September 17th, 2012

Monday September 17th, 2012.  We decided to head North today thru Waimea and checking out the Pololu Valley.  The plan was to take the Kohala Mountain Road up and then come back home on Highway 270 thru Kawaihae to Highway 19.  Well...today was the first day where we had to skipped things.  We just ran out of time.  Oh well...next time.  

Our first stop was at the grocery store in Waikoloa Village for another tube of super glue to repair the Keens.  The left shoe was holding which was a good sign (FYI, two months later, they are still good!).  

We saw this obelisk at the intersection of Waikoloa Road and Highway 190...after we had turned the corner, we thought to check the GPS because there probably would be a geocache nearby... 

Of course there is one!  The trail doesn't look too bad... 

 

It is really windy near here.  We stopped to grab a couple more geocaches and couldn't believe the wind! 

 

This is the view from another geocache.  You know the famous statue and photo of the Marines raising the American Flag on Iwo Jima?  The large hill in the picture is called Holoholoku.  The Marines practiced storming this hill during World War II because it was of similar size and shape to Mount Suribachi on Iwo Jima.   

Coming into Waimea...it's so windy all the trees are wind-blown.  And another interesting site...it's not everyday you see a port-a-potty on the side of the road...and on a trailer! 

 

We stopped at the memorial to Parker Ranch and Camp Tarawa--a Marine Training Facility during WWII.   There was a geocache nearby...and apparently the Horses will Bite and Kick. 

  

We hit a park in Waimea to get a geocache and even the trash cans are prettier in Hawaii! 

Jason's Keens are holding up and I found the geocache...a pill bottle, how appropriate! 

 

Another geocache container with a guard! 

We met another geocacher at this location--we thought we were busted until we saw them get out of the car with a GPS.  Always nice to be others who share our hobby! This is the 'Imiola Church--the oldest church in Waimea.

We then head up Kohala Mountain Road towards Hawi and Kapa'au with our destination being Pololu Valley.  

The view of Pololu Beach from the end of the road and the lookout. 

We decide to have lunch at the lookout before hiking down to the beach...we had our salads with Poke!  Yum!

 

Jason didn't agree that he should wear the backpack...I said you are the boy, you are wearing it!

The trail down to the beach...and the view of the trail from the geocache nearby! 

 

View from the trail...beautiful! 

No kidding!! 

 

We made it to the bottom... 

Trying to get a self portrait!

   

 

The beach was amazing! 

 

We then headed across the valley...grabbing a couple of geocaches and hiked up the other side.  

 

We later learned that you need a permit to go beyond Pololu Valley.  We are guessing that this gate is the furthest you are allowed to go without a permit.   

Views from the trail...

 

 

We got to another geocache and there was a bench so I decided to take a break...and enjoy the views. 

 

Most people see this area from a Helicopter tour... 

Jason trying to find the geocache...and the view from the trail near the geocache.  

That valley down there is where we are headed!! 

The trail had been washed away by an earthquake so there were ropes to help you get up and down.  Thanks to P90X...we didn't have a problem--it looked worst than it was. 

 

 

Once you got to the bottom, you had a bamboo forest to go thru! 

 

A Cairn to help us find the trail on the way back... 

We made it!!  So pretty down here...and there is not a single soul around...just us.   

  

Of course, we had to find the geocaches down here... 

 

And we failed to find this geocache...so I climbed a tree to get credit for another one! It just sucks to come this far and not be able to find it!  It's here because people found it after us..

  

Back on the trail to Pololu Valley and Pololu Beach... 

 

Our geocaching name...written in the Black Sand. 

We were really pressed for time...we stayed in the second valley until 5pm then quickly hiked back to the car.  We made it with plenty of sunlight but would mean that we would just have to head back to the condo and skip anything else I wanted to see up here.  

A tree house in a Banyan Tree... 

Interesting...we saw a couple of these.  And one had a termite truck parked out front 

Dinner...looks like Mahi-Mahi, couscous and broccoli.   

So far our favorite day...but it's only day 3!