Oahu Day 4

Sunday we started the day with a hike out Ka'ena Point not far from from where we're staying.  Although much of the point has a 4WD track, permission (and a key) is required  to drive beyond the gate at the end of the paved road. We parked and hiked the 2.5M - not a great challenge since it there was minimal elevation involved other than the ruts in the track. 

The 4WD track with some deep holes

The 4WD access is reserved for fishermen, and being a Sunday, we saw quite a few vehicles bump over the rough track to a number of spurs along the beach.  The 4WD track ended at a fenced area, a wildlife sanctuary at the end of the point.  The sanctuary was established in 1983 to preserve a dune ecosystem and to protect an active nesting area and wildlife habitat.  The fence, installed in 2011, was built to keep rats, mongooses, an domestic pets (as well as vehicles) from entering and disturbing the nesting area and delicate plant life,.  A number of trails were roped to protect nesting areas, meandering through the sanctuary and along the shore.

A group of sisal plants

We think this is a Laysan chick although it could be a black-footed albatross chick - it was so well camouflaged as a rock, we almost  missed  it!

 Laysan Albatrosses on a nest which is a scrape in the sand with a single egg

We saw a number of Laysan Albatross sitting on nests and flying nearby.  A brave monk seal swam into one of the tide pools, somewhat apprehensive of the  people ignoring the signs not to approach them.  Many of the larger tide pools had a variety of fry darting about.  With so much to see, our 'short' morning hike lasted much longer than planned - it was a great place to observe nature, and we were in no hurry to leave in spite of the lack of shade.  Instead of following the rutted 4WD  track back, we walked along the shore on the somewhat less rutted auxiliary tracks.  It was well after lunch time by the time we returned to the car.

Ilima or Little Bell 

Salmon Pea blossom 

Laysan  albatross making a pass over us

 Panorama of Kaena Pt paths and west side shore (Click here and zoom to full size)

It was interesting to watch the various vehicles negotiate some of the more difficult terrain.  A number of rocks bore witness to the fact that not all had had enough ground clearance.  Several of vehicles were jacked up with oversized tires, and were having fun negotiating some of the steeper (and rockier) inclines. 

After a very late lunch we drove to several beaches looking for one with some shade having spent more than enough time in the sun - the trade winds had dissipated for the weekend, making it feel hotter.  Finding more people than shade, and with parking at a premium, we decided to skip the beach.  The traffic heading S was a long line of bumper to bumper cars so our return was at a snail's pace.

Harbor  and Marina at Hale'iwa

Polynesian out-rigger canoe on the beach

I'd been wanting to check out Hale'iwa, the somewhat bigger and more interesting town N of us. Thanks to some local folks, the town hadn't turned into a strip mall, and had retained some of it's historical nature, so we stopped to explore the town on the way back.  Along with various art galleries, the town had a number of interesting restaurants, shaved ice shops (a Hawai'ian thing) and bikini places, a decent grocery store, some nice parks and a well protected marina.  We skipped the shaved ice, galleries and bikini shops, choosing to look at the harbor, marina, and grocery store.  It had been a long day, and with no food in the 'fridge we stopped at an Thai place in town to pick up some tasty take out for dinner.