The hardest, most difficult, most sweaty hike of my entire life! & I hike all the time!
Maybe it was tough because it was 87 degrees outside at 1:00 pm. Maybe it was tough because we hiked Diamond Head earlier that morning. Maybe it was because Koko Head is over a mile long hike straight uphil on an old railway track! I'll just blame it on a huge combination of all of those elements combined. Geesh.
Koko Head Crater is a huge dormant volcanic tuff cone on the south east side of Oahu, Hawaii. The rail road tracks run from the bottom on the mountain all the way to the top. They're left there from World War II. Still mostly intact, too. At the top of Koko Head there are several old Bill Box bunkers. Once upon a time soldiers were stationed in those lookouts watching for incoming bombers. Since this hike usually takes an estimated hour to climb, there wasn't time for soldiers to be hiking uphill in the open while war-driven fly bys were shaking the cacti on the hill. Hence the rail tracks.
The view from the top of the hill was breathtaking. Absolutely stunning. You can even see Lana'i! A neighboring island of Hawaii. Looking over the Pacific Ocean and Maunalua Bay that day is something that I'll never forget.
The bunkers are still standing. The rail house and gears are still there, also. Left to nature's elements.
Another interesting fact? The ashes of Barack Obama's mother were spread around the peak of Koko Head after she passed. Obama is the only United States President to have been born in Hawaii. Just in case you were wondering... Now you'll know for one of those crazy odd inquisitive games shows you'll be on some day! ;)
