Ha'ena (Shipman) Beach

Only in Hawaii will you get to experience the beauty of Ha'ena Beach, more commonly known as Shipman Beach...

This is a place not too far out of Hilo.  It's about a 20 minute drive to Kaloli, where you have to drive all the way into Kaloli, and hike the rest of the way in. The hike ranges about an hour to an hour and a half hike each way.  You can hike either through the woods or though the coast line.  If you want to go and visit this beach, I'd recommend taking a full day.  The hike is kind of long, but not too bad, depending on the weather prior to your visit. If it has been raining, the trail through the woods will be muddy. Trust me. The hike is well worth it for a few hours at this beautiful, isolated beach.

Trucks also can go through the trail as well, but they don't make it all the way to the beach.  People drive their trucks in to go fishing, diving, camp, etc.

Here is some photos of the trail leading into the woods/forest. The forest isn't too bad, its just a bunch of trees hanging over and surrounding the trail. It provides good shade if you don't want to walk in the sun.

 Once you get to the beach it is just BEAUTIFUL....

No one around. Complete isolation. The waves rolling onto the beach. It's like you're in a whole other world. The marble sand, the fresh water springs. Turtles relaxing on the rocks.Palm and coconut trees swaying. Little sea creatures in the water. Nothing but beautiful.

In the background, behind the beach, there are the Shipman Beach houses.  This area is also a Nene bird zone.  So it is Kapu (forbidden) to trespassers.  It is really pretty though!

 Both times that I visited this beach, we walked to the beach through the woods, and hiked back through the coastline.  On the coastline, its like cliffs. So you have to work your way up and down rocks.  The view is perfect the whole way tho. And along the way back, you might run into a Monk Seal :)

It's a hike well worth it when done with friends.  I wouldn't recommend doing it alone, but I do recommend taking the time to visit this beautiful serene place at least once in your life.  I've been there twice and each time I've loved it more and more.  It is a good place to sit, relax, clear your thoughts, and enjoy the perks of living in Hawaii and the joys of life itself.

Until next time Ha'ena beach. I'll be missing you...

Miloli'i

Only in Hawaii will you get to experience the wonders of Miloli'i...

Miloli'i is known as the last fishing village in Hawaii, located on the south end of the Hawaii island.  It's populated mostly by fishermen and their families, and located on the bottom of a hill, roughly about a 10-15 min drive down from the main road. As you drive past the town, almost every single house owns a boat of some sort.  The nearest store, or source of help being miles away, Miloli'i is like an isolated town, living in traditional ways and relying on their natural supply of resources such as food and water.

On July 4th, 2011 a few friends and I took a drive out to Miloli'i.  It was about a 2- 2 1/2 hour drive.  We then hiked, another 20 minutes, to a place known as Honomalino Beach.  It was a quiet, isolated serene location.  The sun shining high above our heads, the sound of the small waves crashing on the shore, the sand at our feet...It was a perfect day.

It was my first time to this beach, as my friend said, it looked different. After the slight tsunami scare that took place last March, a lot of the sand got washed away, many of the palm and coconut trees fell.  So the beach is mostly occupied by rocks and coral, with slight patches of sand near the shoreline and along the beach area.

It was here that I could recollect my thoughts, pull myself together and really enjoy everything that life has to offer.  As I sat on the beach, I watched the currents riding in and out over and over again.  It was quite relaxing.  Being surrounded by the ocean is a great thing.  You don't have to know how to swim, know how to fish, snorkel, surf, dive, or know any water related activity in order to enjoy the presence of the ocean.  The ocean plays a vital role for these people who live in Miloli'i or any part of Hawaii for a matter of fact.  It provides food, provides water, provides power, provides life.

Honomalino and Miloli'i was a great choice of place to spend the Fourth of July with friends.  At the end of the day we were all tired, burnt out, sunburnt and exhausted.  It was a well spent holiday.

Until next time Miloli'i, may you enjoy the ocean's gifts as well as the radiant rays and love shining down from above...