Kokee Solemates 0418-23, 2017

Our thirty seven hikers flew from Honolulu to Lihue, rented our all wheel or four wheel drive vehicles and drove up to the Kokee cabins for another adventure. We checked out our cabins and then cooked our meals sharing some of this repast. We ate well including having some free range chicken one night and fresh cooked wild mushrooms gathered on our hikes another night. We even had a crime scene tape on one of the cabins but the wrong one since our free range chicken was gone into our tummies. Our morning congregations with our leader gave us some choices at times of different hikes and off we went enjoying the camaraderie and nature in its glory. Our experiences included some new knowledge of local plants but for many of us who have been here before the trails brought us again walking this good earth to get to outstanding views and challenging traverses. These photographs are a sample of the week in Kokee. Our first day of hiking was either Nu'alolo Canyon rim trail or the Awa'awapuhi Trail, next day from the Kokee mountain top down the Pihea trail with the misty rain and mud and the lush green canopy to descend into. The Waimea Canyon trail was our next day adventure. We found some maile leaves to smell and then the canyon views and waterfall crossing kept us alert and thrilled. Our last day we again split up with some venturing down the Kukui Trail then the Waimea stream road with many crossings to eat popcorn and have refreshments at Ruth Castels while the other group meandered around the mountain for short hikes. One evening we went to Shenanigan's at the Barking Sands Military Base for more talking and sharing. Our lei making produced outstanding haku leis which were worn with reverence while one of our group chanted in hawaiian. there was many more special moments to savor thanks to you all.
Thanks you all for your companionship.
Leonard