KKs Vacay Makapuu Hike 010115

Surf Report: ???
Water: Didn't go in
Atmosphere: Cloudy
Winds: Howling trade winds

So the plan was to wake up at 300 AM and go to Makapuu, hike up the mountain, and check out the sunrise. Apparently this has been going on for about four years, and so it's pretty popular. Surprisingly, I wake up at 300 AM and so Nicole, her friend Karen, and I pile into Karen's car head to Makapuu.

They want breakfast, so we try McDonalds. Closed.

We try Taco Bell. Closed

We go to a Chevron station, and they are open, but the lady is on her "break" for another five minutes. We wait in the car.

We rush in to grab water and snacks for the hike, and head to Makapuu, a little past Sandy's. There is no one here, and the gate is closed... Gate only opens at 530 AM. Greeeaaaat

We head back home, and knock out for another hour and a half.

Round Two - Makapuu hike

 I hear my alarm go off, and then some car start up and leave. I snooze for another fifteen minutes, and get awaken by Nicole and Karen.

Too dark

We make our way to Makapuu to a crowded parking lot. Luckily, we find street parking right away, and start making our way to the trail. I am wearing Francis's fleece lined sweater, jeans, and socks. But I only have some flimsy slippers on.... Not the best, but better than nothing.

The 1.6 mile hike up hill isn't that steep. There are elderly, youngins, people in wheelchairs, babies in strollers, tourists, and locals alike. They are making the hike to watch the sun rise with everyone. I keep my eye on the big dipper as it shines over our head.

We make it to the top of the peak, and start looking for Jeff and Malia. They were the ones that left earlier than us, while I was still sleeping. My feet are killing me, but my high from the hike and anticipation of seeing the sunrise kept me going forward. We finally find the two, right by the Light Tower.

A guy is passed out, sitting down on the floor. His bike is on his side as he cradles it for safety. Turns out he biked from Waikiki at 300 AM and was the first to arrive here. He had no idea that there was an event going on.

Almost there...!

We five crack jokes and shoot the shit while we await for the sun to rise. I watch the Ocean as lines slowly walk in to the shore line. It's pretty dark out, but we can still see the waves crash on the cliff. The highlight of the morning was Nicole farting, and blaming it on me.

The sun trying its best to peak through

The sun tries to peek through the clouds... but it's too cloudy. The television crew from the Hawaii State TV call the sunrise officially started, and so they get Gabe the conch blower to blow his conch.

Gabe the Conch Blower

A taiko performance starts once Gabe blows his conch four times in the four directions of the earth. The taiko performance is sub par at best. They are a little bit off beat, but bring it together towards the end. They must be tired from staying up all morning.

We make our way down the 1.6 mile hike again. The descent seems longer than the ascent. Usually, it's the other way around.

Handsome Gabe the Conch Blower

We get back home, and I prepare breakfast for everyone - turkey bacon, over-easy eggs, and home-made toasted pita breads. Nicole and Karen pass out after eating, taken over by the exhaustion of the morning.

Nicole's "silly face" - not so silly after all

Mahalos Mother Ocean!!