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

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 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.