Ka'ena Point Trail Hike

Trevor and Kyong-Mi went to Ka'ena Point Hiking Trail.

The trailhead begins on a dirt road where Farrington Highway comes to a complete stop.  There is a makeshift parking lot and signs that mention not to leave valuables in the vehicle and to lock your car.

The trail was muddy at 7am and Kyong-Mi wore white running shoes, the only athletic shoes Kyong-Mi has in Hawai'i.  They were given to her and she doesn't care whether they stay dirty or clean.  She did bring along a pair of flip-flops, or as the locals say, "slippahs," because her former walk to Kea'au Beach Park caused a gnarly blister to the back of her heel.

About a quarter of a mile into the walk, Trevor saw a spot he wanted to take a picture at, and realized his phone wasn't with him.  He had to turn back.  Kyong-Mi could not keep up with his fast gait, So she opted to run to the car.  He mentioned the phone may be on the ground, on the top of the car, or on the dashboard.

Thankfully, the phone was on the dashboard.  Kyong-Mi and Trevor commenced their journey into Ka'ena Point Trail.  When they got to the initial area Trevor realized his phone was missing, they took a picture.

The hike was mainly a muddy pathway with the occasional view of an old defunct railroad track and the beautiful Pacific Ocean banging against lava reefs below.

Along various areas were jeep and big truck owners doing plenty of fishing.   About halfway to the end, a few small trails off the actual trail were made and Kyong-Mi and Trevor tried them.  Due to the large rocks and brush, these areas made perfect latrines for hikers and were apparent by the human waste left behind.  It's best to stay on the main track to avoid accidentally stepping in waste.

At about 75% to the end of the trail, the cliff and railroad tracks were destroyed by a tsunami in 1946.  At some point the driveable road becomes just a pedestrian width of trail and then becomes a bit more hazardous as you incline over the side of the mountain to head toward the Nature Reserve.

The Nature reserve is gated but entry is possible through double sliding gates.  Inside there are nesting Wedgetailed Shearwaters.  They are a grey bird that nestles in burrows in the ground.

Kyong-Mi also saw and became excited over what she assumed were ginormous Seagulls.  She she mentioned seagulls didn't get that big in California, that the seagulls in California looked like pigeons compared to Oahu's seagulls.  Come to find out, they were not seagulls at all, but Laysan Albatrosses.

After passing the birds area, the end has an old bunker colored in graffiti.  Kyong-Mi and Trevor spent time looking around from the bunker and enjoying each other's company in the form of PDA.

Trevor and Kyong-Mi on bunker

Kyong-Mi and Trevor with North shore side behind them

After some time on the bunker, a gentleman who was visiting with his family told Trevor and Kyong-Mi to quietly view the monk seals below.  After a picture with the monk seals Trevor and Kyong-Mi headed back to the beginning.

Monk seals

Trevor and Kyong-Mi

Laupāhoehoe rocks (basalt stones)

Naupaka Kuahiwi

Kea'au Beach Park

I am basing my review on the "hike" due to a trail posted on AllTrails.com.

For someone looking for a hike, this is NOT a hiking trail. I got my satisfaction by walking 45 minutes to Kea'au. When I got there, the "trail" is a driveway to the parking lot. Kea'au is basically a scenic resting stop and park (no swings or slides) on a beachfront. Waves are big and beautiful.

 Beware. The closer you go to the water while in the grass, the swampier the grass becomes in certain areas, due to random ginormous waves. Great place to park and picnic.

Other than that, breaking in some white running shoes, they got dirty but I don't care because I didn't buy them.  They also gave me a blister on my right Achilles tendon.

Mauna Lahilahi

Kyong-Mi stays within walking distance from Mauna Lahilahi in the Makaha Valley area of Wai'anae.  Mauna Lahilahi is basically a giant lava rock.  There are signs that tell you it is dangerous territory.  Upon walking in, Kyong-Mi and Trevor were greeted by two hens and a rooster.  Further into the foothills of Mauna Lahilahi are homeless camps but the people aren't out to bother hikers.

Short hike, mostly climbing rocks.  Steep, but stable.  No need for too much hiking gear.  A fanny pack was just fine.  Some people may need both hands free to grab onto rocks.

Trailhead is on Lahilahi street.

Kyong-Mi walking up to the trailhead.

Gate is closed, so step over rocks.

Cock running around at the foothill

Trevor and Kyong-Mi at the foothill of Mauna Lahilahi

On top of the world at Mauna Lahilahi

Kyong-Mi and Trevor on Mauna Lahilahi

Trevor's descent downward.

Rancho Palos Verdes Peninsula

Mike & Ku‘uipo feeling on top of the world at Del Cerro Park.
(Just before the hike started)

Due to the articles about residents in the Del Cerro Park area not liking hikers coming to Rancho Palos Verdes and parking on their streets, littering, etc, Kyong-Mi thought that was the perfect place to go (article 1, article 2, article 3), considering parking permits would be in the near future.

They parked on the street prior to Park Avenue.  There's a fence that overlooks the canyon called Portuguese Bend and Reserve, and few hikers were seen walking through there.  It's a long way down.

Kyong-Mi and Mike entered the park on foot, seeking the trailhead, but found picnickers at a bench and a couple cuddling in a corner.

The trail within Del Cerro Park leads to an overlook that can see into the canyon and beyond.  Visions of many trails below could be seen and they stood there for a moment deciding which trail would be best.

They left the park in search of the trailhead which is a gate to a rocky road on the side of the park.  A man named José was cleaning up litter, when Mike asked him if he knew where the trailhead was, and José was excited to tell Mike and Kyong-Mi how to get to the trailhead, where to go to get the first beautiful view on the right, and told them to enjoy their trip.

José talking about the book he read called "The Grapes of Wrath."

José telling Mike about the trail going that way is about 9 miles.

José telling Mike & Kyong-Mi about his time in the Army at the Vietnam War.

While walking the trail, just exploring, Mike and Kyong-Mi came to a fork in the road, and from the fork, José came up behind them and said, "Just go that way.  I've been hiking these trails every week for years.  I can tell you where they all go.  I've been picking up litter after all the young people leaving trash behind for years, too.  It makes hikers look bad.  I'm headed to the Trump Golf Club.  If you follow me, I can show you all the scenic spots, since they are all on the way to where I'm going."

Before leaving, José told Mike & Kyong-Mi they need to hike Mt. Wilson.  He said when he came back to California from Vietnam, he and buddies took up hiking and one of the first and most memorable hikes he took was at Mt. Wilson.  He said the view was amazing.

Returning to the car, Kyong-Mi spotted chip bags and trash next to the car.  Due to the neighborhood complaints of hikers littering, Kyong-Mi picked up the trash others left behind.

To make a long hike short...
The sounds of peacocks could be heard in the distance.  Depending on which trails taken, the hike could be a mile to 10!  Mike and Kyong-Mi lost track but took over 15,000 steps from the car back to the car.  There's not much shade, so sunscreen and long sleeves are suggested.  Kyong-Mi was sunburned.  It's not suggested to bring young children on the hike unless they are in an all-terrain stroller.  Kyong-Mi & Mike would not bring their 10 year old on this hike as seen.  Once you go down, you have to go all the way back up, and it can be tough on little legs.  A few piles of horse poop litter the trail, but all-in-all, a great medium to strenuous hike with a gorgeous view of the ocean, Catalina, and terrain.

To be continued...possibly.  

Sunken City

Kyong-Mi found Sunken City through AllTrails.com.  Loving the artistic side of graffiti, Kyong-Mi decided Mike and she would head to San Pedro to find the hidden gem known as "Sunken City."

No Trespassing sign, apparently not many people heed to.

Upon arrival, there was a cafe to the left of the road called Walker's Cafe.  To the right of the road was .  It over overlooks the ocean below.  Mike and Kyong-Mi had no idea where they were going.  There was a sign that mentioned No Trespassing, but they saw people on the other side of the sign walking to the park side.  When the couple came close enough, Kyong-Mi asked them, "How'd you get over there?"  Once they got to the wall, they hopped over, and the man said, "Go over this wall, and hold on to the fencing.  There's a hole under it, and you have to go under it and then you'll be on the other side."
Point Firmin Park

Mike and Kyong-Mi climbed the wall and went under the fence.  The other side was extremely colorful and in various places on top of the cliff were ruins of what appeared to be a residential area; foundations of buildings, a manhole on the edge of a cliff, a broken street pole.

Walking around the edge of the cliff is very dangerous.  There's a former street that dead-ends at the end of the cliff, where it fell off, and the remains of street shards and sidewalk squares lie at the foot of the cliff.  Almost every piece of cement and asphalt was painted over with graffiti.

Graffiti art on broken street.

Many young people were there smoking blunts and drinking beer and liquor.  Others were there to take pictures of graffiti and to explore the unknown.  Squirrels would pop their heads out and then hide again.  It wasn't much of a hike as it was a walk down a hill and hopping from broken street to other parts of broken street.

When they got bored, they headed back up the cliff from well-traversed paths, and went back to the park.  Mike had to use the men's room and found a restroom behind "Shakespeare in the Park" a small stage where concerts in the park are performed.  As Kyong-Mi waited, she walked over to the Victorian house at the edge of the park and realized it was a historical landmark, a lighthouse that was built in the 1874 and still in operation;  Point Fermin Lighthouse.  The docents of the lighthouse could not guide a tour for another half hour, and Kyong-Mi was hungry and thirsty.

Walker's Cafe

When they got to Walker's Cafe, the waitress invited them in, and mentioned the menu up on the wall was not the current menu, but a novelty they have had since the cafe opened up in the 1940s. She proceeded to give them a history lesson regarding "the sunken city" as having never "sunk" from a sinkhole or a landslide, but a break from the Long Beach earthquake in 1933.

As they drank their beers, ate freshly peeled and cut fries (they have a potato cutting press from 1940s where their peeler, Ernie, smiles as he peels and presses), and Mike had his $1 pickled hardboiled egg, they learned a little bit about the cafe and its beginning.

Mike getting ready to throw back a cold one.

The waitress said it was never a "biker bar" but a cafe that catered to the soldiers during WWII, and a trolly used to pull up and take the drunken sailors to their barracks. She pointed to a photo on the wall where a train track was seen in front of the cafe, but looking outside from the front door, it was not visible as the street was paved with asphalt and the tracks were gone.

She said, at some point, bikers came to the cafe to mingle and eat, and one should not feel intimidated coming to this family restaurant. The interior is old, menu classic American (burgers, chili, hotcakes and eggs, hot dogs, etc), and many original pieces in their kitchen, including the old refrigerator and potato cutting press. But, that is what gives charm to this hidden gem.

Kyong-Mi's homemade fries and beer (before her serving of root beer)

 Unfortunately, being vegan, there was not much for Kyong-Mi to eat, however, they have begun to offer turkey burgers as they transition their menu to the healthier-eating customers. All-in-all, Mike and Kyong-Mi had a pleasant experience and may come
back if they are in San Pedro, again. How wonderful to experience so much history all around, from the light house, the architecture, the Korean Friendship Bell and the gun mounts, to Walkers Cafe.

Bolsa Chica Wetlands

Mike ordered a new camera and decided to put his new camera to use.  Kyong-Mi showed him a different trailhead into the Bolsa Chica Wetlands loop.

The trailhead is at Bolsa Chica St/Brightwater Dr.

Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve Huntington Beach Trail

Celebrating Kyong-Mi's son Chris' summer break from elementary school, she took him to the Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve.  She parked on the Warner/PCH side and started on a bridge that would take them to the actual trail.

Chris and a seagull at the bridge leading to the trail.

Upon entering the bridge, there was a seagull.  There were plenty of birds, but the seagull stood still long enough for a picture of Chris. To the right of the trail is where the actual wetlands are.  To the left is a gated section and in the distance the Brightwater homes.  It is said the entire area were occupied by the Tongva and Acjachmen tribes.  At the ecological reserve they have cogged stones, live animals, taxidermy animals and much more information about the Wetlands.

Further down the trail, after the first resting spot on the left, there are gun mounts left from WWII.  Cacti and other indigenous plants grow there.

After the second gun mount and resting place, there is a stairway leading downward to the right, or a trail

Kyong-Mi standing on a gun mount.  

 leading upward to the left.  Taking the trail to the left will lead you near the Brightwater homes.  Along the right side, off trail, if you take the hill down, there is a tunnel near the water's edge, where many people have come and left their mark with graffiti.  Every time Kyong-Mi's been down there, there's different art work.

Chris balancing on a log, on the trail, below the Brightwater homes.  

Following the trail, will lead you to another bridge, that takes you to a trail leading back toward Pacific Coast Highway, where pumpjacks are visible.  A couple man-made hills with seating and a beautiful view is available to the left. There will be a fork in the path.  If you turn left, you can walk to another bridge that will lead you out to the parking lot on Pacific Coast Highway.  If you choose that way, leave the parking lot on foot, turn left and another path will lead you back to the bottom of the hill where the stairway is at the end of the Gun Mounts.  It's basically a walking loop.

This trail is simple, no vigorous activity, but a great view of wetlands or Bolsa Chica State Beach on the other side of PCH, and if you have a great imagination, you can find yourself wondering how the Natives lived at the Bolsa Chica Wetlands.  Chris and Kyong-Mi love walking the wetlands.

Crystal Cove Loop

For Easter Sunday, 2012, Mike and Kyong-Mi decided to take their children out for an easy hike at Crystal Cove, overlooking Newport Beach.

It was moderate weather and a sunshine day.  Unfortunately, we did not get enough pictures.  Because the children were with us, we couldn't complete the full loop.

Just entering the trail.

Mike and Chris looking down the cliff.

Chris and Kyong-Mi on top of the world.

Taking stairs down to the bottom.

Many of these beetles were on the plants near the steps.

Our children walking down the steps to the beach.