Adventures
Hanauma Bay State Park, Oahu, Hawaii
Hanauma Bay State Park is a coral reef nested within a bay that is part of a volcanic cone. It is home to a wide variety of tropical fish and marine life. In 1990, the bay became managed by the state to limit visits in order to protect and help rebuild the reef after years of neglect and damage from unmitigated tourism. In 2002, a marine education center was built to provide information and education to visitors. Today the bay is a thriving marine ecosystem.
Byodo-In Temple, Oahu, Hawaii
Byodo-In Temple, located in the Valley of the Temples Memorial Park, Oahu, Hawaii, is a replica of the temple of the same name built in Japan 9 centuries ago. It is a non-practicing Buddhist temple that still asks visitors to be respectful and cherish the peaceful setting and faithful devotion required in creating such a beautiful environment for visitors to enjoy. Built in 1963, it is a somewhat hidden treasure of Hawaii.
Diamond Head State Monument, Hawaii
Diamond Head State Monument is a 475-acre section of land southeast of Honolulu, Hawaii. It is known for its volcanic crater, historic hiking trail, military history, and coastal views. The crater was formed over 300,000 years ago. The trail to the summit was built in 1908. It was initially made as part of O'ahu's coastal defense system but was turned into a hiking trail many years later. The hike is just under a mile from the trailhead to the summit, but if you hike from outside the park into the interior, you reach a round-trip hike of about 3 miles. The area is beautiful, the hike is short but steep, and the views are incredible.
Goose Creek Falls (2023)
We return to one of our favorite hikes in McCall, Idaho. It is a mostly shaded, easily graded, beautiful hike near Brundage Ski Resort. There is a challenging scramble down to the base of the waterfall, but this can be skipped, especially when the water is really flowing. I highly recommend this hike, especially in the morning when the air is cool and the sun is low.
Mogensen Trail (2023)
The second time on this trail, but in a different season. The differences were evident. The trail was much greener, more water was flowing down the falls, and more people were on the trail. We happened to hike on the same day as a major base jumping event, and were even tasked with being impromptu videographers for a marriage proposal from one of the jumpers. It was an awesome hike.