Life of Larisa or LOL

There are reindeer in Nu'uanu! Naughty reindeer! Thank goodness for short trails. Today, we ventured to the Nu'uanu Pali area for a quick loop trail and mini waterfall. The weather was perfect for a short trip into the woods. This was our first time exploring Judd Trail. I had read a few Blog posts from other folks describing their experience with the trail and my interest was peaked. 

So, we hike a lot. Some years more than others. I'd say this is our third go at being extra hike-y people. The first time was when our oldest Gabe was a toddler. Then again right before our youngest, Zach, was born...and now. There are several hikes that I have done, but with years in between going. This, I have determined, makes a huge difference. It can be a good difference---coming back to a trail you love. Or it can be a bad difference, in the case of today and Aiea Loop.  We have done this hike before. With kids. And I in no way recall how long it was. In fact, I'm sure I've read online several times that people equate this trail with being easy and kid friendly. Hmmm. Once again, my opinion differs from the hiking community at large.  This trail is lush. It has a couple of scenic views. There is greenery and trees and plants everywhere. But, this trail is a case of nature getting in its own way. All the wonderful things that make this a truly secluded trail through th...

This hike is perfect for kids, waterfall lovers, novice hikers, and mosquito fans. We saw an incredible amount of man made and nature made beauty on this hike. If we lived closer to this hike, I'm sure it would be one we would do weekly. It's a one stop shop for golfing, church, nature, exercise, and art.  Likeke Falls is on the windward side of O'ahu. We ended up taking the Pali Highway over the mountains because I thought we were headed to the Pali Golf Course instead of Ko'olau Golf Course. Although right down the road from each other, the distinction is important. I realized our mistake and we were quickly back on track. Ko'olau Golf Course in Kane'ohe is beautiful. Why am I talking about a golf course in my hiking post? The golf course provides the parking spot (except on Sundays during church) for this hiking hideaway.  After finding the right golf course and parking, we were on our way. The trail begins on a leaf covered old road that leads you to what I ...

A two week break from family hiking adventures, and of course we pick up with a beast of a trail---Wiliwilinui Trail. I'm not sure that I can continue to trust online reviews of hikes. "Novice" is not the description I would use to describe a hike that required the Sierra Club to fly in stairs for a portion of the trail. That's just me.  Our forray back into nature was especially exciting for the kids. The Wiliwilinui Trail has fruit picking and tasting opportunities for half the hike. Zach (5 years) was ecstatic to eat guava while hiking. Gabe (13 years) loved going off trail to shake trees for fruit. Isom (38 years) was happy the fruit was free.  Wiliwilinui Trail is a ridge trail in East Honolulu that reminded me of a cross between Koko Head (steps, steps, steps) and the Hawaii Loa Ridge Trail hike. Let me add again for extra measure, that neither of those hikes are for the faint of heart.  So, of course, after two weeks of not hiking, in the worst vog we have had ...

Two weeks. That's how long this hike took. Two separate Thursdays. Two attempts. Two treks through ridiculous mud. But...we made it.  Lulumahu Falls. What a beautiful sight! I heard about this hike via social media---snaps on a friends Snapchat, reviews on Yelp, photos on Instagram. I was determined to have a snap, review, and Insta-pic or two of my own. I wanted to capture the experience for myself. Geared up and parked with my five year old and Thursday morning hiking partner, we took on attempt number one. Mud sloshing, hill climbing, pictures of the reservoir, and graffiti wall discovered. We felt excited that we were on the path to a waterfall.  Then, somehow, we ended up off the trail and hiking up the side of the muddiest, rockiest, root-iest mile or two of mountain possible...with a five year old. After an hour or more of complaints, iffy footing, and getting covered in dirt, we gave up. We turned around and gloomily headed back to the car, missing the spectacular wate...