Vacations and Catching Up: Camelback Hike AZ and Pu'u Pia, round two!

It has been a busy month.  We went as a family to go out to the mainland in July, I was still finishing up the last couple of weeks of classes, the boys were going to stay with our in-laws while I went traipsing around to different family member's homes helping my Mom with her interior design and painting business.  It was a lot of work, and quite the whirlwind, however it was totally worth it. 

Getting out to the mainland from Hawaii is always a bit of a hassle.  We luckily qualify for Space Available flights, which helps with cost, however it is the equivalent of ultimate stand-by, with flights subject to change without notice, and absolutely no guarantee that the amount of seats projected to be available will actually be there when you show up to attempt to make a flight.  After 3 days of waking up absurdly early trying to catch flights, having flight times changed in the middle of the night, and not being selected, we finally made it onto a flight out to CA. Our first stop for family was AZ, so we got to road trip straight through from where we landed in northern CA to the Phoenix area over the 4th of July weekend!  Crazy traffic, and very little sleep.

However, once we arrived, we were afforded the time to relax and spend some quality time with our family there.  It was a great visit getting to see most of them for the first time in nearly 4 years.  And we enjoyed the food and family as much as we could in such a short time.  I however, was flying out to my first project on the 5th of July, so I decided to get up early on the 4th of July to do a sunrise hike at Camelback, on the Cholla Trail side. 

Cholla Trail is a popular trail in the Phoenix area to be sure.  I saw many people there early in the morning (with the temperature already reaching the low 80s before sunrise!) to take advantage of the cool before the heat of the day set in.  The trailhead is up in a residential street that doesn't allow for parking, so you have to park on the main road that intersects it, and then walk up to the trailhead.  The trail was beautiful to be sure, stretching around the side of a well manicured golf course and then up into the 3 peaked hill.  There were so many rock steps, and covered in arid dust, that footing is of course a subject for concern.  Bring plenty of water and good gripping shoes on this hike! 

As I started up the trail, I was almost immediately rewarded with a very expansive view of the Phoenix valley.  I am not normally a fan of AZ and the desert climate, being very Irish myself and basically allergic to the sun and heat, so this hike was a wonderful respite and a great opportunity for me to witness the beauty of the desert climate.  The vibrant colors of the sunrise were visible for miles in all directions, and created such a magnificent landscape, tinting the whole world in pink, reds, and orange glows.  If any of you visit the Phoenix area, I absolutely recommend doing this hike early in the morning, it is worth the beautiful sunrise views, unimpeded by foliage or clouds!

After the wonderful July 4th celebration with family, and a short plane flight to SeaTac, I was onto the second leg of my journey, with Buddha in my carry on bag! (makes for an interesting search at security to say the least!) At my sister's house, we were definitely put to work! 

We planned on repainting almost every room in her house to include painting the dated wood trim to a crisp white, and creating a last minute idea of a feature wall in the main living room.  Luckily we were able to each focus on areas of work to bring this mammoth project together in 6 days!  (HGTV eat your heart out, lol.)  All the while Buddha sitting watch on the kitchen table, as I struggled with demolishing the original mantle and marble fireplace surround, building a new floor to ceiling frame, creating and hanging the custom live edge mantle, hanging drywall on the floor to ceiling surround, tiling the surround, and finally adding the reclaimed lumber that was painstakingly aged and stained by my sister while I brought the rest of the project to life. 

 

There were definitely emotional highs and lows in this project, words exchanged in anger and frustration, cursing at the tools and inanimate objects, however at the end of the week, the long days and nights of work, many many doses of ibuprofen and copious amounts of caffeine paid of, and the family room and home was painted with fresh, airy and neutral colors, and the main entry was now a retreat from the hectic world with the rustic charm of a secluded log cabin!  Our work there was done, and on to the next job we went.  Driving from Olympia, WA to Swan Valley Idaho, where my Mother's business is based. 

I was lucky enough while there to work hard everyday, and spend truly quality time with my parents every night.  We cut down fallen trees, collected branches, weeded landscaping, trimmed the bushes and hawthorn trees back, re-stretched and secured my mother's Teepee, cleaned windows (inside and out), re-upholstered some outdoor stools, distressed and stained truck load after truck load of heavy rustic beams, and managed to get all the laundry done to boot!  It was a hectic couple of weeks, however it was a wonderful feeling to go to bed exhausted and feeling accomplished.  When it came time to leave and go back to Hawaii I was honestly sad to leave. 

As soon as we got back, my oldest son started school, and we set back into getting comfortable in our house, getting back into the daily routine of life.  So after a week of adjustment, I decided getting back into the saddle of hiking in Hawaii would be with an easy starter trail, Pu'u Pia.  This trail is frequently used by mothers' hiking groups for early walking children, and was a hike I had accomplished before with my two boys in tow.  Last time we hiked this trail it was bone dry, however we are currently in the midst of hurricane season, and have received a fair amount of rain over the last few weeks, so the once dry streambed that lay next to the beginning of the trail was flowing quite well.

With the soothing sounds of the small stream we set off up the trail.  There was definitely more mud to be sure, however this is a short hike I highly recommend to anyone who wants to get in a little bit of a workout, have some beautiful scenery, but maybe doesn't have time to be in the mountains all day.  We hiked with a good friend of ours up the trail, and had great conversation about being in touch with nature, spirituality, and community.  Hikes with friends are always the best places to have the deep philosophical conversations, surrounded by nature and Gaia, it's hard not to feel more of a connection to one's inner self and innocence.

The top of the trail has a wonderful bench on it, the perfect place for a quick rest, maybe some meditation if that is what you would like to do, and then the downward journey back to the trailhead.  There are a couple of flat clearings that allow for the great views of the ridgeline surrounding Pu'u Pia, and each one of these spots is peaceful, just calling out for you to take a moment to rejuvenate yourself. 

What I learned from this chaotic and busy month.  Enjoy time with those who matter most to you, and take the time to replenish yourself in the most natural setting you can find.  It doesn't have to be an earth shattering hike or journey to be able to find yourself becoming more grounded and in touch with the person you are and the potential you possess.  Surround yourself with a community of love and support, and you will be happy and thrive.

Until the next adventure!

Taking a Hiking Break to Work on Balance: Ka'ena Point, Mermaid Caves, Slacklining and Stand Up Paddleboarding

I haven't been out hiking as much as I'd like the last few weeks.  Still watching my neighbor's kids, working on school work, and getting ready to go back home to visit family for a bit, has made my adventuring slightly harder.  However, I did have a day where the boys and I decided to go searching around Ka'ena Point on the west side to kill some time before a movie.  I had left my IDs at home and had to stay out until I could have someone retrieve them for me.

Anyway, for some reason I've always been wary of going out on the West Side of the island, not sure entirely the reason, but I have done little to no exploring out that way.  We drove out to Ka'ena Point, which is the westernmost tip of the island, and hopped out.  Most people walk on the old dirt road out to the bird sanctuary, but I decided that we should hang out on the shore and walk through the rocks and coral.  It was so scenic, and beautiful!  I am definitely going to have to go back on a day when I am planning to explore that area, and not just on a whim.

In the last few weeks, I also had to get a present out to my sister before her birthday.  When she was visiting last month, I promised I would get her some crystals and cleanse them in the mermaid caves.  Never having been to the mermaid caves before, I decided to do some google searching, and luckily enough, the caves come up on google maps, so they are very easy to find.  Go park at the Nanakuli Beach Park, and head towards the left away from the beach behind a neighborhood area.  You'll pass by some interesting tide pools in the rocks.  The entrance to the mermaid cave is the closest hole to a house's backyard that has an opening in a gate with a chain across and a no trespassing sign.  Also, there were some other people there, so we could hear their voices and used that as a guide as well.  We hopped down into the cave, and luckily were there at a midpoint between high and low tides.  It was such a cool and serene place to hang out.  The ground is covered in large chunks of coral, and the sounds the waves make as they come in are majestic and slightly intimidating.  I was able to cleanse the crystals I purchased for my sister and then take a moment to meditate. 

The tricky part about the mermaid caves is getting out.  My friend, April, went with me, and she had no problem hopping up and down the main entrance hole, but I for the life of me couldn't get out (I blame going to the gym earlier that day and being tired), so I ended up having her give me a boost on a secondary entrance that has a shoot type feel, and shimmied back up and out of the cave.  Definitely go with someone else if you have upper body strength issues, so you don't get stuck in the caves.  I can't wait to go back and take my good camera and Buddha to get some shots, and sit and meditate.

This week, I've become obsessed with Slacklining.  I did it a couple times in college, when I was in better shape, and remembered it was quite a core strengthening activity, so I decided it was time to bring slacklining back into my life.  For those of you who aren't sure what I'm talking about, slacklining is when you take 1-2" wide webbing and set it up between two trees, or pillars, so it is kind of like a tightrope.  The difference is it is bouncy, and when you become proficient at just walking across it, you can learn to do cool tricks on it and yoga poses, whatever your heart desires.  I went to Climb Aloha, which is a great local store up on Noah St in Honolulu, although I was informed they are about to move down close to Ward Center, and purchased a "Slackers" kit that is 50ft long, 2" wide and comes with a learning line that can be hung above you to use as a stabilizer.  (Thank goodness for the learning line!)

I tried it out in my front yard for a bit, and loved it, so did my boys.  When my neighbor, April, got home, we went and set the line up by the local beach and started walking the line.  It was so much fun, we decided to slack the next day, and the next, and the next!  Keeping us busy, and eventually we got some other's to join in and play around on the line with us.  We tried out some yoga poses, holding them just long enough to snap pics, and continued to work on just plain walking across the line.  My neighbor enjoyed it so much, she purchased her own line that just got in yesterday, so I see many nights of slacklining in our futures.

The other new adventure I've been taking up this week is Stand Up Paddleboarding.  Other than hiking and trying out new adventures, singing is one of my passions.  So, back in April I saw there was going to be a summer karaoke contest down a Shore Bird Restaurant, in the Waikiki Outrigger.  I entered, and lost the first night I went, which was sad.  However it was a multiple week long qualifier to the grand finale, so I went back the next week, won my night, won the week, and then almost a month later at the karaoke finals, won the night and an amazing 11ft Miller Lite Paddle Board!  So excited about that.  It took me a few weeks to be able to purchase the other items I needed, but I was lucky enough to find a local Surf shop, Blue Planet Surf down on 540 Ward, that has a great selection of paddle boards and accessories that fit my limited budget.  I was able to get an adjustable paddle, leash, soft rack, tie downs, and a deck pad with installation for $250!  Not bad!  So taking into account my winnings I got an amazing, unique paddle board, and all the stuff I need to transport and use it for around $150! (The weekly prize for winners was $100). 

It just so happens that our slacklining place is right by one of the calmest beaches on the island, so deciding that was the perfect place to try out my trophy, I brought it along!  The first day was a little rough getting used to the balance, and dealing with the currents and small waves that come along.  The second day we took it out, I was able to cruise around, try out some yoga poses (although I fell off attempting the warrior II pose), and take my kids out for little cruises to watch the sunset over the Waianae Range!  What a magnificent experience that was, so beautiful to be gliding across the water while the majestic sunset is before you!  Definitely excited to get back out and play around on my new toys some more.

So what did I learn from these hectic weeks of responsibility and play time?  Just that, there is a balance in everything.  There are always going to be outside tasks, forces, responsibilities, what have you that you have to accomplish by certain times, or that cause you to be stressed out and taking a break from things you love to do.  Find new things that you can accomplish in the limited time you have to help center and rejuvenate yourself.  You may be surprised at what those new tasks are, or at how well you can accomplish them, but make sure you take the time to find what helps you de-stress and find your balance.

Here is a video I put together of all the adventures we've been having.  It has some video clips as well as more pics of what we've been up to, if you want to check it out.

Until the next adventure...

Chasing the Sun: Koko Head Arch and Pu'u O Hulu

The last couple weeks have been crazy hectic, I've recently returned to school to finish my bachelor's degree, I've been babysitting my neighbor's kids during the week, and I had a karaoke contest that was 2 months in the making for the finals. Stressville, population me!  I've been wanting to "Chase the Sun" for weeks, but every time we planned on it, something went wrong and we had to postpone.  So this last week, in the midst of all my stress, chasing the sun with my husband and boys was a necessary activity. 

I did a bunch of research on the Koko Head Arch hike, I've seen a lot of people doing it for sunrise, and I thought, "what a magical spot, we must go!"  Sunrise was at 0510 that morning, so we got up around 0330 to get ready and drive out there.  I had seen most people can do the hike in under 30 minutes, but since I was bringing my children, I figured it would be potentially an hour for us. The best place to park for Koko Head Arch is at the blowhole parking lot for Halona Blowhole.  Cross the street, and walk up the road back towards Hanauma Bay.  There is a large rock formation at mile marker 15, we climbed up here, however on the way back down, we noticed that if you keep walking past marker 15 to the next little ridge, it is a much easier beginning spot to the hike.  Once you reach the main ridgeline, the path is very straight forward. 

Make sure to wear grippy shoes as the hike is steep, and sandy over rock.  We wore our regular hiking boots, which were sufficient, but we saw a few people in flat vans and things that were having slipping issues.  When you get to the arch, there are two ways to get underneath, you can go to the right side, that side looked pretty steep and slippery, or to the left side, by climbing over a tiny ledge, but it was fairly easy to navigate.  We reached the underside of the arch with about 20 minutes before sunrise, and it was beautiful to see.  We could see one of the neighboring islands off in the distance, and there was a nice breeze.  The only downside is it was crowded with people playing current pop music, which kinda killed the serenity, but it was gorgeous otherwise. 

After we sat for a while, I climbed around a bit to get some good pictures of the arch, and then we sat and waited for the large group before us to leave, and enjoyed the last few moments of sunrise splendor.  On the way back down, a light misty rain began, and there was a rainbow over the arch, it was a wonderful moment!

We went about the rest of the day as usual, and then we headed out to the west side of the island to tackle Pu'u o Hulu.  First time I took the boys on this hike, we chose the harder section of the hike by accident, going up the trail beginning at between the 7th and 8th light poles on Kaukama Road.  If you are a good climber, I suggest going this way as it was intense, however if you are with kids and just wanting a nice hike with a little bit of incline, go to the 10th light pole where there is an obvious trail that is quite easy to find.  Hike in a bit, and where the trail splits, head left. 

There are so many great views along this trail!  Early on you cross a white tree that is growing with its roots cascading down the side of a rock formation, it was truly a pretty sight.  As you get up higher on the trail, the views of the valley, Waianae Mountain Range, and the ocean are just breathe taking. 

When you get to the top of the ridgeline, there are 4 bunkers that are pretty easy to get to.  The ridgeline is a bit narrow in places, but not something that feels unsafe.  We picked a bunker that wasn't too full of people, and had some snacks and settled in for watching the sunset.  In all honesty, I wasn't really expecting much variation from the sunrise hike, I mean how different is the sunrise from the sunset, but holy guacamole was I wrong!  The lighting during this sunset was magical!  It was so much fun watching the light go from a heavenly white glow, to a nice soft orange and pink, into the intense vibrant colors of the descending sun. 

Overall, I am so happy that I got to finally "Chase the Sun".  I had this idea in my mind for a while, and it was even better than I imagined it would be.  It was a bit tough, as I carried my Buddha on both hikes, and I had been working out just the day before, it hurt at times, I was out of breath at times, but having my boys with me made it worth the discomfort.  As I was hiking up the steeper parts of Pu'u o Hulu, I was reminded of one of the universal truths of Buddhism, "Life is suffering" there are many things that can cause suffering, it is how you deal with it, and overcome it that is important. For me chasing the sun was the best remedy.  I started the day focused on the stresses that were in my life with the first rays of the starting day, and I finished it by focusing on releasing the negativity that was surrounding me and replenishing my spiritual well with the last rays of the sun! I felt so centered after that day, my children and husband also had a great time.  I am so happy that we were all able to be there together making those memories together!

Until the next hike...