View Full Version : Hiking in Hawaii 2008
camojack
03-03-2008, 11:25
I posted a bunch of pictures from my various day hikes in Hawaii last month HERE (http://whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/browseimages.php?do=member&imageuser=8204). :sun
StarLyte
03-03-2008, 11:43
Hey Camo...beautiful pictures.
To accommodate my java jitters, I posted many replies :D :rolleyes:
(or is that LAVA jitters?)
camojack
03-03-2008, 12:04
Hey Camo...beautiful pictures.
To accommodate my java jitters, I posted many replies :D :rolleyes:
(or is that LAVA jitters?)
I took about 250, but many were blurry or "washed out" by too much sunlight, although I tried to shade the camera as much as possible.
(I wound up with 205 and posted 50 or so)
Regarding your replies, I responded to most of 'em already... :)
warraghiyagey
03-03-2008, 19:05
I took about 250, but many were blurry or "washed out" by too much sunlight, although I tried to shade the camera as much as possible.
(I wound up with 205 and posted 50 or so)
Regarding your replies, I responded to most of 'em already... :)
Perfectly good setting, perfectly crappy photographer.
Disclaimer: Once in awhile I leave my computer on and 'others' come by and say horrible things.
:p
camojack
Great pictures, When I was there I didn't know you could walk that close to the lava flow. I wore out a pair of tennis shoes in one day hiking on the lava.
Is it the heat that kills footwear, or the rough surface, or some combination of the two?
See any fun insects?
camojack
03-03-2008, 20:05
Perfectly good setting, perfectly crappy photographer.
Disclaimer: Once in awhile I leave my computer on and 'others' come by and say horrible things. :p
I've never claimed to be a professional photographer, or even to have played one on TV.
These "others"...do you hear their voices in your head? :confused:
camojack
Great pictures, When I was there I didn't know you could walk that close to the lava flow. I wore out a pair of tennis shoes in one day hiking on the lava.
Thanks! I'm glad some folks appreciate my pictures. :o
The day I was there, the main caldera trails were closed due to excessive sulphur dioxide emissions, so we hiked the Kilauea Iki Trail.
Is it the heat that kills footwear, or the rough surface, or some combination of the two?
See any fun insects?
It can be a combination of the two, as lava rock can be some pretty jagged, abrasive stuff.
The Hawaiian names for the two main types are pahoehoe for the smooth, ropy variety and a'a for the jagged kind.
(The latter's name itself sounds like a warning)
Where we hiked it wasn't all that hot on the surface, although obviously somewhere underneath it was.
As for insects, not that I noticed...
Did you get to see Mauna Kea. The locals ski there in the winter.
It was the rough surface that got my shoes. I thought all lava was red, but it's not, hot lava and cooled lava are both gray, they called it breaking out when it turned red. but you could see the heat coming up from it. I walk to within a foot of where it broke out, I was lucky that I didn't step were it broke out.
camojack
03-04-2008, 01:41
Did you get to see Mauna Kea. The locals ski there in the winter.
Actually, there was snow on both Mauna Kea (White Mountain) and Mauna Loa (Long Mountain) when I was there recently.
Mauna Kea frequently gets snow in Winter, hence the meaning of its name.
Both Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa are almost "fourteeners".
It was the rough surface that got my shoes. I thought all lava was red, but it's not, hot lava and cooled lava are both gray, they called it breaking out when it turned red. but you could see the heat coming up from it. I walk to within a foot of where it broke out, I was lucky that I didn't step were it broke out.
Lava comes in many colors. (http://volcano.und.edu/vwdocs/frequent_questions/grp1/question3235.html) It is generally red-orange when it's molten, but can be gray or black when it is still hot but skinned over. Older cooled lava comes in a surprising variety of shades. The newer is mostly black, but some of the really old variety fades to beige. It also comes in many other shades, from brick red (http://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/2002/fs024-02/) to olive green (http://www.sease.com/regina/hawaiibeaches.html#green)...
Trillium
03-04-2008, 06:21
some beautiful pics. thanks for sharing. I did some hiking on Oahu a number of years ago. you are right; it is paradise.
camojack
03-04-2008, 07:45
some beautiful pics. thanks for sharing. I did some hiking on Oahu a number of years ago. you are right; it is paradise.
That's why I'm planning to retire in Hawaii.
Not only that, but I can live there for (much!) less than most folks think is possible, even less where I live now, for that matter...
warraghiyagey
03-04-2008, 11:57
That's why I'm planning to retire in Hawaii.
Not only that, but I can live there for (much!) less than most folks think is possible, even less where I live now, for that matter...
Provided you're not a milk drinker. $7.50 per gallon.:eek:
Camo, I may have a chance to go to Hawaii in September, can you give me some trails/parks that are 'must see' out there?
camojack
03-04-2008, 20:04
That's why I'm planning to retire in Hawaii.
Not only that, but I can live there for (much!) less than most folks think is possible, even less where I live now, for that matter...
Provided you're not a milk drinker. $7.50 per gallon.:eek:
In the resort/tourist areas maybe; I'm not planning to live in any of those.
On the Big Island is Parker Ranch, the largest privately-owned cattle ranch in the U.S.; beef and dairy cost the same as here.
(Or less...ground beef was $4.59/lb. when I looked at prices over there last month)
Also, lots of produce is grown locally...and the growing season is all year 'round.
Camo, I may have a chance to go to Hawaii in September, can you give me some trails/parks that are 'must see' out there?
It would depend upon which island(s) you're going to visit.
The Big Island, for instance, is twice the size of all the rest of them combined.
For "must see" locations there I'd say Kealakekua Bay, Volcanoes N.P., Akaka Falls S.P., and Waipio Valley, but there's so much more.
(I've hiked in all of those places, and many others)
I have a book on hikes in Hawaii that only covers 4 islands:
Hawaii (A.K.A. The Big Island), Kauai, Maui and Oahu. Let me know where you're going...
The Solemates
03-09-2008, 02:08
wee're headed out there in december for a family christmas. cant wiat!
camojack
03-09-2008, 02:22
wee're headed out there in december for a family christmas. cant wiat!
I used to go out to Hawaii every year around Christmas time, because the Military-Industrial Complex gives me Christmas Eve through New Year's Day off with pay...but prices and availability around then aren't so great. If you've got a place to stay with family the availability shouldn't be a problem, but if not, be sure to book 'em early.
(I'll be booking my accommodations next month)
This year (and last) I went in February; next year I'll be going in January. Maybe you'll still be there then? I plan to go for 2 or 3 weeks somewhere from January 8th to the 28th...
The Big Island, for instance, is twice the size of all the rest of them combined.
For "must see" locations there I'd say Kealakekua Bay, Volcanoes N.P., Akaka Falls S.P., and Waipio Valley, but there's so much more.
(I've hiked in all of those places, and many others)
I have a book on hikes in Hawaii that only covers 4 islands:
Hawaii (A.K.A. The Big Island), Kauai, Maui and Oahu. Let me know where you're going...
Most of the stuff you find in guidebooks is very short lightweight touristy stuff, and seldom mentions the really interesting parts of the island. Usually they involve a short "hike" to a standard touristy view, and then back to the car ASAP. To see the real Hawaiian wilderness you need to go way up the mountainsides, off the beaten path and away from the lazybones tourists.
My PBASE pages have lots of photos of the wilderness areas I explore here...but soon to be many more when I get around to processing a huge backlog of photos and making some maps. http://www.pbase.com/bkrownd
For Kaua'i somebody set up a neat web site http://www.waialeale.org
Brooks
The Solemates
03-25-2008, 17:18
I used to go out to Hawaii every year around Christmas time, because the Military-Industrial Complex gives me Christmas Eve through New Year's Day off with pay...but prices and availability around then aren't so great. If you've got a place to stay with family the availability shouldn't be a problem, but if not, be sure to book 'em early.
(I'll be booking my accommodations next month)
This year (and last) I went in February; next year I'll be going in January. Maybe you'll still be there then? I plan to go for 2 or 3 weeks somewhere from January 8th to the 28th...
we've already got reservations for lodging and airline.
if you do the big group large condo deal, a week in hawaii is no more expensive than a week in myrtle beach (or similar).
camojack
03-25-2008, 19:08
Most of the stuff you find in guidebooks is very short lightweight touristy stuff, and seldom mentions the really interesting parts of the island. Usually they involve a short "hike" to a standard touristy view, and then back to the car ASAP. To see the real Hawaiian wilderness you need to go way up the mountainsides, off the beaten path and away from the lazybones tourists.
My PBASE pages have lots of photos of the wilderness areas I explore here...but soon to be many more when I get around to processing a huge backlog of photos and making some maps. http://www.pbase.com/bkrownd
For Kaua'i somebody set up a neat web site http://www.waialeale.org
Brooks
Great websites; I'd love to hear more about some of the non-touristy destinations on the Big Island.
I've been on hikes along the Upper (and Lower) Hamakua Ditch, etc.
Speaking of Kaua'i, there's a great pictorial about hiking into Na Pali in the latest issue of National Geographic.
(I haven't been there in over 20 years. This last time we went to Moloka'i, though)
we've already got reservations for lodging and airline.
if you do the big group large condo deal, a week in hawaii is no more expensive than a week in myrtle beach (or similar).
I have a timeshare in Hawaii, and a number of friends who live about 50 miles South of Kona.
You're quite correct, if you know what you're doing, Hawaii isn't all that expensive.
(Of course, round trip airfare is what it is; mine was $530 last trip...)
Great websites; I'd love to hear more about some of the non-touristy destinations on the Big Island.
I've been on hikes along the Upper (and Lower) Hamakua Ditch, etc.
I haven't been on those windward Kohala yet - just Kohala's boggy summit area. One of the "ditch trails" was wiped out by landslides during the little earthquake a while back. They're still haggling over whether or how to fix the flumes.
I live in Hilo, so generally I explore on the Eastern Saddle off of Saddle Road, or off of upper Stainback Highway near the Kulani prison. Sometimes on the upper slopes of Mauna Kea or Mauna Loa, or in the Ka'u Desert. Keanakolu Road is too much for my little car, so I don't get to the Eastern and Northern slopes of Mauna Kea. I just pick a jeep trail or hunter trail and start exploring, or head up/down the lava fields visiting all the kipukas. I'm mostly interested in the native flora and fauna, so I go where the rare stuff lives. One of the best areas for native birds is on the Eastern saddle near the end of Powerline Road, and at the beginning and end of Pu'u O'o Trail. (Named after the Pu'u O'o on Mauna Kea, not the other Pu'u O'o on Kilauea) The Eastern Saddle is absolutely wonderful when the weather is cooperative, and the large pahoehoe lava fields make exploration easy. One of the best areas for native wet forest plants is the rainforests at the upper end of Stainback Highway. There are many abandoned roads up there for rainforest access, and rough hunter and biologist trails everywhere in the forests. Some people get lost in those forests for days...or the short last few days of their lives. The slopes of Mauna Kea and the Ka'u Desert are good for rare subalpine and dry forest plants. I have years of exploration to do up there before I've seen it all.
Favorite area on Powerline Road:
http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=19.628602,-155.361593&spn=0.012612,0.018046&t=h&z=16
Favorite area on Pu'u O'o Trail:
http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=19.673727,-155.388393&spn=0.012608,0.018046&t=h&z=16
Upper Stainback Highway:
http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=19.565088,-155.229821&spn=0.025233,0.036092&t=h&z=15
Western slope of Mauna Kea:
http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=19.829533,-155.594645&spn=0.025191,0.036092&t=h&z=15
Southern slope of Mauna Kea:
http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=19.753739,-155.422511&spn=0.025203,0.036092&t=h&z=15
and many many miles of bushwacking around those areas and many others. Almost all of that is Forest Reserve and Natural Area Reserve lands.
No waterfalls or ocean on any of this.
wife and I are going to Kauai in August for our 20th anniversary. I just read that only 10% of kauai is accessible by road? woohoo!!!
That would have to mean "paved" road. There's a good reason why monster trucks with massive knobby tires are so popular here.
camojack
03-27-2008, 03:53
I haven't been on those windward Kohala yet - just Kohala's boggy summit area. One of the "ditch trails" was wiped out by landslides during the little earthquake a while back. They're still haggling over whether or how to fix the flumes.
Last year after the earthquakes I went to survey the damage along the Lower Hamakua Ditch.
Some spots are quite sturdy:
http://whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/showimage.php?i=22946&catid=member&imageuser=8204
Others are rather rickety:
http://whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/showimage.php?i=22949&catid=member&imageuser=8204
I live in Hilo, so generally I explore on the Eastern Saddle off of Saddle Road, or off of upper Stainback Highway near the Kulani prison. Sometimes on the upper slopes of Mauna Kea or Mauna Loa, or in the Ka'u Desert. Keanakolu Road is too much for my little car, so I don't get to the Eastern and Northern slopes of Mauna Kea. I just pick a jeep trail or hunter trail and start exploring, or head up/down the lava fields visiting all the kipukas. I'm mostly interested in the native flora and fauna, so I go where the rare stuff lives. One of the best areas for native birds is on the Eastern saddle near the end of Powerline Road, and at the beginning and end of Pu'u O'o Trail. (Named after the Pu'u O'o on Mauna Kea, not the other Pu'u O'o on Kilauea) The Eastern Saddle is absolutely wonderful when the weather is cooperative, and the large pahoehoe lava fields make exploration easy. One of the best areas for native wet forest plants is the rainforests at the upper end of Stainback Highway. There are many abandoned roads up there for rainforest access, and rough hunter and biologist trails everywhere in the forests. Some people get lost in those forests for days...or the short last few days of their lives. The slopes of Mauna Kea and the Ka'u Desert are good for rare subalpine and dry forest plants. I have years of exploration to do up there before I've seen it all.
You've got that right; they don't call it the Big Island for nothin'. My lot is in the Ka'u Desert, in a place called Ocean View (http://kaubusiness.stores.yahoo.net/oceanview.html).
(At 110 square miles, it's the largest subdivision in these here United States)
Favorite area on Powerline Road:
http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=19.628602,-155.361593&spn=0.012612,0.018046&t=h&z=16
Favorite area on Pu'u O'o Trail:
http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=19.673727,-155.388393&spn=0.012608,0.018046&t=h&z=16
Upper Stainback Highway:
http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=19.565088,-155.229821&spn=0.025233,0.036092&t=h&z=15
Western slope of Mauna Kea:
http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=19.829533,-155.594645&spn=0.025191,0.036092&t=h&z=15
Southern slope of Mauna Kea:
http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=19.753739,-155.422511&spn=0.025203,0.036092&t=h&z=15
and many many miles of bushwacking around those areas and many others. Almost all of that is Forest Reserve and Natural Area Reserve lands.
No waterfalls or ocean on any of this.
Besides regular hiking, many of my travels there are for the purpose of exploring caves, which often involves bushwhacking.
(The island is positively riddled with caves)
wife and I are going to Kauai in August for our 20th anniversary. I just read that only 10% of kauai is accessible by road? woohoo!!!
That would have to mean "paved" road. There's a good reason why monster trucks with massive knobby tires are so popular here.
Kaua'i is beautiful, which is why it's called the "Garden Isle".
The center of the island is also the wettest spot on the planet...
warraghiyagey
03-27-2008, 04:21
Kauah'i is also my favorite. . . look choosing between your children, but there's just something a little more beautiful about it. Waimea Canyon amazes me. The waterfalls, Long thin whit strips in the mountains that are rushing straight down, 2,500 feet.
Beatiful
Even Camo's up tonight. We might as well have an afterparty.:)
You've got that right; they don't call it the Big Island for nothin'. My lot is in the Ka'u Desert, in a place called Ocean View (http://kaubusiness.stores.yahoo.net/oceanview.html).
HOVE is in Ka'u, and looks a bit like a desert ;), but by "Ka'u Desert" I mean just the parched and wild Western slope of Kilauea.
What elevation and kind of vegetation/lava is your lot? It would be neat to live at the top of HOVE if they allow open bike/hike access from the top of HOVE into the old ranch roads that circle the upper slopes of Mauna Loa, through the new Kahuku unit of the volcano park. You could just walk out your door, up the street, and explore the mountain and the adjacent forest reserves for days and days and months and years...
The Mauna Loa Trail System (http://www.nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/states/hawaii/projects/) is the big dream we're all hoping to finally see fulfilled. It would be especially important for folks in Kona and Ka'u where wilderness access is very poor. If it finally happens I'll quit my job and just walk all over the mountainsides for a few weeks until I keel over dead from excess bliss!
camojack
03-27-2008, 07:29
Kauah'i is also my favorite. . . look choosing between your children, but there's just something a little more beautiful about it. Waimea Canyon amazes me. The waterfalls, Long thin whit strips in the mountains that are rushing straight down, 2,500 feet.
Beatiful
Even Camo's up tonight. We might as well have an afterparty.:)
I'm up every night, being on 3rd shift as I am. Afterparty? :confused:
Waimea Canyon is quite impressive, but it rains a lot there.
HOVE is in Ka'u, and looks a bit like a desert ;), but by "Ka'u Desert" I mean just the parched and wild Western slope of Kilauea.
What elevation and kind of vegetation/lava is your lot? It would be neat to live at the top of HOVE if they allow open bike/hike access from the top of HOVE into the old ranch roads that circle the upper slopes of Mauna Loa, through the new Kahuku unit of the volcano park. You could just walk out your door, up the street, and explore the mountain and the adjacent forest reserves for days and days and months and years...
My lot is at the 1040' elevation and is technically in a desert region. It's not in HOVE, actually, but Kula Kai View Estates (http://www.kulakai.us/KulaKaiSum/Summary.htm).
It is 3 acres of mostly pahoehoe with a few ohi'a trees and some fountain grass, but there's an a'a filled gorge at one corner.
It also has 2 entrances into the second most extensive lava tube system on the planet, at 20+ miles.
BTW, there are 1 acre lots available at the top of the subdivision starting at about $10K right now.
The Mauna Loa Trail System (http://www.nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/states/hawaii/projects/) is the big dream we're all hoping to finally see fulfilled. It would be especially important for folks in Kona and Ka'u where wilderness access is very poor. If it finally happens I'll quit my job and just walk all over the mountainsides for a few weeks until I keel over dead from excess bliss!
That sounds pretty sweet. This is the first I've heard of that; thanks for the link...
My lot is at the 1040' elevation and is technically in a desert region. It's not in HOVE, actually, but Kula Kai View Estates (http://www.kulakai.us/KulaKaiSum/Summary.htm).
It is 3 acres of mostly pahoehoe with a few ohi'a trees and some fountain grass, but there's an a'a filled gorge at one corner.
It also has 2 entrances into the second most extensive lava tube system on the planet, at 20+ miles.
BTW, there are 1 acre lots available at the top of the subdivision starting at about $10K right now.
Gotcha. Can you see the big pali and windmills towards South Point from there? Hopefully you got somebody watching for dumping on your lot. Are you connected with the local cave conservancy branch? I peek into entrances and skylights of caves, but don't go in. The tight spaces make me wig out, and with all the earthquakes and flash floods here... Don't want to step on the cave critters, either. I see those slabs of ceiling on the floor and holes in the roof and all the cracks in the rock and get very antsy.
camojack
03-28-2008, 20:26
Gotcha. Can you see the big pali and windmills towards South Point from there? Hopefully you got somebody watching for dumping on your lot. Are you connected with the local cave conservancy branch? I peek into entrances and skylights of caves, but don't go in. The tight spaces make me wig out, and with all the earthquakes and flash floods here... Don't want to step on the cave critters, either. I see those slabs of ceiling on the floor and holes in the roof and all the cracks in the rock and get very antsy.
You can't see those windmills from my lot, but just down the road you can.
Kula Kai View Estates is a gated subdivision, because people were dumping trash down the side streets.
I am actually on the board (http://www.hawaiicaves.org/dir.htm) of the Cave Conservancy of Hawaii (http://www.hawaiicaves.org/), yes.
(The website needs to be updated, though)
Caves are not for everyone, especially the claustrophobic...
Kula Kai View Estates is a gated subdivision, because people were dumping trash down the side streets..
heh, that's hawaii for ya. trash everywhere
camojack
03-30-2008, 00:37
heh, that's hawaii for ya. trash everywhere
Well...not everywhere, but too many places, to be sure. :mad:
warraghiyagey
03-30-2008, 00:57
Well...not everywhere, but too many places, to be sure. :mad:
Hey, I was only there two years.:rolleyes:
camojack
03-30-2008, 01:07
Hey, I was only there two years.:rolleyes:
Sure you were. Everybody knows by now; there's No Such A Thing As a Warraghiyagey (http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/showthread.php?t=34922)... :D
Camo, I may have a chance to go to Hawaii in September, can you give me some trails/parks that are 'must see' out there?
Hiking down into Mt. Haleakala and out thru Kaupo Gap on Maui and Waimea Canyon and the Kalalau Trl on Kauai R not to be missed. Plan on spending several days at any or all. I just spent the last yr. hiking in HI. When U go to HI think RESPECT, RESPECT, RESPECT!!!! FOR THE CULTURE AND THE FRAGILE ENVIRONMENT!!!
warraghiyagey
03-31-2008, 00:10
Waimea Canyon for sure. Perfect hiking.:sun
camojack
03-31-2008, 00:46
Hiking down into Mt. Haleakala and out thru Kaupo Gap on Maui and Waimea Canyon and the Kalalau Trl on Kauai R not to be missed. Plan on spending several days at any or all. I just spent the last yr. hiking in HI. When U go to HI think RESPECT, RESPECT, RESPECT!!!! FOR THE CULTURE AND THE FRAGILE ENVIRONMENT!!!
I just saw an article mentioning the Kalalau Trail (http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2008/04/napali-coast/joel-bourne-text) in the latest issue of National Geographic.
Mt. Haleakala on Maui and Waimea Canyon on Kauai are definitely on the "must see" list, too.
Waimea Canyon for sure. Perfect hiking.:sun
Unless it's raining; it often is...
whitefoot_hp
03-31-2008, 15:30
not everyone gets their panties in a wad over the rain, camo jack. just because you do...
camojack
03-31-2008, 21:49
not everyone gets their panties in a wad over the rain, camo jack. just because you do...
Your eloquence astounds me, loser. That was sarcasm; I wouldn't expect you to get it...'cause you're stupid.
So, do you consider rain perfect hiking weather, then? If you say yes, you're a liar as well as a drooling Neanderthal.
That latter is a given... :D
warraghiyagey
03-31-2008, 23:18
Mmmmm. . . drooling Neanderthals - perfect when barbecued.
:banana
Rain is fine with me. Rain makes the rainforest grow and the tweetybirds sing.
http://www.pbase.com/image/80595667
camojack
04-01-2008, 01:23
Mmmmm. . . drooling Neanderthals - perfect when barbecued.
:banana
Pay no attention to the ignorant troll boy...it'll only encourage more childish behavior. :D
Which gives rise to another thought: flame broiled Neanderthal!!! :eek:
Rain is fine with me. Rain makes the rainforest grow and the tweetybirds sing.
http://www.pbase.com/image/80595667
Rain is necessary...and makes pretty rainbows sometimes.
It's also not bad to hike in when it's warm out, like it generally is in Hawaii. In fact, it's actually welcome on occasion.
I just wouldn't call it perfect hiking weather is all... :sun
Jaybird62
04-01-2008, 01:25
Camo, great pics man.....
camojack
04-01-2008, 01:33
Camo, great pics man.....
Thanks. Of course, they barely do justice to the subject matter...most of the time.
(Pictures of me though, are better from a distance, and blurry...)
Jaybird62
04-01-2008, 01:49
I hope to get to Hawaii one day......(A lot of us fall into that category)
camojack
04-01-2008, 01:52
I hope to get to Hawaii one day......(A lot of us fall into that category)
I hope to retire there someday...but tomorrow is promised to none of us.
I'm working on it, though... :)
Jaybird62
04-01-2008, 01:53
:sunThat is true sir:sun
camojack
04-01-2008, 05:06
:sunThat is true sir:sun
Yes...but we can hope it arrives for us. Best to plan as if it will... ;)
Hana_Hanger
04-01-2008, 06:35
Not all rain is the same...thinking about hiking Haleakala, prepare for cold, cold rain with clouds so thick you cannot see the trail, let alone one foot in front of another!!
Hypothermia sets in very fast, and boots/shoes are soaked in just minutes.
All depends on when you go, but just a couple of weeks ago that was the weather.
So come prepared for heat, wind and cold (it got down to 26 degrees) and rain. All of this can change in just a few minutes. Compare it to the Mount Washington on the AT, just come prepared and you will love it!
That being said
Maui No Ka Oi
but at times Big Island Mo' Betta!
and Kaua'i No Need Brag!
Aloha Dogwood
hope you did not get burned on Aloha Airlines...we sure did, lost it all :(
a sad week here in the State of Aloha.
camojack
04-01-2008, 06:56
Not all rain is the same...thinking about hiking Haleakala, prepare for cold, cold rain with clouds so thick you cannot see the trail, let alone one foot in front of another!!
Hypothermia sets in very fast, and boots/shoes are soaked in just minutes.
All depends on when you go, but just a couple of weeks ago that was the weather.
So come prepared for heat, wind and cold (it got down to 26 degrees) and rain. All of this can change in just a few minutes. Compare it to the Mount Washington on the AT, just come prepared and you will love it!
That being said
Maui No Ka Oi
but at times Big Island Mo' Betta!
and Kaua'i No Need Brag!
Aloha Dogwood
hope you did not get burned on Aloha Airlines...we sure did, lost it all :(
a sad week here in the State of Aloha.
I t'ink Big Island mo' betta all da kine time. :sun
That being said...there's a lot to appreciate on the other islands.
Last time we went to Molokai, too. Very UN-touristy; that's a good thing.
No problems with Aloha, we flew inter-island on go! (http://www.iflygo.com/)...
whitefoot_hp
04-02-2008, 13:45
Your eloquence astounds me, loser. That was sarcasm; I wouldn't expect you to get it...'cause you're stupid.
So, do you consider rain perfect hiking weather, then? If you say yes, you're a liar as well as a drooling Neanderthal.
That latter is a given... :D
ahh, such an intellectual wanna be who cannot even make sense.
For one, how do you know that i was not being sarcastic and humorous as well, camo tool? For two, why do you propose a question and then suggest a particular answer means that i am a neanderthal, when your next statement is going to conclude that you already know i am a neanderthal. provided that reasoning, you answered your own question in a backward fashion. if i am a neanderthal, and considering rain perfect hiking weather means i am a neanderthal, then why would you ask?
BTW, perfect hiking weather had nothing to do with my post, i merely suggested everyone is not equally bothered by rain.
but keep blabbering. it is hilarious. tool.
Last time we went to Molokai, too. Very UN-touristy; that's a good thing.
Unfortunately it's been totally wrecked by deer and ranching. A very sad place. Very glad we didn't get those damned deer on this island.
It's also not bad to hike in when it's warm out, like it generally is in Hawaii. In fact, it's actually welcome on occasion.
If it's "warm" you're probably in the wrong place. It's usually about 50F-70F where I go, depends on the weather, and if I'm lucky there's some nice frost on the grass in the morning.
camojack
04-02-2008, 20:58
Unfortunately it's been totally wrecked by deer and ranching. A very sad place. Very glad we didn't get those damned deer on this island.
It's not totally wrecked; there are still nice places on Molokai...but I understand what you're saying.
If it's "warm" you're probably in the wrong place. It's usually about 50F-70F where I go, depends on the weather, and if I'm lucky there's some nice frost on the grass in the morning.
"Wrong" is in the perception of the perceiver, IMO.
It got pretty warm hiking down to the Captain Cook monument (http://whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/showimage.php?i=22596&catid=member&imageuser=8204) and back (http://whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/showimage.php?i=22601&catid=member&imageuser=8204) last trip.
It was also pretty warm in the Kilauea Iki caldera (http://whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/showimage.php?i=22647&catid=member&imageuser=8204), especially by the steam vents (http://whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/showimage.php?i=22656&catid=member&imageuser=8204).
It was warm hiking in the Ka'u Desert (http://whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/showimage.php?i=22605&catid=member&imageuser=8204) down to Pohue Bay (http://whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/showimage.php?i=22607&catid=member&imageuser=8204), too.
I wouldn't have minded some rain on any of those hikes... :)
BTW, I advise avoiding the Manuka NAR loop trail at all costs. The mosquitoes there were almost of a Minnesota magnitude. Fortunately I rarely encounter any mosquitoes here, but that area was extremely bad for some reason.
camojack
04-04-2008, 23:09
BTW, I advise avoiding the Manuka NAR loop trail at all costs. The mosquitoes there were almost of a Minnesota magnitude. Fortunately I rarely encounter any mosquitoes here, but that area was extremely bad for some reason.
I hiked on the Manuka loop trail when I was over there in February; I actually didn't see any mosquitos at the time.
I'm just guessing, but maybe you were there right after a hatch or something... :confused:
dunno, but it was bad. That area is so dry they'd have to be breeding in water catchments or stock ponds. Glad to hear it isn't always like that.
camojack
04-07-2008, 01:39
dunno, but it was bad. That area is so dry they'd have to be breeding in water catchments or stock ponds. Glad to hear it isn't always like that.
It generally is quite dry in that area, but there had been quite a bit of rain for awhile there. When did you go? :confused:
I spend a lot of time in the Nature Conservancy preserves that border Manuka on the North, above MacNut at a higher elevation, and don't see too many mosquitoes up there.
camojack
04-07-2008, 01:44
I spend a lot of time in the Nature Conservancy preserves that border Manuka on the North, above MacNut at a higher elevation, and don't see too many mosquitoes up there.
I see 'em sometimes in Ocean View; the density varies.
It generally is quite dry in that area, but there had been quite a bit of rain for awhile there. When did you go? :confused:
Mid-March. There are some rare plant enclosures hidden in there, and a different mix of plants than we have on the Hilo side, so I was taking lots of plant photos.
Man, are you ever fast on the posting button! :)
camojack
04-07-2008, 03:33
Man, are you ever fast on the posting button! :)
Nah, three minutes isn't very fast. I am the fastest single-digit typist I know of, though. :D
OK, the trip I (hope) to go on is for the last week in Sept/1st week of Oct... and flying into Honolulu. So Im limited to Oahu hiking. Suggestions?
July 31st - Aug 9th on Kauai. I cannot wait to hike to Na Pali coast and Queens bath.
camojack
04-15-2008, 10:05
OK, the trip I (hope) to go on is for the last week in Sept/1st week of Oct... and flying into Honolulu. So Im limited to Oahu hiking. Suggestions?
Unless you count layovers, I haven't spent any time on Oahu for over 20 years, but there are several waterfalls that you can hike to.
It's a short hike to Sacred Falls on the North Shore, but there are also hikes to Manoa Falls and Maunawili Falls.
If you an get your hands on a copy of "The Hikers Guide to the Hawaiian Islands", it gives information on a number of hikes.
(Several of 'em on each of 4 islands: Hawaii, Kauai, Maui and Oahu...)
3837
July 31st - Aug 9th on Kauai. I cannot wait to hike to Na Pali coast and Queens bath.
There's an excellent chance I'll be on Kauai next January...
envirodiver
04-15-2008, 10:12
There's a hike on Oahu called 3 peaks (I think that is the official name) that is on the main road almost into Kailua, coming from Honolulu. I had a firend take me on this trail, but did not find it in a book. It is very challenging with lots of steep uphill, some rock scrambling and ropes have been put in place for some of it. Great views toward the north shore
camojack
04-15-2008, 10:18
There's a hike on Oahu called 3 peaks (I think that is the official name) that is on the main road almost into Kailua, coming from Honolulu. I had a firend take me on this trail, but did not find it in a book. It is very challenging with lots of steep uphill, some rock scrambling and ropes have been put in place for some of it. Great views toward the north shore
Three Corners, maybe? Check out the description HERE (http://www.backyardoahu.com/).
(You have to select the trail at that site...)
envirodiver
04-15-2008, 10:47
Three Corners, maybe? Check out the description HERE (http://www.backyardoahu.com/).
(You have to select the trail at that site...)
No I just don't remeber the name, but I didn't see it on the list. The trailhead is inside the boundrys of and exclusive Country Club. You are nor allowed to drive in and must park along a road outside the Club gates and walk in. Intersesting trail.