Lama pa'ipa'i on the Lanai – an Aulani TR -Aloha and Mahalo Aulani! Link to PTR 11/5

[2xcited2sleep]

Wow!! What amazing views! An excellent reward for a tough workout. I do not think I would like that bridge one bit. I didn't care for the bridge in the Wild Africa trek that is 100% Disney certified and safe. But knowing those views are the reward is certainly tempting. Thanks for all the gorgeous pictures!

Fingers crossed you were able to get into the lot and snorkle!

 

[CarolynK]

Really Gorgeous Pictures! The view is just spectacular!!
I can't believe that over the "bridge" area that there isn't some sort of a railing? That would totally scare me! Maybe it was better not to know about it going in, at least for me it would have been - once you're there, no turning back I guess! I've also done Wild Africa Trek, and with the harness on I was scared That's how much I like heights....

 

[elphie101]

Ok, I'll admit it. I am the kind of person who usually avoids any gym/exercise besides my usual 2-mile lunch break walk, but your TR is making me want to include some hikes/walks when I (eventually) go to Hawaii myself (several, SEVERAL years down the line - but someday!) Nature's Stairmaster (HA! ) looks amazing, even if it might kill me!

Hoping luck is on your side and the lot isn't full!

 

[mickeystoontown]

Holy crap! My fear of heights would have been working overtime on the climb up and on the way down. Wow, oh wow, though, the views are spectacular! Simply gorgeous!

 

[glennbo123]

Wow! So that's the famous "Koko Head" that I heard about in Capt. O's report. That's intriguing...I'd like to try it, but I'm not sure that Judy would be able to go across that bridge section. (And I might want to resort to crab-walking it too, like you did! ) Well, I'm glad your Plan B worked out for such a great memory!

No clue what he is doing here

Probably throwing up from all those stairs!

 

[GoofyFan1515]

Unbelievably it was already day 6. Apparently this had me so distraught I woke up at 6:30 am and could not go back to sleep! Guess I didn't want to miss out on a moment in Paradise. At 7:30 we gave up and got up. Of course we had to take a quick peek outside!

Sounds like time for coffee on the lanai..........

A gorgeous day, and bright!

Leaving ABC we were on the road at 8:47 and traffic was light. It picked up just past the airport and it hit me that really, packing lunch would have been very smart. The last 6 miles were semi heavy traffic but as we turned into the upper lot it was 9:28 and the parking lot was still open. Whew!
It didn't "feel" very open, check out the line of cars we were in

Interestingly enough, as we were driving to Haunama, we had noticed it. From afar it really looked like a funicular. But no, in fact, it was my Plan B.

Otherwise known as the Koko Head Crater Trail, or the Koko Crater Railway Trail

Often referred to as
The Koko Head Steps of Doom or Nature s Stairmaster

You Koko Head!!!

Oh wait, that's Captain Oblivious' TR................

Up we go!

Okay, if the signs weren't intimidating enough, this could certainly do it!!!

Ah, the middle part & where the tramline is over NOTHING. Call it a bridge, call it whatever you want but its a bit freaky if you ask me and based on what I've since read online..Im not alone!

Oh yes, nothing worse than climbing and looking down to see.........nothing!!!

Kind of like the sunset from our lanai, the view kept getting better

That is incredible! Certainly worth the effort to get there. So glad you did it FOR me!!!

We explored quite a bit..........
And sat and enjoyed some trail mix and water..........
I really couldn't stop taking pictures (sorry!)

A.K.A.........

"I am NOT looking forward to crossing that bridge again going DOWNHILL!!!!!

Leveling out

Okay, this is the point I would finally start to relax a little.

Jeff makes it look easy

Well of course, it's always easier when you have gravity assist!!!

We survived!

Survived? It melted your shirt right off of you and you call that surviving??? Good thing you were only able to point out sweat on your shirt in that earlier picture!!!

Seriously though, that does look like a great Plan B and so worth the effort!

I'll just have to make sure when I try it I take along a lady friend in case that shirt melting thingy happens often..............

Reaching the parking lot, once we made use of the facilities we were VERY tempted to try and walk to Haunama Bay from the lot but just weren't sure exactly how far it is or how direct the trail might be. If the lot was full, you could still walk in. Instead we decided to try our luck again.
Would we be successful? We sure hoped so. We were hot, dusty and oh that water looked good!

Sure hope you made it! I think that would be a great way to follow up on your Plan B adventure!!!

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

Unbelievably it was already day 6.

Something about that time-zone change, I guess. Makes time speed up somehow.

While Jeff filled the mugs, I took a few pictures of the continental breakfast offering

Looks pretty yummy. But not as cheap as Costco pastries.

Ok fine, we headed for Haunama using the trusty directions from the front desk (just ask, they have them for lots of locations)

It didn't "feel" very open, check out the line of cars we were in

Pulling up to the entry booth we were hit with some horrible news. Yes, they take credit/debit for the entry fee. However, parking was cash only. Of course that was not mentioned anywhere on the website!

We did not have a dollar.

Not even a penny.

D'oh! That stinks.

Got cash and headed back.

Lot FULL.

Crap.

Jeff was NOT happy.

Double D'oh! That REALLY stinks.

It was CROWDED.

Yeah, I'm very surprised how many people are on this trail in the pictures.

Ah, the middle part&where the tramline is over NOTHING. Call it a bridge, call it whatever you want but its a bit freaky if you ask me and based on what I've since read online..Im not alone!

You're supposed to trust engineers!

Holy crap, we made it!

Nice work!

Looking over at Diamond Head

Weird...it's almost unrecognizable from this side.

Bye Bye Koko Head!

Bye! Oh, you mean the mountain.

It was amazing, absolutely amazing. Stunning. Incredible. I am SO glad we did it.

That's really all that matters, isn't it?

Reaching the parking lot, once we made use of the facilities we were VERY tempted to try and walk to Haunama Bay from the lot but just weren't sure exactly how far it is or how direct the trail might be. If the lot was full, you could still walk in. Instead we decided to try our luck again.
Would we be successful? We sure hoped so. We were hot, dusty and oh that water looked good!

 

[eandesmom]

I seriously don't know if I can cross that...... Freaked out just a bit. For me nothing to hold on to is the problem.

I hear you there! On the way up...Jeff held my hand which may not be safer than going solo but boy did it help me a ton!

Going down...crab walk! Apparently there is a side path below. I had read that people tried and had issues before we went up but then later read a ton about the side path and a lot of folks do it. I didn't see where it was but apparently it is an option a lot of folks use for that section.

Between that and my lack of grace.... I would be sitting and scooting down.

going down sucked!

But what a reward. WOW a great view and so worth it. I hope you got to go snorkeling.

It was worth it, very very glad we did it!

The view was spectacular, but I do have a major fear of heights. I could go up, but getting back down would be a serious problem for me!

Down was not fun. I have a fear of heights as well and it was a bit freaky, especially with as crowded as it was. It was worth it and I'm glad I could keep the nerves at bay enough to do it.

Cynthia, your pictures of your view once you reached the top are breathtaking...simply beautiful. But you'd have to have an escalator or elevator for me to go up and down there.

I think an escalator would be very scary...tram or elevator or stairs inside the crater...LOL! It was gorgeous though and worth it, I'm glad we did it and I was able to keep the nerves enough at bay to survive the walk down.

Can't wait to see if you find the parking lot with less cars so you could get in.

We were really hoping! Of course the fact that it was a holiday weekend was not in our favor...or that it was the weekend...

I saw the title Nature’s Stairmaster and laughed, then I saw 2100 stairs. Ack!

Yep, it was a LOT of stairs!

And a gun range next door? Did you feel as though the guns were forcing you to walk the stairs?

No but it was noisy and didn't exactly "go" with the views!

Beautiful pictures from the top!

Christine

Thanks! It was incredible

Wow!! What amazing views! An excellent reward for a tough workout. I do not think I would like that bridge one bit. I didn't care for the bridge in the Wild Africa trek that is 100% Disney certified and safe. But knowing those views are the reward is certainly tempting. Thanks for all the gorgeous pictures!

Much scarier than the Trek bridge. That had side rope rails and was manufactured. This...no side rails...and a steep drop on all sides. But...no crocodiles! It was worth it but there were moments where...I just really wanted to be able to wiggle my nose and be at the bottom! Glad to be able to say I did it though...kind of a bucket list type of thing I guess.

I will say...Jeff was all for heading straight to snorkeling and well...I'd have been ok heading straight to Kona Brewing for a reward (it's located right near the hike lol).

Fingers crossed you were able to get into the lot and snorkle!

We were concerned, typically it does open back up but it was a weekend..and a holiday one to boot.

 

[FauntleroyFAN07]

although maybe a little scary at times, that hike looks like a lot of fun and congrats on making it up...looks like you are higher than diamond head...is that true?

 

[MEK]

Probably throwing up from all those stairs!

And here I thought he was just posing for the camera!

You are brave to do that walk. I think I would have freaked out during that middle section. I seriously do not have the best balance. Yikes! The view is absolutely spectacular! Thanks for posting all those beautiful pictures. I am so glad Plan B turned out to be so cool!

Now the question remains - where you able to get into the parking lot?

 

[eandesmom]

Really Gorgeous Pictures! The view is just spectacular!!

It was unreal!

I can't believe that over the "bridge" area that there isn't some sort of a railing? That would totally scare me! Maybe it was better not to know about it going in, at least for me it would have been - once you're there, no turning back I guess! I've also done Wild Africa Trek, and with the harness on I was scared That's how much I like heights....

I did know going in but that didn't make it any easier lol. I also knew it wouldn't bug Jeff. No railing. Technically it isn't bridge for people but rather a tram so it wouldn't need railings. If they put something in, they'd have to maintain it or be liable. This way it's all at your own risk.

I admit on the Trek...I bounced. Between the harness, the railings and knowing it was a manufactured bridge it didn't bother me. Over the sides of mountains freaks me out much more, I don't even like driving up roads on the sides like that (had my eyes closed a couple of weeks ago on a drive to a local hike lol). Jeff was a sport, held my hand at my request over the bridge going up and didn't make fun of my crabwalk going down. I'm just happy I did it..can't say I'd find it any easier the 2nd time though!

Ok, I'll admit it. I am the kind of person who usually avoids any gym/exercise besides my usual 2-mile lunch break walk, but your TR is making me want to include some hikes/walks when I (eventually) go to Hawaii myself (several, SEVERAL years down the line - but someday!) Nature's Stairmaster (HA! ) looks amazing, even if it might kill me!

We definitely love to hike and get outside and it was wonderful to get some of that on this trip. Honestly we could have done more over the week but didn't want to drive too far. It was amazing, I am glad we did it even if it was freaky and my right quad was sore for a few days.

Hoping luck is on your side and the lot isn't full!

We were worried, it does often open up but it was the weekend and a holiday one.

Holy crap! My fear of heights would have been working overtime on the climb up and on the way down. Wow, oh wow, though, the views are spectacular! Simply gorgeous!

That's what I said when I saw the bridge. Too much pride to wimp out though down was worse, definitely. It was worth it though, very glad we did it, one of those things you'll always remember.

Wow! So that's the famous "Koko Head" that I heard about in Capt. O's report. That's intriguing...I'd like to try it, but I'm not sure that Judy would be able to go across that bridge section. (And I might want to resort to crab-walking it too, like you did! ) Well, I'm glad your Plan B worked out for such a great memory!

Going up, over the bridge, Jeff held my hand. That helped a ton and made me feel stable. going down crab walk was all I could manage. Apparently it's pretty common but I had no idea at the time. It was incredible, I am very glad we did it (and that I didn't wimp out).

Probably throwing up from all those stairs!

Or digging for trail mix, sunscreen or a camera

Sounds like time for coffee on the lanai..........

always

Okay, if the signs weren't intimidating enough, this could certainly do it!!!

Oh yes, nothing worse than climbing and looking down to see.........nothing!!!

Yeah, that part was not so fun.

That is incredible! Certainly worth the effort to get there. So glad you did it FOR me!!!

Yes, you all can live vicariously through my stark terror

A.K.A.........

"I am NOT looking forward to crossing that bridge again going DOWNHILL!!!!!

Nope, I was not. Though honestly the upper part going down was a bit scary simply as by that point you do have jelly legs and it's rather steep to feel wobbly on.

Okay, this is the point I would finally start to relax a little.

Well of course, it's always easier when you have gravity assist!!!

Survived? It melted your shirt right off of you and you call that surviving??? Good thing you were only able to point out sweat on your shirt in that earlier picture!!!

Seriously though, that does look like a great Plan B and so worth the effort!

I'll just have to make sure when I try it I take along a lady friend in case that shirt melting thingy happens often..............

You'll find plenty of locals hiking, I mean running up it, in far less. All I could think was...SUNBURN!

It was worth the effort, sweaty shirts and all.

Sure hope you made it! I think that would be a great way to follow up on your Plan B adventure!!!

All we could think of at the top was how much we wanted a zipline straight down there so we could jump in!

Not really, that would be the craziest zipline ever...can't see myself going on it but still...suffice to say we were ready to cool off.

 

[Poolrat]

All we could think of at the top was how much we wanted a zipline straight down there so we could jump in!

Not really, that would be the craziest zipline ever...can't see myself going on it but still...suffice to say we were ready to cool off.

Now that would be a crazy zipline but I think I might rather do that than climb back down.

 

[MAGICFOR2]

so sorry to see it's Day 6 already. I guess you got a chance to get some early pics, but not an early start! Pretty cool that you did Koko Head - right up your ally, I think. Our tour guide told us they are rescuing people from there daily. He said a lot of times people don't allow themselves enough time and get caught in the dark. I can see that you wouldn't want to try to walk down at night for sure.

I'm interested to see if you get into Haunama.

 

[emmysmommy]

First of all 2,100 STEPS?? Wow! You are awesome! Those trestles would completely freak me out so I an relate to any height anxiety!

But that view! Oh my gosh, totally worth it. I think your Plan B was very worthwhile. (And since I'm not the one with the sore muscles to prove it I suppose I can say that!)

 

[afwdwfan]

I had been to Haunama Bay before, back in 1987. Honestly it was not on my top 10 list.

And after that whole write up about it, I was thinking this one looked like a must do.

But Jeff really wanted to go, it was a must do for him.

Ok, well I guess maybe it is for some. I would think that a protected nature preserve like that would be an excellent place to snorkel. Then again, I'm not exactly a snorkeling or marine life expert.

Pulling up to the entry booth we were hit with some horrible news. Yes, they take credit/debit for the entry fee. However, parking was cash only. Of course that was not mentioned anywhere on the website!

We did not have a dollar.

A dollar?!?!?! Ok, so they pay someone to stand around and collect a dollar. And you're turned away for not having said portrait of George Washington on a crumpled up green piece of paper??

Jeff was NOT happy. Somehow this was my fault. With that news we turned around and hightailed it back to the closest ATM. Which actually was pretty darn close. Got cash and headed back.

Lot FULL.

Crap.

Often referred to as

The Koko Head Steps of Doom or Natures Stairmaster

Plan B sounds kind of cool. And very intimidating.

It was CROWDED.

Sure looks that way. Not sure I'd want to walk up some steep railway with that many people crammed on it.

Did I mention there was a gun range next door?

Ok, I wouldn't mind spending a few hours there either...

Bye Bye Koko Head!

I can't read this without thinking you're talking to Mark.

Reaching the parking lot, once we made use of the facilities we were VERY tempted to try and walk to Haunama Bay from the lot but just weren't sure exactly how far it is or how direct the trail might be.

It surely couldn't be any more difficult than your walk up Koko Head, even if you walked a mile or 2 in the wrong direction.

Instead we decided to try our luck again.
Would we be successful? We sure hoped so. We were hot, dusty and oh that water looked good!

Hope it works this time. Don't forget your dollar!

 

[eandesmom]

Something about that time-zone change, I guess. Makes time speed up somehow.

yeah, and your trip over soon than it should be!

Looks pretty yummy. But not as cheap as Costco pastries.

True. BUT we didn't need 12 muffins for the 2 of us. Plus I'm actually not that big a fan of those muffins. Or just really sick of them. Not that I buy them but still.

Yeah, I'm very surprised how many people are on this trail in the pictures.

I was shocked at the crowd. I was also a bit at the claim of "moderate". True it is just up and down but it's a very steep grade at the end.

You're supposed to trust engineers!

Do I have to? I mean I'm married to one...work with about 50 of them...



I trust them in THEIR field...

Nice work!

It was worth it, supremely cool.

Weird...it's almost unrecognizable from this side.

Kind of neat huh!

Bye! Oh, you mean the mountain.

Well at the time, I didn't know it was your nickname so no...not saying goodbye to you (or your kids, or Julie) or calling Jeff Koko Head. I have other nicknames for him.

although maybe a little scary at times, that hike looks like a lot of fun and congrats on making it up...looks like you are higher than diamond head...is that true?

Yes, it's considerably higher...1250 or so versus 750 I think? Something like that. It was fun. Ok, going up (other than the bridge) was fun, the top was fun, going down until I got past the bridge...not so much.

And here I thought he was just posing for the camera!

Yes, everyone wanted a nice view of his swimsuit. I was more worried he'd trash it on the hike...it was new (and has seaplanes on it lol!).

You are brave to do that walk. I think I would have freaked out during that middle section. I seriously do not have the best balance. Yikes!

I do not have the best balance either. Jeff held my hand on the way up going over it, helped a ton. The kids were totally making fun of me (Jeff too) on our hike a few weeks ago. It had some small river/creek crossings or just really wet areas so lots of rock hopping or log crossings and there was one section (as we were um..not lost...but couldn't find what we were looking for) that we ended up going over no less than 6 times and I was SO done with it. LOL! It was flat though, I'd have just gotten my shoes wet. Of course what we were trying to find was on a totally different trail and all of that was just lost time. thankfully we did find it (wrecked B-17) Not dangerous, just annoying, I didn't want wet shoes! Plus it was the day after I'd stabbed my foot and probably shouldn't have been hiking at all, was really worried about the wound opening up. Or nasty water getting in it.

The Koko Head bridge was freaky to be sure.

The view is absolutely spectacular! Thanks for posting all those beautiful pictures. I am so glad Plan B turned out to be so cool!

Plan B was incredibly cool, I am SO glad we did it!

Now the question remains - where you able to get into the parking lot?

We shall see, it was the weekend, and a holiday to boot. We were nervous. We did have a plan in case it didn't work though.

Now that would be a crazy zipline but I think I might rather do that than climb back down.

Gah. That would be SOOOO scary!

so sorry to see it's Day 6 already. I guess you got a chance to get some early pics, but not an early start!

Well we were out the door before 8am but you'd never know it huh.

Pretty cool that you did Koko Head - right up your ally, I think. Our tour guide told us they are rescuing people from there daily. He said a lot of times people don't allow themselves enough time and get caught in the dark. I can see that you wouldn't want to try to walk down at night for sure.

My cousins and aunt and uncle said the same thing. Koko Head is literally in their backyard and they hear people being airlifted almost daily. Had I known THAT I might not have attempted it. I fail to see how they can call something "moderate" that involves repeated rescue. I will say it would NOT be easy to get someone off of that and certainly pricey if it involved airlifting. The person we saw with the severely cut foot...definitely a local and was probably doing it in slippers (flip flops) I have no idea how they got down. They were NOT interested in our help.

Up our ally, yes, though it was definitely on the edge for me. Literally. Very glad we did it though. Might freak me out to try it with the kids. I could see that at night...no way. I'd be going down on my rear, one step at a time and then sleep on the other side of the bridge I swear. They say 1-3 hours. 1 hour would only work if you booked it up and then right back down. If you want to enjoy the top (and why do it otherwise) then you definitely need more. Locals who use it for training might be in that 1 hour camp but the rest of us? Not.

I'm interested to see if you get into Haunama.

We shall soon see!

 

[Pinkocto]

Ok, this is going on the list but I'll definitely have to be in better shape than now. The view looked absolutely spectacular. Is the part with nothing underneath big enough to fall through?

Your AMA AMA dinner looked delicious. It just hurts me to pay that much for an entree.

 

[rentayenta]

Holy hike girl and brava! Those are some serious steps. I'm afraid Michael would have had to carry me down. Not that he's had to before.

Those views are stunning. Truly. I'm so glad you did this now I'll never have to. I'm with MEK and not so great on the balance though I think cardio wise I'd be okay. I'm actually very uncoordinated. Oddly enough I can stay balanced when still, yoga, but not when I'm moving.

Glad Jeff was happy with Plan B. Whenever M's Disney day plans don't turn out as perfect as mine, he accuses me of sabotage.

 

[franandaj]

OK, this is going on our "not gonna do list". Fran counted the steps in New Zealand to the top of something and it was 250ish and she was proud. We are not doing 2100 steps. Besides, neither of us are in good shape! It sounds pretty cool, but I think we'll be doing another lap around the Lazy river!

Kudos to you for being that in shape to be able to do that.

 

[Leshaface]

Jeff was pretty content with his beer, and book

Wow is he reading the dictionary?!

And I with my wine

Okay, that adventure looks a little scary. Fun but scary. I'd probably do it if there weren't that many people. How do you navigate if someone's coming up/down? Or if you want to pass people? Is there even any room to pass?