Our adventures this week included a trip to Pali Lookout, then to the world's largest maze (almost 5 acres) at the Dole Pineapple Plantation, and to Waimeia Bay.
The Nuuanu Pali Lookout ("Cool Height Cliff") overlooking the 985 foot cliffs of the Koolau Mountain Range, is one of the best views on O'ahu. It was here in 1795 that King Kamehameha and his warriors defeated the O'ahu armies by sending them over these steep, forested cliffs and claiming his victory and uniting the Hawaiian Islands. There are incredible winds that pass through the Pali and you may be swept off your feet - literally!
Looking to the Northwest toward Laie which is up around the point.
Linda standing in the wind at the top. The real wind was just down from where she is standing. This video shows a little of what the wind was doing that day.After the lookout, we hiked down the old highway completed in the late 1890's. It is basically 8% grades for about 600 feet to get down. We hiked down the old road and under the new highway and across to an old stone highway and then up to a waterfall. We were in our slippers (flip-flops) on the hike which was good because it got pretty muddy along the way. There were some crazy trees too.
The old stone highway used to take their produce to the ports to sell (pre 1890).
Crazy trees on the hike.
At the falls.
The old road (being reclaimed by the jungle!
For New Years Eve, we went to the Dole Pineapple Plantation to the worlds largest maze (as certified by Gueniss Book of World Records in 2008). They have 8 stations hidden throughout the maze and you have to find them and mark your map. It took Brandon and I 1 hour and 2 minutes to find all 8 and get back to the start. We beat mom and Cory by 8 minutes!!!
After successfully negotiating the maze, we settled in to enjoy a pineapple split with pineapple ice cream. Needless to say, we only bought one!!!
After the ice cream break, we headed to the beach, Waimeia Bay to be exact. It is an interesting beach because it looks very calm and then it swells and this huge wave comes in. Hard to explain but the video shows it better.
Waves splashing out of the cave.
Cory got caught by this one!
But he got through this one.
Well, hope everyone has a great New Year.
I love the pictures. There is something about the middle of Colorado winters that makes you think of warm, sunny beaches. However, we haven't had much snow yet so my snowshoes are still waiting for a work out. Nice to talk to Linda this week; I miss her lots.
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