Nusileidus paklausėme kuris paplūdimys yra mažiausiai lankomas turistų. Ten ir patraukėme. | After landing in Honolulu we asked which coast is least visited by tourists. We went there straight away.
If there is a well known place with plenty of tourists around, we know that it will take much longer to find your own space. But maybe we already worn out shoes or sandals enough, but often hitched people show us off beaten track places.
Hawaii is one of the States separated from the mainland my thousands miles. There is a army base in the island, and this is a good strategic point. In the island there also live people of slightly darker skin, and according to a guy that we hitched, often they feel a strong ambition to be independent.
From Australian winter to Hawaiian season-lessness
After a ten hour flight we land to an island, which is the most distant point from any possible mainland. It is a small place, you can drive around in couple hours, and make it through in less than an hour.
In the airport we go straight to the information centre and ask ‘which place in the island has the least tourists?’. She could could not hide the surprise, it must be the least given question to her. ‘The Northern shore. It’s beautiful out there’. We are going to north.
You can easily get around the island with the ‘city’ public transport. The bus no.55 would get you to a northern part too. ‘You might need to hold your luggage on your lap’ one man warns. In fact he offered us a lift from the doctor to a shopping centre just randomly. Apparently he is a couchsurfer too (he offers his place to sleep for free), and he often shows tours around of his beloved island.
Šiaurinė Oʻahu salos pakrantė mus labiausiai sužavėjo. | The nothern Oʻahu coast was the niciest.
To save up some time we are lured into this offer, and after making on part of the road by bus, the one that we need does not accept us on board. The driver is not aloud to take to the bus if you have luggage. So we need to hitchhike. What a ‘pity’.
So we then straight back into ‘our’ mood and surely a very interesting guy stops to us. He works in the navy, and started to serve there right after the September 11 attacks. ‘I know a place where you might like to go’ he says after hearing our long story of traveling so far.
There are so many cars here as everyone came to see a sea turtle. We jump out of the car and as kids go to see that slow beauty. It is paying now attention whatsoever to any curious kids or kid like grownups.
We passed the Waimea beach which should be one of the nicest ones, and went up to the hill, passing the Hawaiian temple remains.
Pasivaikščiojimas po džiungles. | A walk in a joungle.
We are very soon with our backpacks enter this so called army property, where in fact quite a few joggers and hunters share the area.The path is soft and tender, formed from the long thorns. We strolled up the edges of the slope and found decent place to camp out looking to the jungles and the bit of the ocean. It’s truly peaceful here. The massive tree nearby. The trunk is soft and tempting to be touched. If you have never hugged a tree, its worth trying it. The peace flows there. In you too.
Out of emergency bags we form a shelter. It’s hardly enough for our feet to cover, but it should secure from the rain that comes and goes as pleased.
Vėžlys ir Evelina. | Turtle and Evelina.
Sometimes you don’t need to rush. If you find a place where you want to stay a bit longer in order to fully live ‘here and now’, you should stay in. So we have our temporary home with a million dollar look terrace. In the evening we climb the tree and enjoy the silence.
Is is possible to find your own place in the beach? If you want to. We don’t go the place where everyone is toasting, but find a nice cozy place where we crash on for a day, and pitch a tent at night. With the borrowed snorkeling equipment we the beauty of the underwater is revealed. Sea turtles, colourful fish in flocks or independent ladies.
Pu’u o Mahuka Heiau
Though before Hawaii became a state, just a few hundreds years ago, they had their own life- both secular and religious. The temple of Hawaii Pu’u o Mahuka Heiau- is on the top hill of Waimea valley. It’s just wonderful to ponder how being so far away from everyone else they had so many similar elements in naturalistic religions; gods of fertility and war, sacrifice and priests.
The flight to Alaska is soon, so we are about to hitch back to Honolulu the long way (and new to us) round. Energetic Mimo after having listened our story, all excited brings us to a paid camping site, and after a quick chat with her cousin’s worker, we are staying there for free. The ocean, warm showers, needed electricity. And lots of cats.
Practical tips
Visas
You should look if you are eligible for the waiver visa on the ESTA site
Hipimobilis | Hippiemobil
Transport
The same as traveling from Bali to Perth, the same we are using Jetstar services. Its a budget trip. You won’t need to buy water, but you better bring food on board, as the only option to pay for the sandwich is by credit card, no cash accepted.
You cannot take fruits or veggies to the country, so you better eat it or throw it away.
Hitching in Hawaii is easy. People stop with no problems, and you can hear a good life story or two.
If you use public transport, the drivers are kind enough to tell how to get to a necessary place. The island is small hence you can use no. 55 bus to get around, but if you have luggage with you might not be accepted on board.
Food
Comparing with Australia, food is cheaper here. We are not fans of fast food chains, so Mcdonald is not an option apart for coffee and free internet. No sockets, so you are limited to time till your battery lasts.
Hygiene
There are plenty of toilets in the beaches, but scarce in other public places. Sometimes they even locked with codes, and some nearby shops workers might reveal the magic code to open so needed toilet. McDonald’s is often an option. Showers are in the beach too.
TV serijalo 'Dingę' (kuris buvo filmuotas šitoje saloje) įkvėpti nusprendėme paimprovizuoti ir išbandyti save kitaip. Būstas dviem naktims. | Inspired by TV series 'LOST' (which was filmed in this island) we decided to improvise and challenge ourselves a bit differently. A two night house.
Sleep
We only slept in the northern place, so we can only say it was possible to sleep in the beach up there. Even if there was a sign of no camping, nobody gave us any bother. However, we try to be neat and quick to pitch a tent and pack it up quickly in the morning. In the army base park the situation is even easier – you can camp whenever you want. Stay alert and don’t go off the tracks too often as the hunters out there doing their job.
