Being Jewish in Hawaii

With me, please.

When we have a day off with no commitments I like to be outside. My two favorite things to do are go to the beach or go on a hike. I’ll go to the beach by myself, but I don’t like to hike alone. I usually wait so that my husband can join me. That way I can make it through the hard parts.

We usually take the girls, but one Saturday a few weeks ago found us with and entire free day-no commitments and no children. Woo hoo. We were livin’ large.

At my request, we went to “Mariner’s Ridge” in Hawaii Kai as I had been wanting to go on that hike for a while.

A few weeks later our older daughter was home and asked if we could hike “Lanikai Pillboxes” in Kailua and we agreed to go there.

Before we go on a hike I look up the reviews on the internet. The rest of my family can handle most of the challenges that local hiking offers, but I am not a very skilled or confident trail blazer, so I like to find out what other people’s experiences have been. I usually go for the easy to moderate ratings and avoid trails that are described as slippery or super steep.

Mariner’s Ridge was right up my alley. There were a few challenges, but nothing I couldn’t handle and it was a pleasure from start to finish. I won’t go into all of the details. You can look it up the world wide web and there is enough information that anything I have to say would only be repeating other reports.

Pill Boxes was another story. It was hard for me and not worth the effort. This is the type of hike one does for the view at the end. For me it’s about the journey. This journey was hot and steep and dusty and difficult. Luckily it was short. Shorter even for me as I quit before I got to the top. I sat down and waited for my husband and daughter to go up and come back. I waited only about 20 minutes, so I guess I was close. I do not regret my decision–I saw a beautiful view right where I was sitting and waiting!

Mostly I just want to share the beautiful pictures from these beautiful places and you can figure out if either one of these is the hike for you!