Are You Sure We Are Not Trespassing?!?

Somewhere between Kualoa and Kaneohe, Mar turns off the Kamehameha Hwy and into another residential area.  Several turns later, we were parking the car on the street with a fenced off gravel and dirt road ahead.  After putting on our hiking boots we made our way to the "trailhead".  All I saw at the end of the paved road was a 6-8 foot tall chain link fence and a huge sign saying "NO TRESPASSING".  In my head I thought "Hmm...should we really be doing this?" and "I hope I don't have to scale this fence!".  Moments later a trail runner emerges from a slit opening on the side of the said fence.  Well I guess it is OK then! 

The beginning of the trail started off tame...firmly packed dirt road lined by thick and lush rainforest.   Further along, the dirt road transitioned into loose gravel trail...no doubt to prevent the dirt trail from becoming a muddy sink pit.  The loose gravel was a bit treacherous and I almost twisted my ankles by mis-stepping on awkward shaped pieces of rock.  Nearby was a meandering stream...and apparently a freshwater "pool" which locals made by blocking the flow of the stream with the many rocks that litter the stream bed. 

After the gravel section, began the arduous steep inclines...seriously no joke they were at least 45 degree inclines.  I was huffing and puffing as I made my way up step by step.  I stopped once on the trek up to photograph the awesome ridgeline in the distance.  Mar told me to put the camera away as it was taking my focus away from the trek up and plus I could take pictures on my way back down.   She kept my spirits up and told to keep on chugging along up the mountain side. 

I am so glad I made the climb for the reward was a magnificent waterfall which Mar says was used as a rain catch.  We ditched our stuff at the mini bridge at the end of the trail.  Even though the waterfall was a just few feet away, we opted to remove our shoes and socks before getting into the water because the path to the waterfall was muddy and the rocks were jagged. 

The rocks in and around the waterfall were slippery and jagged as well.  I was taking much care with each step so as not to fall.  Wish I had those amphibious hiking scandals!  I stood near the waterfall when my cousin yelled "You gotta lean back!".  So I did.   And WOW!!!  Torrents of water crashing on me from above...it was like a natural water massage!  Getting drenched was a welcomed relief from the hot and humid weather though...so glad I made it up here. 

After relishing in the cool waterfall for about 30 minutes, we put our hiking boots back on and prepared to head back down.  Before leaving the waterfall, my cousin said I should leave an offering of a rock wrapped in a ti leaf to the gods to thank them.  So I did...for I was truly awed, humbled, and grateful for experiencing the island's beauty.

The way down was cake except for the steep now declines!  I stepped very gingerly because if one mis-step or slip occured then I'm sliding down the mountain on my bum.  It didn't help at all that it started to sprinkle.  But finally we made it past the declines and we were on the home stretch...passing by 2 hikers on their way up and 3 portly locals dressed in camouflage, armed with bows and arrows...hunting feral pigs with their trusty dog following them closely. 

We headed back to Honolulu via the Likelike Hwy around 6 pm.   Whoa cut it really close...we had to be in Waikiki at 7 pm for my friend's wedding rehersal dinner...yup we crashed it!