Life of Larisa or LOL

First day of school intersession, we laced up our oldest, dirtiest sneakers, filled our water bottles, packed our snacks, and headed over the mountains to windy and cloudy Kane'ohe for a hike! Pu'u Ma'eli'eli or the digging hill trail, was an uphill, muddy at times, root filled, berry filled, view filled hiking adventure. We had a large group by our standards---three adults and three boys (two teens and a preschooler). We made it up in pretty good time (under 45 minutes) and cruised on top of the Pillbox at the end of the hike for a long time taking in the sweeping coastline view. To our left, Chinaman's Hat (Mokoli'i), to our far right Rabbit Island (Manana), in front of us Kane'ohe Marine Corp Base and Kane'ohe Bay.  Although the weather was good for hiking, not too humid, not too hot, it made for a slightly blurred and overcast view from the top. We were all already wowed with the view on a drizzly gray day---a testament to how amazing this view must

In my previous post I gushed about my birthday eve hike to Hanauma Bay Ridge. On my actual birthday however, I spent part of the afternoon exploring the upper portion of Waimano Trail---it has tunnels! And zombie intel...apparently they exist.  We met new hiking friends at the trail head in Pearl City (across from Pearl City High School) and began our hike a little after lunch time with three kids all under age five between us. They were all great hiking companions...and the perfect heights for the tunnels we explored. I have done the lower portion of this hike a couple of times, but for some reason never ventured to the upper trail, which after exploring a portion of it, I think I prefer.  There were lush views of the valley, flowers and berries along the trail, old rock walls for added interest, a couple of sweeping views of West O'ahu, and the perfect snapshot/snacking bench.  Flashlights and hard hats suggested for these tunnels. Flashlights to see...hard hats to protect your

This week it was my birthday. Of course, I had to commemorate the occasion with a hike---an Eastside trek on my birthday eve with my Thursday Trail buddy and my five year old Zach.  I successfully survived the first year of my forties. The big 4-0 last year was filled with many different hikes around O'ahu. Going with the adage "If it ain't broke, don't fix it.", I'm determined to start my 41st cycle around the sun, the way I spent most of last year---exploring the island I love one hike at a time (and maybe throwing in some food destinations while I'm at it).  We started my pre-birthday hike early in the morning. We had a quasi plan of how/where to park, as well as how/where to start the trail of this quasi restricted hike.  Apparently hiking the ridge above beautiful Hanauma Bay is frowned upon... Which is too bad, because it is extremely gorgeous and fun to do.  But sometimes you have to persist .  This hike was definitely a lesson in persistence. Altho

If my calculations are correct, I have now hiked this trail three times...the westside portion anyway. Despite multiple visits, Saturday was the first time hiking it without kids and coincidentally, the first time actually reaching "the end" or the point---the western most tip of the island of O'ahu.  It's amazing that we made it...since the hike we had intended to do was Makua Caves. A downed power line changed our fate. After having driven almost an hour to the original destination, only to discover an "electric" path, we decided we would venture a little further down the road to Ka'ena Point. When life throws you an electrical wire... In record time we made it to the point in the hike that we usually have to turn around with the kids...and we kept going! Uncharted territory! We quickly arrived at a gate with signs announcing that we were entering a Native Ecosystem---the Albatross bird sanctuary and nature reserve. We saw an incredible number of birds