Tag Archives: Hiking

Old Pu’u Wa’awa’a blockhouse view

The trail up Pu’u Wa’awa’a passes through old ranch land, some of which is still used for livestock. Part way up, near the old quarry, is a small, flat-roofed building made with concrete blocks. This could have been a home for a ranch worker or perhaps a basic office associated with the quarry.

Whatever it was, it no longer is. The building is gutted, the doors and windows gone. Nowadays it serves as a shelter for sheep, goats, cattle and whatever else wanders in. One things it still has is a commanding view of the Kona coast.

These old windows look out onto the side of the hill and down toward the coast in the distance.

For more information about Pu’u Wa’awa’a and its trails, go to puuwaawaa.org.

Mauna Kea view

In this view of Mauna Kea from the Pu’u O’o Trail, the trees of a kipuka, clouds rolling over the saddle, and the bulk of the mountain, create a layered effect.

Trail to Honokane Nui Valley

I wrote a while ago (here) about the precipitous, rope-aided section of the trail to Honokane Nui Valley, east of Pololu. Surviving that section does offer the reward of the rest of the trail, which passes through tree-shaded clearings, tropical-leafed tunnels, and bamboo canyons. Try not to think of the haul back up.

‘Ōma‘o

The Big Island’s ‘Ōma‘o is one of two endemic thrushes left in Hawaii. The other is on Kaua‘i. There used to be distinct species on each of the islands, but the others are extinct. These birds live mostly on the wetter eastern slopes of Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa. This one was seen on the Pu’u O’o Trail off Saddle Road, which is probably near the westernmost limit of its range.

Goat on a lava field

A goat scrambles over the lava alongside the Pu’u O’o trail. Here, it’s probably transiting between kipukas, where there’s a good deal of forage growing, but goats seem to do fine in even the most inhospitable places on the island.

Abstracts: Passion flower

On a recent hike, I came on several of these passion flowers. I don’t know what kind they are; it’s often very hard to identify passion flowers. The flowers hung down, so this is a view from below. Not only did it have an exotic look to it, but it had a most wonderful fragrance.

Better Days: Honokane Nui Valley trail

Last May, I posted here about the hike from the end of Highway 270 down to the beach at Pololū and up on to the ridge on the other side. There, a bench awaits the hardy hiker, as well as wonderful views along the coast and into Honokane Nui Valley. I’m happy to report that the bench, which was in bad shape last time I was there, has been replaced by one with a plastic frame. While this might be aesthetically less pleasing, it should last a good deal longer.

I also mentioned that not far beyond this point, the trail into Honokane Nui Valley got wiped out by a landslide in the earthquake of 2006. Now, instead of switch-backing down to the valley floor, the trail goes straight down. The precipitous drop is made passable by a series of ropes, to hang on to on the way down, and to haul on on the way up. It’s a great workout though not necessarily the safest one around. If a rope gives way, it could be a long and nasty fall. Let the user beware.

The top photo shows what the entry into this section of trail looks like. This part is steep, then it drops off out of view. The second photo shows a steeper section with two ropes to hang on to.

For more information about the Pololū hike, go to bigislandhikes.com/pololu-valley/.

Helicopters circle Pu’u O’o vent

During a recent hike on the Nāpau Trail in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, one accompaniment was the throb of helicopter engines. The active flow from Pu’u O’o vent, and its ultimate outpouring into the ocean, is a great attraction for visitors and locals alike.

One way of seeing these events is on a helicopter tour and, as I sat at the Nāpau overlook, I noticed there was a clear order to those helicopter visits. A pair would arrive from the west, one a bit behind the other. One would circle the vent, the other visit the ocean entry. Then they’d switch. After 10 or 15 minutes, the two helicopters would head off to the northeast and soon after, the next pair would arrive.

For more information about Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, go to nps.gov/havo/.  For more information about Kilauea Volcano and it’s eruptions, go to hvo.wr.usgs.gov/kilauea/history/main.html.

Graham's Island

Life on the Big Island of Hawaii