Hike 16: Koko Head - Dec 31 & March 27

It's always before a plane.

Jay and I were in Hawaii for Kristin and Peters Wedding, and we had some time to kill on Dec 31 before getting on the terrible red-eye to Anchorage. So, we putzed around Honolulu, ate some donuts, visited Kristin and Peter at work, sang Karaoke, and decided to go for a hike up Koko Head.

Koko head is on the southeastern side of O'ahu. The trail consists of 1,048 rail ties up the side of a mountain. The military put pillbox lookouts at the top of the crater during WWII and the railway was used to haul cargo and supplies to the top. According to another website, you gain approximately .1 ft of elevation for every 2 feet of distance. After .9 miles, your elevation peaks out at 1208 above sea level.

Jay and I gave ourselves a time frame. So we started up in the afternoon. After about 45 minutes, we probably made it up about 2/3-rds of the mountain. But we had to get on a plane and needed to head back towards the airport.

So, we turned around.

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In the undocumented and forever uncelebrated life of Monica, this day will always be known as the "Double Hike Day."

I had planned to do two peaks that day, but got a later start than originally planned , so scrapped the idea. And after the difficulty I had on Olomana, I decided that one hike was enough. So, I went for a drive around Makapu'u Point on Oahu, which ultimately had me driving past Koko Head. As I was driving, I couldn't help by stare at Koko Head, and thought to myself... I can do it. I can get it down in the next 2 hours or so.

So, I pulled over to the parking lot, put on my wet socks and wet shoes, emptied the last bit of the water bottle in my camel back and went for it. I was excited to try and climb this mountain that had defeated me before and spurred my desired to come back.

After I had written off doing Koko Head, I was a little sad to walk away from a mountain that had bested me. But the the rational side that said "You really don't have enough time for this and should go take a shower and not push yourself to hard" was overpowered by "When are you going to come back to Honolulu? When are you going to have this opportunity again? This was hike 16, and you didn't finish. You have to finish."

Besides, I could get on the plane sweaty and gross. It wouldn't bother me, just everyone else.

And I did it. It took about 45-50 minutes to get up to the top. Last time, we took about 45 minutes to get 2/3-rds of the way up.

The crater. 

I didn't realize that my hat looked so goofy. It was hot, so I barely had it on my head. 

Coming down took about 30 min, and was as equally difficult. After the first hike, I was a bit tired and having a hard time coming down. At one point, I was awkwardly scooting on my butt throught a part of the trail where the ground is 15-20 feet below the rail ties, and lots of people just came walking casually past me. I looked at one and said, "This is my second hike." I felt like he gave me a look and he continued on.

I made it down, went back to Kristin & Peter's, took a shower, and went to the airport. I fell asleep before the plane took off.