Friendship Garden Hike, Kane'ohe

Formerly, Kokokahi was its name, meaning "of one blood".  It was established in the late 1800s, and came to memorialize the blendng of the many ethnicities in Hawaii.  Owing to the dedication of one couple and a few volunteers over many years, what was once a small tea house location which had fallen into disrepair, is now a quiet, secluded hiking location with gently restored trails.

Trailhead

Alli and kids have been here before (they've been everywhere!)!  There are ironwoods, macadamia nut trees, lemon-scented eucalyptus, mahogany, bamboo, hibiscus and so much more.

Benji calls it "nak" time at the summit.

There's a view of water from every mountain top -- we're and island, remember?

Very peaceful here.

Bamboo

A fascinating "find" -- Lemon-scented Eucalyptus with its trunk covered with eucalyptus gum which has hardened into spectacular amber.  Click the photo to see more closely.

"Smile, Ben" says his mom!  Those leaves are bigger than his whole, big head!  He hiked the whole distance, but wearing his "puppy harness" thank goodness.  There were a couple of places where we could have really been scrambling to catch him if he'd fallen!  Sam has found the most gorgeous red hibiscus flower I've seen.  It's petals are so delicately formed.

A phenomenal tree, probably a banyan.  Click the image to get the full benefit of the detail.

Sam loves bouldering, and is good at it. 

I do love bamboo forests.  What a nice morning, followed by lunch with a friend who went to high school with us!