Before I encountered medical limitations with the Army, Amy and I’s goal was to average one hike per month during our stay in Hawaii. Fortunately, we reached a vast number of trails across all the Hawaii islands before being permanently injured. I’ll share a few of our adventures in detail, but first, here is a list of all the trails we traveled on.
- Mañana Ridge Trail (September 2017)
- Waimano Falls: Lower Section Trail (November 2017)
- Waimea Valley Trail (November 2017)
- Diamond Head (Le’ ahi) Summit Trail (January 2018)
- Waimea Canyon Trail and Lookout (January 2018) – Island of Kauai
- Waimano Ridge Trail (January 2018)
- Makapuku Lighthouse Trail (March 2018)
- Kolekole Trail (March 2018)
- Koko Head Staircase Trail (March 2018)
- Koko Crater Trail (March 2018)
- Aiea Loop Trail (May 2018)
- Lanikai Pill Box Trail (June 2018)
- Ehukai Pillboxes Trail (September 2018)
- Tripler Ridge Trail (September 2018)
- Keaila (Dillingham Switchbacks) Trail (October 2018)
- Kuaokala (Kuaokala Access Road) Trail (November 2018)
- Kaluapapa Trail (November 2018) – Island of Molokai
- Hoomaluhia Botanical Garden Trail (January 2019)
- Nuuanu Trail (March 2019)
- Judd Trail (March 2019)
- Pauoa Flats Tail (March 2019)
- Pauoa Ridge Trail (March 2019)
- Mau’umae (Lanipo) Trail (April 2019)
- Pu’u Ma’eli’eli Trail (April 2019)
- Kahuku Point (Turtle Bay) Pillbox Trail (April 2019)
- Waiakeakua Falls via Pu’u Pia Trail (May 2019)
- Hawaii Loa Ridge Trail (July 2019)
- Waipio Valley Trail (July 2019) – Island of Hawaii (Big Island)
- Papakolea Green Sand Beach Trail (July 2019) – Island of Hawaii (Big Island)
- Papa’iloa Beach (Police Beach) Trail (August 2019)
- Mokoli’i Island Trail (August 2019)
- Puu O Hulu (Pink Pillbox) Trail (August 2019)
- Kaihalulu Red Sand Beach Trail (November 2019) – Island of Maui
- Pu’upehe (Sweetheart Rock) Trail (November 2019)- Island of Lanai
From this list, Amy and I have hiked at least one trail on each Hawaiian island. We recognize that’s a privilege within God’s grace, and we are grateful. With our gratitude in mind, I want to share some details of our most memorable hikes. Memories that built and improved relationships because we embraced the opportunities God laid before us.
Waimano Falls: This is known as the “White Shoe Hike from Hell!” Amy and I just started getting into hiking before her parents came to Hawaii to visit. Naturally, we decide to share our newfound hobby with them, but it came at a price.
Combined, we all four (Amy, her Mom and Dad, and myself) wanted to see a waterfall. The only problem was it required a very rocky hike and a trek up a steep incline called “Cardiac Hill” that lived up to its name and almost caused an injury or two.
Sadly, for my Mother-In-Law, Julie, she lost a great pair of bright white tennis shoes on our hike together. Never will I forget her response when I changed into dirty tennis shoes, “Uh, did we need to bring older shoes for this hike?”
Not realizing how muddy the trail would be, I respond, “you should be fine if you avoid the mud puddles.” Wow, I ate those words.
Spoiler, the shoes never recovered from the dirt and the rain monsoon we encountered during the hike. She tried to bleach them, but the Hawaiian red dirt forever stained the shoes. Couple those challenges with the steady rain during the walk, and Julie’s shoes became permanently “off white” at best. “White Shoe Hike from Hell!”
Waimano Ridge Trail: In January of 2018, Amy and I would begin the first of our hikes with Mike and Tina Turpin, who’d become beloved friends during our Hawaiian stay. We had the chance to walk with the Turpins through some of their most difficult and erroneous adversities. While we knew them before this trail, our hikes would produce a long-term bond that was a pleasant surprise. As a result, don’t ever neglect an opportunity with another. That chance could become a life-changing one for either you or those involved. In our case, we believe it was both
Kalaupapa Trail: Kalaupapa is the isolated peninsula on the island of Molokai. It’s one of two leper colonies (now known as Hanson’s Disease) left within the United States. Reaching Kalaupapa is only possible by air or by hiking the trail we walked on. Hiking down from the top of the mountain and into the Kalaupapa Peninsula, Amy and I saw some of the tallest sea cliffs in the world. Cliffs that you’ve probably seen in movies like the Jurassic Park films.
Once we reached the end, we got to experience a guided tour of the peninsula to learn its history. For our experience, I’m not sure what is more memorable from this hike, what we were supposed to learn, or what our Tour Guide imagined.
While our tour guide shared Kalaupapa’s history with us, he also made some very fantastical claims about himself. His most wild claim was that he was no longer human but an Avatar. I’ll never forget my disbelieving eyes meeting Mike Turpin’s look of shock. The full detail of his claims is a whole other essay. For now, I remember being grateful to continue to build on our bond with Mike and Tina Turpin.
Pauoa Trail & Pauoa Ridgeline: Speaking of the Turpin’s, we had other trails after the Molokai peninsula of Kalaupapa. On this hike, Amy and I started the adventure with the Turpins but ended it by ourselves.
Our adventure started normal, and the hike was timid until Amy, and I chose to be courageous. At the Pauoa Trail Bench, one can turn back or take a left across the ridge. Ultimately, Mike and Tina wisely chose to retrace their steps and not take the left turn. However, Amy and I decided to go forward across the ridge, and it was a dangerous thrill.
Traveling across this ridge, we encountered vertical paths that required ropes to climb across the divides. Thank God someone had already installed them before our journey began. Still, at one point I realized it was easier to travel up the ropes than to turn around. Had we turned around, we might have fallen off the mountain and into the valley; that’s how rough the path was to hike. You can see the look of fear on Amy’s face in the picture. Truthfully, I was scared too as the spot where we stood for the photo was a very small piece of earth. Fortunately, we made it without a scratch. Mike and Tina even called us a few times to ensure we were safe.
Waipio Valley: Our family did not intend to do this hike, but it turned out great. During our trip to Big Island (Hawaii Island), we didn’t have any initial plans. Eventually, we chose to go to the lookout of Waipio Valley, which is a newer tourist attraction. After the recent volcano eruptions ruined traditional tourist areas, people have visited this valley more. Our family was no different.
Initially, we were only going to experience the lookout that displays some of the world’s most beautiful sea cliffs. But our adventurous crew decided to see how far down the road we could hike, a drive that is one of the steepest in the world with a 39% grade on some sections. For our crew, that meant walking the whole road to the bottom, where we experienced the black sand beach, breathtaking ocean views, and more.
I’ll never forget our smiles as we took in all the scenery, the cool ocean breeze, and then hiking back up the hill that was one of the most challenging inclines I’ve ever hiked up. But it was worthwhile because we built memories and had a sense of accomplishment when we reached the top. Plus, Julie’s shoes were still white at the end of this hike!
Papakōlea (The Green Sand Beach): Hawaii’s Green Sand Beach hike reminds me that a family can quickly forgive another when they let go of their agendas. All my sweet wife, Amy, wanted was to see the Green Sand Beach during our visit to the Big Island (Hawaii Island). Unfortunately, her brother Garrison lost his cellphone in Volcano National Park earlier in the day, putting our hike to the Green Sand Beach in jeopardy.
None of us were sure where Garrison lost his cellphone, but halfway to the Green Sand Beach, we decided to turn our van around to search for his device. As a result, I heard Amy crying in the seat in front of me. She knew she’s not going to experience her only wish: Papakōlea (The Green Sand Beach).
Fortunately, we did find Garrison’s working phone, which was on a cliff next to the ocean. Also, later that week we did make it to the Green Sand Beach, one of five globally and the southernmost point in the United States. That’s cool bragging rights.
Even better bragging rights is that despite Amy’s initial hurt, no one accused another of intentional harm. No one argued or fought over what was more important, the phone or the green beach. Instead, we blamed the situation since it was no one’s fault. As a result, sibling bonds were deepened (including me), trust was built, and some needed reconciliation even occurred for everyone that week. By setting aside our agendas, refusing to blame anyone, and quickly forgiving another, we created lasting family bonds greater than any phone or beach.
Kaihalulu (The Red Sand Beach): How do you follow up a black and a green sand beach? By completing the whole set and visiting a red sand beach. After all, there are only three of these in the world. Similar to the Green Sand Beach, the Red Sand Beach was a main thing Amy had to do while we were on Maui, and I’m glad we reached it. The Red Sand Beach is accessed after navigating through the Road to Hana to reach the northeastern side of Maui.
On the Road to Hana there are beautiful sights to see, from waterfalls to black sand beaches, to nature reserves, to local vendors, ocean outlooks, and more. You get to experience all of these treasures on one road. That’s the magic of the Road to Hana. Then, in the end, one has the option of hiking to the red sand beach.
Since our journey to the Red Sand Beach, COVID-19 has happened. Rumor is that locals have become very protective of Hana’s small town and have even blockaded off tourists from the Red Sand Beach. We’re grateful we experienced it before the pandemic and are thankful the locals are staying safe. Here’s to praying the epidemic passes soon, and others can experience it again.
Since I need to put my body first and not aggravate my injuries, our hiking days are probably over. We then may not reach our goal of 36 trails, but 34 hikes is still an accomplishment. With two deployment cycles, changes in my health, and a pandemic that closed many other hikes, we’re grateful for the journeys we accomplished while we’ve lived in Hawaii.
Amy and I see our time in Hawaii as a grace from God. One where we’ve built lifelong memories and great relationships throughout these adventures.
Ultimately, that’s the main reason why I share this hiking list with you, to encourage you to build memories no matter where you live. Yes, Hawaii makes it easy to create unique moments. Nevertheless, I’m already starting to think about experiences I can lean into and develop when returning to the continental United States, even memories in our hometown.
In other words, one doesn’t have to live in Hawaii to make memories that build relationships and last. We all can make them happen where we live. Let’s then seek to visit beautiful places like Hawaii, but not neglect the beauty that God’s given us each day.
*Unless otherwise noted, all hikes are on Oahu, Hawaii.
**Special thanks to Amy Chitwood for helping me recompile this list. My original list was lost, and through her AllTrails App, she determined the hikes I was missing.
***All pictures included in this post photos taken from our hikes.
