Koko Crater Arch Trail

The Koko Crater Arch trail has been on my to do list for awhile and since we were staying in Waikiki for a quick one night staycation, I saw it as an opportunity to check it off.  The All Trails app says it's almost a mile round trip and rates it as moderate.  Since it wasn't a hike I was familiar with, I watched YouTube videos and asked my friends about it.

We arrived at the Halona Blowhole Lookout parking lot around 10am and it was HOT and crowded.  We very carefully crossed the VERY busy street to get to the trailhead, where the guardrail ends.  Crossing the highway was the scariest part and with the cars whizzing by, my son had a really hard time focusing on climbing the rocks.  I also became flustered and didn't push him to climb.  We decided to go back to the car.

Later in the day, I did more research and found that there are a couple other entrances to the hike that were easier to climb, but further down the road.  So the next morning we got up early to give it a second try hoping there would be less cars.  We walked along the guardrail until we got closer to the trailhead and then crossed over.  It was still scary so be super careful.  

Once you start climbing, it's easy to see the trail.  It's a steep climb and there is no shade so be prepared.  Once you reach the arch, you'll go to the left and climb down to the arch.  It is so beautiful and my son thought it was pretty neat as well.  We enjoyed the view for awhile and then started our descent.  Getting back on the trail was a little slippery so be sure to wear shoes with good grip and be very careful crossing the highway back to your car!         

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Camp Palehua Open for Hiking

I was devastated when the hiking trails shut down last month and I am not exaggerating.  It was one of the stress relievers that I had started counting on to get me through these Covid19-ridden days.  When I heard the two hiking trails at Camp Palehua were still open, I quickly made a call and booked the next available weekday.  Weekends are full for the next 3 weekends, but it never hurts to double check.

Your options are the Nānākuli Overlook Hike - about 2 miles round trip; beginner level; safe for all ages; view of the Leeward Coast and the Puʻu Manawahua or WWII Bunker Hike - about 4 miles round trip; moderate level; steep incline; not recommended for children under 10 yrs old; view of South Shore (Diamond Head) out to Leeward Coast (Mākaha).

WWII Bunker

View of Leeward coast

Four time slots are available daily: 8:00 AM, 9:00 AM, 11:00 AM and 12:00 PM. There is a fee of $10.00 per adult and $5.00 per child (5 years old and under free).  All hikers are required to wear a face mask while in the campgrounds, however, hikers will be allowed to remove the mask on the trail. Hikers have a 3-hour time block allotted.

For more information, call Camp Palehua at (808) 347-0736.

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Pu'u'ohulu Kai Trail

Pu'u'ohulu Kai trail is located in Waianae and is a great one if you are short on time.  It's only about 1.5 miles round trip, but you'll still work up a sweat hiking up to the pill boxes.  The first time we did this hike my kids were 7 and 11 so I made sure to keep them close because of drop off points.  We've been twice more and we still only stop at 3 of the pill boxes.  There are more, but the trail leading to those look risky so we don't continue.

One thing I always underestimate is the hot sun as there is no shade.  Bring lots of cold water, sunscreen, and maybe a snack to enjoy at the top!  

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Koko Crater Botanical Garden

Koko Crater Botanical Garden is a great place to take young kids on an outdoor adventure - it's relatively short (2 mile loop trail) walk, and the terrain is easy to navigate on foot.  Best of all, it's free!  The garden is open daily from sunrise to sunset every day except Christmas Day and New Year's Day.

There is a map displayed at the entrance to the gardens, as well as a mailbox that holds paper brochures. I would suggest taking a brochure on your way in, as it has information on the various trees and plants that you'll encounter along the way, as well as a map.

As you can see, the trails are wide and very spacious! 

The boys were very intrigued with the various cactus in the Cactus Garden.

During our hike we saw a group of military planes fly overhead!

Our favorite part of the trail was the Plumeria Grove at the beginning/end of the trail. There were so many different colors of plumeria flowers, and they all smelled so good!

Tips:

• Go in the early morning or late afternoon - it gets hot!
• Bring water, snacks, sunscreen, hat
• Wear a good pair of shoes that you won't mind getting dirty
• Don't leave valuables in your car
• The only bathroom available for use is a porta-potty

Koko Crater Botanical Garden

7491 Kokonani St.

Hawaii Kai

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Koko Crater Botanical Garden

Koko Crater Botanical Garden is one of four Honolulu Botanical Gardens.  It is located inside Koko Crater and the admission is free.  You can visit daily (with the exception of Christmas and New Year's Day) from sunrise to sunset.

The kid friendly hiking trail is a self-guided tour along a 2-mile loop trail with lots to see along the way.  The trail is not paved and you may encounter some loose rocks and slippery surfaces so walking shoes are recommended.  Leave your furry friends at home when visiting since dogs are not allowed on the grounds of the garden. 

The main reason I wanted to visit the garden was to see the Cactus garden.  Since the climate is hot and dry, it's ideal for dry-land plants.  We were not disappointed!  We spent the most time checking out all the different cactus plants.  After that, we took a leisurely stroll admiring the other interesting plants and trees.  My son had fun navigating our way along the loop and constantly referred back to the map which had descriptions on the various trees and plants.  We both learned a lot and had some nice quality time together.  There is little to no shade so make sure to wear sunscreen and bring water.   

The trail is easy to follow. 

Cade was a little worried he would get pricked by one of these Golden Barrel cactus. 

So many different varieties of cactus in the Cactus Garden!

These were pretty, but be careful - there were lots of bees.

I found these unusual looking plants amazing!

Transvaal Gardenia

Plumeria Grove

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North Shore's Ehukai Pillbox Hike

After last week's cloudy and rainy weather, I was determined to get out of the house on Sunday.  The cloudy skies made for perfect hiking weather so we headed to Sunset Beach Elementary for the Ehukai Pillbox hike.  The hike roundtrip to the first pillbox is about 1.7 miles, kid friendly, and of moderate difficulty.

When we got there, a super nice parking attendant that was there for church services directed us to the trailhead and warned us that that the trail was pretty muddy.  He pointed to some walking sticks left out by the trailhead and told my son to grab one.  With a stick in his hand, Cade was over the moon!  As soon as he saw the mud, he couldn't help but exclaim that he loved this adventure.  

For the first half mile, the trail is pretty steep and the mud just makes it worse because it's so slippery.  It was probably not the best idea since we all slipped once during the hike, but we made it to the top with the help of installed steps and ropes.  We were rewarded with gorgeous views of the North Shore.  Coming back down in the mud was a little harder so I don't recommend this hike with little ones after the rain.  

On this hike, I realized hiking with kids is very different from hiking with adults.  While I made sure to bring water, sunscreen, bug spray, and a change of clothes and shoes, I totally mom-failed and forgot to bring a small trash bag on the hike and was stuck with the kids dirty tissues and wipes.  Lesson learned!  

Even though the mud made it dangerous, we still had a lot of fun and would definitely do this hike again when it's not muddy. 

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Manoa Falls Trail

Our friends and I are making an effort to take our kids hiking more, so our first hike of 2018 was at Manoa Falls Trail!

We arrived at the Paradise Park lot a little before the 8am opening time, so we waited in the car...while it rained. 

Yup, there was a steady rain, and we didn't have any ponchos, but we were ready to hike, rain or shine.

We paid for parking ($5) once an attendant was available, took the kids to the restroom, applied sunscreen and insect repellent, and went on our way.

The entire hike is quite easy (our kids ranged in ages from 6-11), and as expected, it was very muddy, so some areas were quite slippery.  

Thankfully, we didn't encounter any mosquitoes, and the rain was light during our hike.

It took 30 minutes for us to get to the falls.

Because of the rain, the waterfall was flowing nicely.

We took photos, then headed back to the car.

It took a little longer for us to go back down because it was very slippery and we took our time, and also because there were a lot more people, so we often waited on the side to let people pass.

We were all muddy by the time we got to the car, but thankfully there is a hose in the parking lot where you can rinse off.

It was a really nice, kid-friendly hike, and we can't wait for the next one!

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