Aloha friends! I’m sure most of you have been to or heard of Hamama Falls. This is a super easy 3 mile round trip trail located on Honolulu Water Board property in Kaneohe. Please obtain a permit to be a good upstanding legal citizen before embarking on this adventure. I’ve probably completed this trail 6 or 7 times, and love all the diversity in scenes and photo opportunities! Chilly creeks, banyan tree forts, Jurassic Park scenes, Tag art, nature and of course WATERFALLS can be found on this adventure. Having heard there was a second falls off the trail, I had never actually located Waihe’e falls until this visit! Woohoo! Another beautiful waterfall, chased and caught! I am not going to divulge where this trail is exactly, for I prefer that fewer folks know how to get to a trail, for I appreciate enjoying my experience without the presence of many other people, like the crowded Lulumahu or Manoa Falls, for example. This was an excellent morning spent and enjoyed with peaceful company. I especially loved sticking my head under Hamama Falls with a stranger, finding a new waterfall and the rope section next to the cascading Waihe’e Falls. Please enjoy the gallery of ShannonJammin’ Photography, plus two of me taken by Jaqueline Hansen, of my most recent waterfall adventure. Contact me to make arrangements for your custom guided photography or hiking adventure! Mahalo and remember “Malama Honua!”
Category: Hawaii
Honolulu, Hawaii is my home! All these blog posts include specific information about living on Oahu in Hawaii. The blogs contain photographs taken by Shannon Ballentine for Shannon Jammin’ Photography.
Likeke Falls
Now having successfully trekked to Likeke Falls a second time, I wanted to combine the photos from my three visits to this beautiful destination. The photo gallery slideshow includes yesterdays visit August 2018, then my first successful look at the falls in May 2018, and the visit in June 2017 where we didn’t quite make it to our destination. This hike can start a number of ways. Each time I’ve started at the Pali Lookout and ventured down the Old Pali Road. I now know how to reach this hike from the Ko’olau Golf Club, which is considerably shorter but you don’t get the awesome views from the old Pali or see all the Graffiti artwork under the bridge. This visit we were greeted by a new friend Roy, a retired Fireman who worked with search and rescue for 30 years, and his Chocolate Lab Ki’i. He lived in the area and provided us with extra insights to the trail and area, plus showed us the way to the Golf course trail; the easy route. Yesterday’s visit was quite nice for I took new friends, one was visiting from Wisconsin, and it’s so fun to experience the trails with newcomers who open your eyes to more of the wonderful things that you haven’t noticed lately due to familiarity. Around every turn she was taking photos of the beautiful elephant leaf ferns to simple little morning glory flowers and we showed her the sleeping grass.
We went on a sunny clear day after an awesome breakfast a Koko Head Cafe. This visit to Likeke was more crowded than the last but it is summertime! Looking back through my photos from all visits reminds me that even though I do many of these hikes over and over, there’s always something new to see and experience. The first visit in 2017, Jacci and I didn’t make it to Likeke Falls but found this other mini falls that we mistook for the right one. We were on the right path but just needed to venture a little further! It’s fun comparing the pictures, the large graffiti has changed under the bridge, and the “mascot” has much more flair! My second visit with Jackie was a much needed respite, for it was the first hike I did after a rather traumatic experience & I was so grateful for the quiet time in nature with a new friend and outdoor lover. This valley is amazing, full of so many tropical beauties; guava, avocados, artwork, waterfalls, flowers and of course spending time in the woods is one of my favorite things! I hope you enjoy this photographic journal of Likeke Falls, please contact me for custom built photographic or hiking tours. And while your on the trail, remember to Malama Honua (take care of our island, Earth).
Bishop Museum
Who knew there was a castle in Honolulu. Apparently I didn’t, but now I am in the know! An impromptu date day with Jon was spent enjoying the Bishop Museum https://www.bishopmuseum.org and left me knowing so much more about these Islands and the importance in remembering the legacy of the Hawaiian culture. There was attention to detail in every turn and the memorabilia and artifacts were displayed efficiently and elegantly. This was a beautiful way to spend an afternoon! Starting off the day was a visit to the Planetarium to join the crew on the Hokele’a http://www.hokulea.com to learn how to navigate to Tahiti from Hawaii by the stars. After the demonstration I actually felt as if I had a better grasp on my astronomy knowledge and could know the general direction at night now. Then we explored the massive and beautiful Hawaiian Hall. From the huge Sperm Whale suspended from the ceiling to the ancient Tiki’s, I was amazed at every turn and easily could have spent all day there…hmm. After the hall we enjoyed the great lawn, gardens and the science adventure center.
Hawaii Loa Ridge Hike
I went on a hike yesterday. Hawaii Loa Ridge is probably my favorite hike on Hawaii. Mostly because the trail is challenging but rewarding and it is lightly trafficked! There is plenty of up and down, instead of just straight up, up, up! There’s cool forested groves with beautiful light shows on the forest floor. There’re many steps, all different heights, narrow muddy culverts, wildflowers in bloom, and songbirds galore. There is very little noise other than the occasional plane, the wind, and the birds! The weather changes rapidly and can go from windy and cloudy to brutally sunny and hot to raining in an instant. Best part is, you’re in and out in four hours!