<strong>The Continuing Adventures of prof. and profsis: The LOST Triathlon on Oahu</strong>
We spent a week cycling around Oahu, and the following is an account of our epic journey to find Maunawili falls and the site where the TV show LOST is filmed.
Our interest in Maunawili was sparked by an article we read in <a href="http://www.bicycling.com/article/1,6610,s1-6-12-16461-2,00.html">Bicycling Magazine</a>,
??Far back in the jungle near the Ko'olau Cliffs, the jagged fins of sheer rock that bisect the southern part of the island, lurks a lost world of singletrack and hidden stunts. The jungle is so dense and untamed on this part of Oahu that some locals carry large knives in the event of an attack from a hulking wild boar. If you happen to run into one, hold your ground, don't show fear, and if Porky charges, beware his tusks, which are sharp enough to gut a dog. Locals have seen it happen, and it isn't pretty. Your chances of experiencing a boar attack are pretty remote, but the riding is sure to be spectacular??
We consulted with the experts at a local shop, cleverly called, <a href="http://www.bikeshophawaii.com/rentals.html">?The Bike Shop.? </a>We got great advice (thanks guys) and a very useful map. They rent bikes there as well, though we ended up getting ours closer to where we were staying for the sake of convenience. <a href="http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/PB-Oahu-1-Pali-Hwy-East-End-Loop">The Pali loop</a> is the most popular route for roadies, and we were tempted to make that the objective, but we were determined to find the falls. We decided to ride part of the famed loop and then take a side trip to Maunawili, followed by a ride to Kailua Beach. Thus, our ?triathlon? would consist of riding our bikes, hiking to the falls and swimming in the ocean. In order to complete this itinerary in one day, we took a bus for part of the return trip (otherwise, we would not have made it back to Waikiki by nightfall). Fortunately, every bus on Oahu is equipped with an easy to use bike rack that holds two bikes.
Our adventure began at sunrise. We set out on our Mountain Bikes, carrying water, peanut butter sandwiches, sunscreen and bugspray. The ride was very scenic and pleasant. Bike lanes are clearly marked, generous and ubiquitous; however, there were a couple of places where the road narrowed and the lane seemed to disappear briefly. Fortunately, we found drivers in Oahu to be fairly courteous and willing to share the road. There is a great rest stop before the turnoff to the trail head at Maunawili park. In addition to restrooms, there are picnic tables and shade trees. We met some cool roadies who were gathering to do the 40 mile Tantalus loop. We were invited to ride along. It was tempting, but we were on a mission. The riders gave us good advice on how to find the falls, and with their best wishes (why did they look so worried?), we left civilization behind and headed into the jungle?
<img src="http://profette.smugmug.com/photos/307344654_tmMVC-S.jpg" alt="" />
The vegetation was dense, but every once in awhile, there was an opening that allowed for breathtaking views of the cliffs. Eventually, we reached the trail head and locked up our bikes for the hike. We could have taken a different route, in order to stay on the bikes the whole time, but our destination was only accessible by foot. We saw coffee trees and exotic flowers. The jungle was quite still, save for the sounds we made tromping on the red dirt and the calls of birds. From time to time, profsis claimed she could hear something or someone else. Prof. told her it was just her imagination, or maybe a mongoose. Secretly, prof. wondered whether it was the OTHERS?
<img src="http://profette.smugmug.com/photos/307344664_5bsuW-S.jpg" alt="" />
We had to cross several streams, and profsis managed to take an unscheduled dip in one. We passed through a bamboo forest and did some significant climbing. As we neared the falls, the OTHERS made their presence known. They were flinging themselves off the cliffs and into the water. It was quite entertaining and we enjoyed both the spectacle and our peanut butter sandwiches. The hike was about 10 miles round trip, so it didn?t take us long to return to our bikes. We continued the journey to the cool beach town of Kailua. There, we enjoyed tropical smoothies made from locally grown fruit. Kailua beach is easy to find and is connected to other beaches in the area with a paved, dedicated bike path. The triathlon was completed by a swim in the ocean.
<img src="http://profette.smugmug.com/photos/307344698_zKPRv-S.jpg" alt="" />
As sunset approached, we hopped on our bikes and rode through Kailua. We picked up a bus just outside of town for the return trip. The journey officially came to a close when profsis spotted her favorite watering hole and exclaimed, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Phs2DKwa6JI">?Thank gawd the Tiki Bar is open!?</a>
hh: 
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