Hiking on O‘ahu is Type II fun; the hike itself can have you swearing like a sailor, but it makes for great stories, and the view is (almost) always worth it. The thrill-seeking hiker in me was ignited not when I signed up for a backpacking pre-orientation college program, but when I realized I could be that one person who collapses on the trail. Before last summer, I had done only the simplest, most touristy hikes with my family.
I didn’t become a junkie until conquering the Pali Puka (see cover photo) at the beginning of last summer. Known for its man-made hole that acts as a wind tunnel and looks out over part of the east side, the Pali Puka is a short, narrow trail that climbs sharply with multiple rope sections. Because I was new to unmaintained, or illegal, trails, I was quite anxious for the challenge. But soon I was hooked by the many segments of the trail next to the edge of a straight 500-foot drop. Even though my first attempt was cut short by the blinding rain as I was praying that the wind wouldn’t blow me off the edge, the thrill that came from that experience had me finishing the trail the next day.
As the summer progressed, I tried to hit up a new trail at least once every week. Slowly, I went from preparing for a three-day backpacking trip to wholly appreciating the natural beauty of Hawai‘i’s geography in an unprecedented way. Nowhere else could you find such a diversity of hiking climates in such close vicinity to each other, from sandy dirt and cacti to humid tropical rainforest. Each part of O‘ahu has its uniquely beautiful coastline views and famous landmarks. And since it actually is possible to become tired of every hike ending at an overlook facing the clear turquoise and indigo waves of the Pacific Ocean, there’s an endless number of waterfalls, valleys, and crater hikes as well.
Because my only rule was to never hike alone, I mercilessly pestered my friends to come with, and I was somehow always able to convince at least one of them. I lost track of the number of times I had to scrub my shoes and soak my clothes to get half the dirt out. From falling off a ridge trail to throwing up from dehydration, not to mention all the mud sliding and thorns, hiking has taken me to the extremes of my physical highs and lows. I've spent eight hours hiking straight into a cloud and was rewarded with a view of cold, dense fog. On those few days where the weather was perfect and no other hikers were blocking my path and view, the scenery was truly mind-blowing. People would argue that you could easily see an equally amazing view through a window or on Google Images, but walking on a narrow ridge or sitting with your legs dangling off the edge of a cliff adds an amazing level of thrill and appreciation.
Pro tip: get yourself a friend who either loves hiking as much as you do or who you can drag along with the least amount of resistance.
