Life of Larisa or LOL

Installment three of Thursday trails brought me and my weekday hiking buddy to Waimano Trail (Upper and Lower). The last time I did this trail was in 2010...back when I only had one kid.  This time I only had one kid, as the older one (that I previously did this hike with) was traveling in Washington, D.C.  I remembered this hike because it is minutes away from the hustle and bustle of Pearl City and easy for kids (and moms).  This trail was better maintained the last time I hiked it, but was still enjoyable this time around. Introducing new people to new hikes is also a thrill.  We trekked through tall leaves and grass, were surrounded by trees and rocks, and stomped through dark, thick mud.  We snapped some photos for Instagram, ate a small snack, and enjoyed the stream (and mosquitoes).  We only encountered one other person (and her dog) along the way, which was a nice change from the highly trafficked Manoa and Makapu'u trails done on previous Thursdays.  This hike is great to

"Trees are poems that the earth writes upon the sky." Kahlil Gibran, Sand and Foam We walked through a poem. It is easy to see why great authors of our time (and not our time) choose to write about nature---the forest, the trees, the sky, the oceans. There is a majestic quality to plants that were here before you and will (hopefully) remain long after your time is done.  With each hike checked off my Hike O'ahu checklist, I am discovering that outdoor exploring helps with inner exploration too. I am overcoming (one step in the forest at a time) some of my previous dislikes and anxieties related to physical accomplishments. Hiking is a challenge of the mind and body. I tried running. And I didn't get very far (literally and figuratively). I never experienced that so called "runners high". But hiking on my own terms and pace has allowed me to experience what I am calling "hikers high" (literally and figuratively). So for those of you with me on findi

Mānoa means:  thick ,  solid ,  vast , depth or  thickness. I'd say these same words apply to the Falls Trail.  My hiking explorations now include one weekday hike. At first, I was just hiking on the weekend with my boys (hubby, 13 year old, 5 year old). Now, I have roped another mom into joining me one morning a week to explore Oahu...one hike at a time.  For our inaugural week morning hike, we chose Makapu'u Lighthouse---familiar and kid friendly, since our other hiking partner is my five year old Zach. This past week (week two if you are keeping track) we chose the opposite of Makapu'u---Manoa Falls. Wet. Muddy. Shaded. Mosquito Heaven. Thick. Solid. Vast.  We arrived in the early morning and parked in the pay lot adjacent to Treetops Restaurant. The fee for parking is five dollars. You can make a pitstop to the restaurant bathroom and pay for parking all in the same place...you can even grab a snack from the gift shop if you forgot to pack one for your hike.  Manoa Fall

Happy October! It's Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the one month out of the year you may even consider thinking about breast health...although I encourage you to think about it more. I thought about it in February, for my 40th, when I promptly had my first mammogram (all is well) and will be thinking about it later this month when I will be doing the Susan G. Komen Honolulu Race for the Cure (you can join me or donate/sponsor me...there's still time until October 16th!). In honor of those I know that have been affected by breast cancer, I thought today was the perfect day to get active and hike to the Maili "Pink Bunker".  This trail is located on the Westside of Oahu in Maili. The ocean is on one side and mountains are on the other. There is free street parking and the unofficial trail (there are no standard brown and yellow state trail markers) begins right off the sidewalk. No sweet preamble, just hit the ground running. It's rocky, dusty, and uphill. There is