Kelly Seeks

We have lived a few years on the island and that time is coming close to a end. When we return home during the holidays everyone is always excited to hear what we do and all the amazing things we get to see and experience. However, I embarrassingly have to tell them we only have gotten as far as the beach. And it’s always the same beach.

With a expiration date soon expiring I refuse to return home with out experiencing all this place has to offer. But we realized soon after hiking Makapuu Point that having three kids accompanying us limits our adventures.

So we decided the next chance we got with a sitter we were going to try and cram in all we can kidless. Luckily we had a awesome reason to get a sitter last weekend.

So to celebrate our 8th wedding anniversary we decided to play tourist. I was dying to take some photographs with our newer camera to help us remember our time here.

We started our adventure with a trip to Diamond Head. The hike took us about 1.5 hours with stopping for photographs and people. Here are a few suggestions to help you on your hike.

1.Let me suggest do not bring the elderly who are frail or need canes. We saw to many people having medical issues. It’s a hike people! Up a inactive exploded volcano! Please use your judgment.

2.Also, it is two ways. People are going up and people are coming down on the same path at the same time. Please don’t walk down the middle. If you do and I run into you; you might be pushed over the rails. Just be considerate.

3.If you stop to take photographs it might be a bright idea to look behind you and make sure you won’t get run over by hikers and step to the side. Sorry to the on looker I did that too. But in all honesty there was no way I could stop.

4.Children. Children. Children. I don’t even know what to say or where to begin. But unless they do a lot of bike riding, running or walks I don’t suggest taking them. It is a long walk, up a long hill. I saw so many hot and tired mamas lugging up 30/40 pound kids who were hot, sweaty and screaming. At one time we thought about taking our three spawn. Bug would walk, and Hubs and I would each “wear” a girl. Good thing it was only a thought. There would have been no way on Gods green Earth we would have made it up. As Hubs put it “we would have eaten them”.

5.Be smart. Bring water and wear sunscreen.

6.Arrive at parking before 9am for the $5 lot inside the volcano base. Otherwise you will park at outside at the bottom and have to walk up, in and then up again to the top. It’s a $1 fee per walk-in person.

7. We’re tennis shoes!!!! At least tennis shoes. You can be all fancy and wear hiking boots, but if they don’t fit in your suitcase don’t swear it. But don’t think you’ll look all cute in flip flops. Within 5 minutes you’ll have a rock through the sole.

8.Bring a camera, any camera. I took our Sony NEX-7 with a 18-50mm and a 50-210mm lens. I used the smaller one for the way up and my larger one at the top.

9.Stop and take in the views. They are magnificent! And the added bonus of the military history tied to it was a great addition.

Next, we visited Eternity beach. I had wanted to go here since we did a road trip around the island when we first got here. Then I learned about its acting job in From Here To Eternity.

As you can see; it’s breathtaking. You have to park at the scenic outlook for the Blow Hole. Follow the stone wall to the opposite side of the Blow Hole and out to the street. There is a metal barricade that protects you from distracted crazy tourist drivers from hitting you. But follow that to the left and climb on down! Yup, that’s right, you have to climb down sandy rocks to the bottom. But once you are there, you won’t regret it.

For lunch we enjoyed appetizers at Koa Brewing Company in Hawaii Kai and even got to eat outside over looking the marina. They have a plethora of beer options and even a beer sampler platter.

Can’t wait for our next adventures kidless!