Aloha!
Today I want to take you to a couple of gorgeous hiking places on the Southeast side of Oahu, that will take your breath away. Well, I can only do that with some photos taken along the way. I totally understand that some of you are advent explorer of beauty through foot paths, some occasionally with admiration from a distance until the opportunity arise to go all in. Some, for personal reasons would love to look at photos with the ooohs and ahhs to yourself. Well, today I want to show you two hiking trails for your possible explorations of oohs and ahhs.
The very first one is Makapu'u Tom Tom trail. This simply means that the two trails eventually merge into one. From beginning to end is about seven hours of some shade and at times with direct hot sunlight beaming without mercy. That is part of the fun in hiking but right now I just wanted to share some gorgeous photos with you.
I'll try my very best to keep it very simple in it's direction with much room for errors since I'm no expert hiker but hope the experts hikers could forgive me. The first hike comprise of the above photo and one below of me and a friend contouring a steep drop off. Check out the view from the top to the predestine ocean below.
The second hike is of the Ko'olau summit. This hike is also located in the Southeast of Oahu. This hike, too, is a very long seven hours. The difference is that this hike was during a cloudy morning right after a very heavy rain the day before. Muddy was an understatement as we were continuously deep ankle high in mud and prickly thorns. What a crazy nightmare! It seemed to go on and on for days but we finally made it out. However, we did take plenty of ooh and ahh breaks just to soak in all the beauty around us. These are moments when you know you are truly blessed and even more so because you dared to go out there. Lets' move on.
So, here I have a few photos to share with you. First ones is of me and my girls getting started. She wore white!!! Hehe. The second is of the smokey rain clouds hovering over the mountain. That was such a sight. Thirdly, the rain clouds engulfing the summits around us all. Truly, truly magical. As we stood there in the clouds, watching the clouds dance along the ridges; so majestic!
The first hike Makapu'u Tom Tom trail? Okay. This trail can be started at or ends at Makapu'u trail across from the lighthouse, coming or ending at Kuliouou hiking trail. Please google for more information on destination directions. Although there are some up climbing and traverse obstacles, most of the hike is pretty smooth for experience hikers. Here is a photo of one possible obstacles...down climb a small rock face with a steep fall offs. This spot scared many people unaccustomed to heights and potential of falling to their death!! Scary but true. No worries, I got them down safely.
This second photo is one of thousands of gorgeous scenery if you were hiking as frequently as I used to for a good year and a half. From the top of the summit it can be very dry and humid. Sometimes when it gets so hot I just wanted it to be done with. We would talk about what foods we were craving and which cold beer to drink. From this view, we have about forty more minutes to the finish line. There's the happy gorgeous pristine ocean below calling to us. Seriously, if I could fly, I'd dive bomb head first! Yes, friends, I took this photo...
So, how am I doing? Do you like what you're seeing so far? Great, then lets move into a second hike.
This second hike is somewhat along the summit connected to Tom Tom trail starting from the North side; from the left. No, not the lefty government, the left of the summit compared to Tom Tom and Makapu'u trail. Okay, that was a terrible joke. Lets' begin.
Yes, as I have stated before I'm horrible with names and specific locales but I think we started at Kau'au crater, going upward, then right, ending back down at somewhere above Palolo valley.
Me and four others are ready to set sail on this hiking adventure. I know you only see three girls because one male took the photo and the other ones busy taking his own video of the adventure. This photo was taken when we were about one/third of the way in. Although you can't really see it, from here on is full on slushy mud and thick fern thorns dragging us down. My beautiful girl still sporting her pink lipstick. You gotta love her spirit! I love this moment captured...
This next photo is soooo beautiful, wouldn't you agree?! Seriously, look at that rain cloud engulfing the mountain. Gosh, I can't even describe how majestically beautiful that is. Yes, I took that photo because I was there; breathless in awe.
Okay, this third and final photo of our Ko'olau summit hike continues with more rain clouds enveloped all of us including the open canal between the ridges. I can't really explain the majestic or feel of magic coming from this experience except that I have photos for you to imagine...
As you can see, I'm not a writer. I'm not even good at writing so to explain magic that are happening each and everyday to me is somewhat limited. This is why I like to make posts that included lots of photos for you to imagine and/or daydreams with me because this is part of my world.
I hope I have entertained you with a small journey of my island living. Thank you for your upvote and/or resteem if you feel this post can benefit other's enjoyment.
With a minor note; I refuse to bombard you with many hours of pain and obstacles but rather focus on its' beauty. The whole point of the hike is to come into Mother Nature. She's always here. I'm just so glad I was brave enough to meet her half way. The rewards are incomprehensible; truly magical.
And as always, have a wonderful day. See you again soon.
Aloha!