Two Old Hikes...with Two New Sights

The rainy season is upon us.  Winter in Hawai'i, muddy trails, high winds, and curl up under your blanket weather.  After chowing down on a hearty and delicious Thanksgiving meal at our friends the Pommerenk's house, I knew that I had to get out over the long weekend to hit the trail...regardless of weather and laziness setting in.

The best bet, in my opinion, for hiking in the winter Hawai'i conditions, is heading to the Westside of O'ahu.  On the Westside, the weather conditions seem to always be on the hotter and less rainy side.  Sure enough, Ka'ena Point via Wai'anae, was clear of heavy showers (we did get sprinkled on), mostly sunny (we were grateful for the wind and partial clouds as this trail gets super hot in non winter/mid afternoon conditions).

Since we have done this trail numerous times, I decided to keep it interesting by being festive and wearing Reindeer Ears (it kept it interesting for the other hikers on the trail as well) and by searching for an internet famous rock configuration known as "The Ka'ena Point Heart Shaped Rock".  I was determined to find nature's idea of a heart formed out of coastal rock and colored in with ocean waves.

After a few minutes of searching, we back tracked, got sidetracked by other cool rock formations, the pounding waves only feet away from us, and some giant black crabs crawling around---and then almost completely by accident, we found what we were searching for---the infamous Heart Shaped Ka'ena Point Rock.

I love it when a plan comes together.  An old trail just became new again.  Not a bad way to spend a Sunday afternoon.  As if finding the heart shaped rock wasn't enough, by the time we made our way to the end of the trail (the western most tip of the island of O'ahu), we arrived just in time to see not one, but three Hawaiian Monk Seals basking in the afternoon sun, cooling off in a nearby tide pool, and one making his way slowly down the beach and into the open ocean.  It was the perfect sight to see after our two and half mile trek to the end of the island.

A pitstop to enjoy the walk so far, eat a couple of snacks, and of course snap photos, and soon we were headed back the way we came, past black jagged rocks, along a bumpy old road (no longer in use), side by side with the albatross and the Pacific Ocean.  In another two and a half miles, we would be back to our car, our extra water bottles, and making a plan for our after hike food/treat options.

Until we meet again, or a hui hou, Ka'ena Point Heart Shaped Rock will always have a special place in our hiking hearts.

*** Side Note: if you find yourself searching for this Heart Shaped Rock, you may want to check the tides.  Also, face the ocean towards town to obtain the best heart shape vantage point.  The rock is near the beginning of the Ka'ena Point (on the westside) Trail.  If you leave the parking area and head towards the coast (not technically a part of the trail), you will see a series of underground water caves, it is amongst all these cool configurations that you will find the Heart Shaped Rock.  Bring your camera and snap away! ***

My little hiking elf enjoying a donut from the newest Dunkin' Donuts location in Kapolei.  We hike to eat. Five mile hike along the coast = deluxe donut treat!

The second oldie but goodie trail with new sights to be seen was the Ma'ili Pink Pillbox Trail or Pu'u O' Hulu Kai.  This trail is also located on the westside of O'ahu in the town of Ma'ili (right after Nanakuli and right before Wai'anae and Makaha).

I have come to realize I have a love/hate relationship with this particular trail.  Love the views, the workout, the cool pillboxes at the top.  Hate the uphill switchbacks that cause me to be severely out of breath, take multiple breaks, and want to spit.  You would think after all this hiking, I would be a little less winded...but no, I was huffing and puffing almost as loud as the wind that was whipping all around us.

This hiking journey was unique since it was on a Monday (not a typical hiking day) and because I had the pleasure of hiking with my bestie Sarah and her brother Luke who was visiting from out of town.  Our initial plan was to show Luke the wonder that is the Pali Puka, but a high wind advisory and lots of rain over the weekend meant, you guessed it, we were headed to the Westside instead.  The good, old, reliable Westside when the weather everywhere else is total junk.

Even though our Pali Puka plans got scrapped, we still had a Puka adventure.  We had heard of (and I had seen on numerous Westside drives to the beach and other hiking trails) a Puka (or hole) in the mountain that is also the same trail for a popular Westside hike known as the Pink Pillbox Hike.  You can read my previous post about the Pink Pillbox Hike here.

After making it up the hill to the pillboxes (there are three others along with the Pink Pillbox), we continued past a tall red flagpole, back down the mountain, but away from where we had ever ventured before.  The scenery was similar to what you can see hiking up to the Pillboxes but we did get to see an old rusted fence (for keeping mountain goats under control we are guessing), some pigeons cruising on a rock cluster facing the ocean (lucky birds...they have the best views on the island), a lone pheasant, and after about twenty minutes or so, the lesser known Westside Puka.

After seeing both the Pali Puka and the Makapu'u Puka, this Puka was a little underwhelming.  It is a small Puka that lacked the robust character of the previous two Pukas.  But, nonetheless, we were on a Puka mission, and we succeeded.  We can now say that we have climbed to the three known/accessible Pukas on O'ahu (until we learn of some other Pukas via Instagram).

I love when old trails become new and exciting again.  The Westside Puka was a great way to kick start the week of hiking.  If you decide to make your way to the Westside for a moderate hike, hopefully you will find the Puka and enjoy it with friends just as I did today.

A hui hou and happy trails~