Spitting Caves and Hanauma Bay Hike

The subjects of this post are spots that are in populated and touristy areas, yet are relatively unknown.  Both are in the Hawaii Kai area and both are easy to access.

Hawaii Kai is east of Honolulu, and is often home to the filthy rich and stinkin famous.   It is here, among the gajillion dollar homes, that some of the most unique and amazing scenery on Oahu can be found.

One of the gajillion dollar homes next to the access path

The spitting caves of portlock are literally hidden behind some of these houses at the end of a relatively unknown street.  The access is a small tree-covered rocky path that opens up to an amazing ocean view.

I have no idea why they call this spitting caves.  I didn't see any caves, and nothing spat at me while I was there.  Regardless, the scene was so alien compared to the rest of Oahu that it looks like something out of a Star Trek episode.  Or more down to earth, it looks like something out of the Badlands or Monument Valley.

It was still fairly early when I arrived, and the sun was still fairly low on the horizon.  Without having a polarizing filter, half my shots did not turn out very well.  Still, I enjoyed the scenery.

Just as I turned to head back to my car, this other photographer (literally the only other person there) called to me and pointed out several whales playing in the water off the shore.  Being April, I thought they all had started their migratory journey northward by now.  I spent another half hour or so with my 200mm lens and I got a few decent pics.

Before long, I decided to pack up and move on to my next location- the Hanauma Bay hike.  First I have to take a step back and explain something about hiking trails on Oahu.  There are two types of trails- unofficial hiking trails, and trails that have become official.  By that I mean most of the hikes here have been in use for decades or even centuries.  Either they were in use by the locals, or they were formerly something else (like a military communications station) that became hiking trails after their owners abandoned them.  So the "official" hiking trails are the ones that either the county/state has designated as state parks or that private companies have set up for profit.  Just because a trail is "official" doesn't mean it's any safer or better maintained than an "unofficial" hike (Koko Head anyone?).  Nor does it mean that you will be arrested for hiking an unofficial trail.  The designations really don't mean much.

So why did I bring this up?  Because to get to the Hanauma Bay hike, one must walk past the "no trespassing" and "do not enter" signs.  This is a really safe hike that is paved halfway.  It's actually an access road for the RADREL, cell towers, and other installations on top of the mountain.  I actually passed by a maintenance truck on my way back down.  Rather than scolding me for being on the road, the driver just gave me a friendly smile and a shaka and kept going about his business.

So onto the hike.  The first part is a fairly steep incline.  It reminded me just how out of shape I really am.  I had to stop frequently to take in the scenery, which was what I told myself I was doing when I was really stopping to gasp for air and suck down water.

I have no idea what the sign means.  I just thought it made for a good picture

One of the things I liked about this trail was how few people were on the trail itself, while just a few hundred meters below were throngs of tourists getting their snorkel on.  I think I passed 3 or 4 people the entire time I was on the hike, but I was able to watch so many more from up on my high perch.  Not in a creepy stalker way, but more of a people watcher kind of way.

Look at all the puny tourists

So after I ascended the mountain, I had two options as the trail makes a loop.  I chose to turn left and take the hike clockwise.  This got me to the interesting parts more quickly.  After I hiked down the side of the mountain about as steep as I just climbed, I had to hike up another mountain, not quite as tall.
I keep using the word "mountain" because that's what it felt like I was climbing.  If I wasn't such a wuss about it I would call them small hills.

Anyway, as I got closer to the shoreline, the scenery started changing more and more.  The rocks started forming "waves," cut from centuries of wind and water erosion.  It was really a fascinating sight. 
After climbing down several layers of rock, I found the reason I choose this hike- the rock bridge.

I first saw this bridge in a post on unreal hawaii.  The author, however, didn't disclose the location because he didn't want people to flock here and ruin the scene.  I was able to use y super sleuth analytic powers and figure out where this place actually is.

So after snapping some pictures of the bridge and the surrounding rock waves, I moved on back up the behemoth hill I had descended.  Since the trail doesn't hug the edge like it did on the way down, the way back to the beginning of the loop wasn't as scenic.  I was still able to grab some good photos though.

My wife called me as I was ascending the last large hill.  I picked up the phone gasping for breath.  She must have thought I was having an asthma attack because I was breathing so hard.

Overall, it was a great morning of hiking with some incredibly scenic views that I didn't think existed on Oahu.  Enjoy more pictures from my hike...

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