January 4, 2001 - Thursday

Kahana Valley State Park (Oahu), Hawaii, USA

I got started a little later today and didn't catch the bus until 12. I headed to Kahana Valley State Park after that. The bus dropped me off at a lightly forested area, which opened up to Kahana Bay, which showed a sweeping view of water and mountains. After quickly eating up some pork and chicken buns I got from the 7-11, I started my way into the park.

Kahana Valley State Park (Oahu), Hawaii, USA

This park is unique in a way that there are 31 families living in the park. The brochure explained it as "a way to nurture and foster native Hawaiian culture and spread knowledge of its values and ways." What I saw was more like the countryside of Alabama. A paved road leads up to the main trail entrance, which is 1.4 miles away from where the bus dropped me off.

I started walking up and passing houses that are in need of extensive repairs. I did not think it is part of the Hawaiian culture to display old, rusted major appliances and junkyard-quality cars on the front lawn. Each household also has at least one, many times two barking dogs tied to the rusting hulk of iron. A coating of spent firecrackers lined the paved road all the way to the trailhead.

Orchids in Kahana Valley State Park (Oahu), Hawaii, USA

After reaching the trailhead however, most signs of human dwellings disappeared except for a narrow well-traveled trail. The vegetation became lush with tropical foliage towering overhead and a smattering of small purple orchids along the forest path. As I breathed in the humid forest air, my spirited soared and the initial trailer park shock was temporarily forgotten.

Kahana Valley State Park (Oahu), Hawaii, USA

After a steady climb of about 15 minutes, I stopped to take a picture from an overlook. As soon as I stopped, a swarming cloud of mosquitoes appeared right in front of me. I almost panicked because I've never seen so many mosquitoes swarming before, not even when I was in the Amazon. I quickly opened my pack to put my Ultimate Bug Jacket on and attached my detachable pant legs. By the time I was done with that, I have already been bitten 4 times. I was barely able to take the picture with my unprotected hands because they were attacking them.

Kahana Valley State Park (Oahu), Hawaii, USA

After taking the picture, I ran back to the station and asked the ranger in charge if he had any bug sprays he could spare. The ranger had to be at least 300 pounds - he was breathing heavily and sweating in the air-conditioned office as he rummaged through the drawer for the spray. Luckily he found some and I doused myself with the bug spray before heading out again.

Kahana Valley State Park (Oahu), Hawaii, USA

The trail snaked up the mountain through a lush forested area and had several nice view of the mountain range in the distant. The mosquitoes are heavy in the shaded areas though - because when I bend down to tie my shoelace a few times, a cloud of at least 50 mosquitoes swarmed around my crotch. Again, that number isn't being exaggerated.

Land snails at Kahana Valley State Park (Oahu), Hawaii, USA

The trail continued through lush forests and some archeological sites. I was surprised to see about 10 snails congregating at a small section of the forest floor but I couldn't figure out what they were doing and why they were there.

Kahana Valley State Park (Oahu), Hawaii, USA

The brochure failed to mention that there are two river crossings without bridges. In the brief time that I took off my socks and boots and waded across the two crossings and put them back on, I received 3 bites on my feet. The streams are full of native freshwater gobies and shrimps in addition to the introduced green swordtails.

Archeological site at Kahana Valley State Park (Oahu), Hawaii, USA

The trail looped back and ended 2.5 miles later and I was somewhat glad to start my 1.4 mile hike out to the bus stop in the more open air where mosquitoes were not present. After catching the bus, I went to the Ala Mona shopping center outside of Waikiki and got myself some bug sprays and had dinner at the food court.

I continued my bus pass to Waikiki and walked around there for a while before heading back to Jeff's place to crash.