top of the valley is beautiful.  Many trails connect and wind in all different directions so you can choose any way that you want and end up somewhere new.

My favorite: crazy amounts of moss

Rock Climbing at Makapu'u

A few weeks ago I tackled rock climbing at Makapu'u with a few friends.  We started in the afternoon and climbed for a few hours until we had all done each route.  It was pretty awesome with the Windward Side as our background, whales in sight, and the sunny skies of Hawaii.  To get there, we parked in the lookout lot and took a short path up the hill to this 40 foot rock wall.  The hooks are already in the wall but be sure to always double check the holds.  This wall requires harnesses, ropes, and a partner: so please go prepared.  Safety is the most important part of outdoor climbing and though we look like all fun and games, we did have someone there who had safety in mind.

Taking the first leap is always the hardest.  Go Mills!

Wait, is that a mountain goat??

Safety first Maddy Long Legs. Thank you for taking us!

Note: I am only about 6 inches off the ground but this picture is pretty awesome...  

Ok.  This part was a challenge.  But very fun and came together like a puzzle.  How can I split my body to scale this wall?

I made it!

Aiea Ridge Trail

Hike: Aiea Ridge Trail


Difficulty: Novice (for the first few hours), then progressively more challenging


Length: 11 miles round trip


Tips: Wear long pants to fight through the overgrown ferns on the trail


Highlights: Stunning views of the island, views overlooking the H-3 tunnel/highway, pearl harbor, and more

Looking at the H-3

Ferns are everywhere!

Tall grass, ferns, and I swear there is a trail in there...

One of my favorite things to see hiking, so beautiful!

Ohia Lehua

My pal Nat

Lush mountain and city views

H-3 tunnels going Kailua bound

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Directions: At the top of Aiea Heights Drive, trail head at the Keaiwa Heiau State Recreation Area
Also at the park: Aiea Loop Trail

Jackson Chameleon & Hiking Hawaii Loa Ridge

This morning I hiked Hawaii Loa Ridge with my hiking club buddy and we found a jackson chameleon on the path.  What a pleasant surprise!  We look for those every time we hike, and today it was right on the trail, just chugging along.

Here he is right in the open, trying to cross the road.

Once he realized he had been spotted, he got outta there pretty quickly, but not quick enough!  We got a few good shots of him.

There he goes, back into the bush...

Check out my video of him scurrying across the trail into the brush.  Bye buddy... Didn't mean to scare you, but you made my week!

Haiku Stairs and the Beauty of the Windward Side

Just a quick snapshot from a 5 am hike yesterday.  Haiku Stairs/Stairway to Heaven in Kaneohe.  Beautiful, clear, and truly heavenly.

Stairway to Heaven - Haiku Stairs Photos

I posted previously about Stairway to Heaven and never posted more of my beautiful, stunning, and heavenly photos.  So here goes.  Read the other post to learn more about the hike.  Take your breath away!

The first view of the H-3

The stunning view from the top of the first lookout point.

Some more stairs...  Hold on tight, in some spots, it is a ladder with a slight lean backwards...

Me, loving the climb to the top.

Some spots towards the top had a lot of vegetation.

This is one of my favorite things to find on a hike: Orange MOSS.  Gotta love it.  You can find it all over the island in high areas.  Keep your eyes peeled for more pictures of it on my site...

Looking at the H-3 again from the top. The tunnels are nuts!  I can't believe they go right through the middle of that mountain.

Looking at Chinaman's Hat and Kaneohe Bay

Ka'ena Point

The farthest point West on Oahu is Ka'ena Point.  To get there, you must drive to the end of the road in Waianae near Yokohama Bay.  From there, you walk to the point about an hour and a half away.  Along the way are gorgeous views, tidepools, rocky shoreline, and cars.  Yep, cars that have been pushed off the cliffs onto the rocks.  So Hawaii...  Other than that, it is a stunning trek and well worth the drive.  You can also reach the same point from the North end of the island, Mokuleia area.


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At the tip of the point is a bird sanctuary, monk seals, and a beach.

The beginning of the road.

Looking back at the bay...

Nothing like a rainbow in Hawaii!

Oh the beautiful ... cars??

So cute, the little baby birds!

The end of the point is covered in white coral and monk seals

Our first Monk Seal of the day

The beach at the end of the road.

Lanipo - Maunalani Heights Adventure

About the Hike:  Lanipo, also known as Mau'umae, is an amazing ridge hike in Kaimuki off of Sierra Drive.  Rolling up and down the first hour is full of climbing over boulders and steep hills to be rewarded with amazing views.  The last half of the hike is over grown, slippery, steep, and narrow in parts.  This hike can be broken up into parts, it gets progressively more challenging the farther you go.  Allow between 4 - 5 hours to complete the entire hike.

How to Get There: Take Waialae Ave towards Koko Head, go left onto Sierra Ave.  Go all the way to the top of Sierra Drive and then right on Maunalani Heights.  Look left to see a fence with a small opening and a trail sign.  Park alongside the road in front of the fence.

The view of town.

It got dark earlier than we thought!  :)  What a great sunset though.

Beautiful Valley Views... as usual

What an unusual view of the back of Diamond Head

Who Should Do This Hike: Anyone who loves good views, bouldering, and a challenge.

Haiku Stairs - Stairway to Heaven

About the Hike: The Haiku Stairs (also known as Stairway to Heaven) are incredible.  Unfortunately, they are also closed.  There are many fences, no trespassing signs, and even a posted guard to ensure that you do not hike them.  Don't let this discourage you though, if you really want to hike them, you just have to get creative.  :)  This hike is suitable for beginners and experienced hikers alike.  You can climb as far as you want before turning around and you can almost immediately appreciate the views.  Warning: if you are terrified of heights, this may be a challenge for you.  Wear shoes with good traction and bring lots of water.  Go early to avoid the guard/heat.  (Keep reading for more information about the guard.)  The first lookout takes about 30 minutes to reach and on most days is one of the best places to view the island.  The clouds can be thick further up and it becomes a misty land of fog and rain.  So be sure to rest and take plenty of pictures at the first lookout if you plan to continue on.  I have read that there are 3922 steps, so come prepared to climb.

Where: Located in Kaneohe off the Kahekili Highway.  Nestled into the Ko'olau mountain range and below the H-3.

Directions: This is where things get a little tricky...  Take the Likelike from town to the Kahekili Highway, go left off the Likelike.  Turn left at Haiku Road and continue around the curve, then go right at Kuneki Street.  Follow Kuneki St. all the way to the end of the road.  It will dead end and on the left hand side you will see the sign for Haiku Stairs and a large fence that also says "No Trespassing."  Park along the road, maybe a block away and do not block driveways, mailboxes, or trash pickup areas.  The neighbors may not be too friendly, so be quiet and try not to disrupt the area.  (It is important that you park legally so you will not be towed).  From here you have to hike/go through the fence.  Then continue along the paved road, looking to the left for a small trail.  It is easy to miss, so make sure you are paying attention.  Follow this trail through bamboo, it can get kind of tricky because there are multiple trails, but from here just try to head towards the mountains.  You will go through a fence, then along another trail through another fence.  And then finally through the last fence where you will find a roadway.  Go right on the road until you see the stairs on the left.

Notes: To avoid the guard, some say you must go  very early.  We are talking 4:30/5:00 am early.  I went at 4:30 and had no problems, but be sure to bring flashlights, it is really dark.  I don't know when the guard starts, but if you run into a guard before you begin you will be turned around.  On the trip down, rumor has it that you will be allowed to pass.  There are a few different ways to reach the bottom of the stairs, I find that this way is the easiest.  (You are more than welcome to hop fences, follow a drainage canal, climb over barbed wire, etc.)  Please be respectful of the residents of this area, they are so disgruntled with the hikers that they want to tear down the bottom portion of the hike.  (What???)  So remember, go early, bring a flashlight, water, and a camera!  Oh, and have fun...

Going through or around the first fence.

The trail to look for on your left.

The last fence to go through.

The shack on the side of the fence.

The sign at the bottom of the trailhead.  "Closed"

The multiple fences blocking the trailhead.  You must go around them to reach the trailhead, but they don't extend much beyond what you can see here...

I will post more photos of the actual climb soon.  I just wanted to post how we found it and some of the challenges that we encountered!  Good luck and again: be respectful.  It is an amazing climb and a rewarding trek.

Mariners Ridge - Hawaii Kai

About the Hike: Mariners Ridge is a great hike for beginners.  You can go pretty much any time of the day and you won't be alone on the ridge.  That being said, it is rather hot, so go early for the most comfortable journey.  It can be described as a short semi- steep path.  Give yourself between 1 to 2 hours for this hike as you may want to enjoy the views and rest at the top.  The lookout is a great place for a small snack or lunch, and bring plenty of water for the heat.

Where: It begins at the top of Mariners Ridge neighborhood in Hawaii Kai.

Directions: To get there, take the Kalanianaole Highway from town and go left on Keahole St/Hawaii Kai Drive.  Then go left on Kaluanui Rd.  You will see the sign "Mariners Ridge" to mark the neighborhood about 100 yards from the turn.  Continue all the way up the road until you are at the highest point.  There will be a dead end, park on the street.  The trail head is at the end of the road (there is a small cul de sac).  You are ready to begin.  As will all hikes in Hawaii, lock your car and don't leave any valuables.  If you have anything in plain site, it may not be there when you return.

Here are some of my favorite views from Mariners Ridge.

One of the shortest ridge hikes on this side.  A rewarding view of Kailua, Kaneohe, and Waimanalo await.

You can see Kaneohe Bay and the twin islands in the distance.  Look at the white sand beach...

As always, plenty of great mountain views.

One of my favorite things to photograph: Moss.  This moss grows on the cliffs of ridges.  You can find it all over the island at high altitude.  I love the bright orange color mixed with the sea foam green.  Don't get too carried away oogling the moss though, as I said it grows on the EDGE of CLIFFS...