Stroller Hiking: Kamehame Ridge - June 15, 2013

Kamehame Ridge
Another stroller hike up the road to Kamehame Ridge.

Slipped past the gates and made our way to the top!

Hardest part was getting past this gate. Had to make two trips to get Hōkūle`a and her stroller past it.

Once again Hōkūle`a loved it! Hōkūle`a also just learned to stick her tongue out at you.

The view from the top was wonderful, as always.

The structures at the top are always interesting.

Entrance to the Kamehame "Stairs"...

Rest of the pictures:  http://www.flickr.com/photos/kiapolo/sets/72157634148118580/

Stroller Hiking: Makapu`u Lighthouse - June 8, 2013

Makapu`u Lighthouse

Another early morning stroller hike. Headed up the Makapu`u Lighthouse trail in the pre-dawn light.

Once again, Hōkūle`a loved it!

Rest of the pictures here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/kiapolo/sets/72157634015936410/

Stroller Hiking: Koko Head - June 1, 2013

Stroller hiking.  Taking a stroller...hiking.  Started easy and hit up Koko Head, then the Makapu`u Lighthouse then Kamehame Ridge.
Koko Head

Started early in the morning and Sommer and I pushed and pulled Hōkūle`a and her stroller up the 650+ foot extinct volcanic crater in Hawaii Kai (actually, three craters).

Checked out some of the structures at the top of the ridge.

Hōkūle`a loved it.

Rest of the pictures here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/kiapolo/sets/72157633865751850/

Kulanui (Mariners)Ridge and Kamehame Ridge - March 30, 2013

With Baby at home, hiking has taken a backseat for a while. My brother Robert came down for a visit from Hilo so Kai, Robert and I headed up Kaluanui Ridge. We had planned on heading down the Ko`olau Summit Trail to Kamehame, but some injuries cancelled those plans. The post-dawn view from the Kaluanui summit was great, as always.

Pu`u O Kona was clouded over.

 

The clouds gave the Ko`olau a "Lord of the Rings" feel.

Leaving the Kaluanui ridge trail we notice some new additions to the trailhead.

Instead of hiking along the KST to Kamehame, we just drove over to the ridge and made our way up the road to the summit. Got a good view of the puka.

Made it past the Hawaii Leadership Academy.

And walked up to the summit.

You could see people at the top of the Koko Crater tracks.

We also saw some hikers on the ridge just Ewa from Kamehame.

We checked out the "Kamehame Stairs".

The view from the top was amazing, of course.

 

Two easy hikes in one day! More photos:

- Kaluanui (Mariners Ridge).

- Kamehame Ridge.

March 12, 2013 Comet Pan-STARRS (C/2011 L4)

Tuesday night I wanted to catch a glimpse of Comet Pan-STARRS as it made it's appearance in the night sky, just after sunset. I took Hōkūle`a with me and we headed up in the hills above Honolulu, to the trail head for the Kalawahine trail up on Tantalus (Pu`u `Ōhi`a).  Hōkū and I enjoyed the sunset and the crescent moon while I set up to try and catch the comet. The view from Tantalus is amazing!

Looking west towards the airport and Kapolei.

We stayed for about 45 minutes straining to see the dash of light in the sky. It was cold (65° F!!!), and I didn't see any comets, just the city lights and the sliver of a crescent moon. But... When I got home and went through some of the photos...there she was! The Pan-STARRS comet!

Click for full-screen.

Click  for full-screen

I'm grateful that I was able to witness this once in a lifetime sighting. Comet Pan-STARRS will not be around for another 106,000 years!