Hike Hawaii

Three fun hikes we've done so far....

Haiku Stairs- aka Stairway to Heaven



In the 1940's U. S. Navy built the Haiku Radio Station, a top secret facility that was to be used to transmit radio signals to the Navy ships that were then operating throughout the Pacific, and a wooden ladder that was used to access the Radio station. This ladder was replaced by wooden stairs. Today galvanized-steel ship ladders are fused one on top of another to the top of the climb. There are approximately 3,922 steps to top.

Partially from http://www.friendsofhaikustairs.org/



Crouching Lion or Kauhi'imakaokalani
This hike is pretty much behind our house. According to The Hikers guide to Oahu, This "hike loops around the steep, knife-edge ridges...[the] dangerous route demands sure feet, agile hands, and a cool head." Its pretty much class 4 climbing sans protection. But, I guess in such a climate could you trust anything fixed anyway? There are plenty of thorny plants to cut one to pieces on the top and backside of the ridge as well. "No, you don't need long pants" was the biggest lie from Luke. It was actually a cool hike despite the foreboding description!




Kalaupapa-Moloka'i
Kalaupapa is located on a beautiful peninsula on the island of Molokai. This isolated peninsula is surrounded by the ocean on three sides and the world's highest sea cliffs on the fourth side. This remoteness is the reason it was chosen to serve as a leprosy colony for more than a century. It is still home to patients with Hansen's disease (leprosy) and has become a National Historical park. An excellent film entitled Molokai tells the story of Father Damien who came to Kalaupapa in 1873 and served the patients until he too died of the disease in 1889. Kalaupapa can be reached by boat (summer only), by small plane, or by a trail leading down the sea cliffs (either on foot or by mule). We of course went by foot. It was amazing.