Hi--

We recently returned from an incredible trip to two of the Sandwich
Isles. Simply stunning!!!

Here's the low down on LBing activities on O'ahu & Hawai'i as we
experienced it.

O'AHU--all 5 letterboxes were alive & well and many had multiple
visitors from around the US. We also found all 5 boxes with 2 young
children (one of whom was in a baby backpack). I'd recommend,
however, if you have a fear of heights or children who aren't that
sure-footed to think twice about the Lanikai Bunker trail. It's
quite steep & rocky but takes you to incredible views of the
adjacent islands & bays!!! As for using strollers during these
treks, the only ones I think would remotely handle strollers would
be the two letterboxes at Makapu'u Point--it's paved most of the way
but there is a part where you would have to carry the stroller over
lava rock around a locked gate. Once near the letterboxes, you
would have to park the stroller for a bit to actually find the
letterbox as some side trails are involved--not difficult if you
have two adults in your party one of whom can stay with the stroller
(that wasn't our situation during our visit--I was alone with the
kids while TRKEE worked).

We left 3 little reminders in a few of our favorite spots in the
area plus an additional surprise for future LB'ers, too:

-- 'Awapuhi-'ula'ula
-- Monk Seal (Tlio holo i kauaua)
-- Pueo

These hikes aren't that strenuous but two do require some extensive
vehicular/bus travel to reach the trailhead. Monk Seal is almost
entirely a flat hike but the distance is between 4 & 5 miles with
one stretch of cliff hugging while clinging to steel cable
specifically placed there for hikers. The views in the region are
stunning and wildlife abounds!!! Pueo is about 1-1/2 miles with
fruit laden trees all around and some steep inclines at various
spots. 'Awapuhi-'ula'ula is a very popular spot about 2 miles in
length with some incline and muddy spots, too.

EXCHANGES: We were extremely fortunate to have been able to link up
with two other letterboxers during our visit! Mahalo--Stamphi &
Hello Kitty for meeting with us along the way!

HAWAI'I: We ventured on to visit the breathtakingly beautiful &
still growing Sandwich Isle. What incredible vistas abound there--
encompassing 11 of 13 climate zones, too! The only weather we
didn't experience this trip was snow (although it got pretty close
to the freezing mark a couple of times) and the only native animals
we didn't meet along the way were Humpback Whales and a few of the
endangered birds and turtles (although we did see a few
I'iwi, 'Amakihi, Honu & Hone-ea).

As for the two existing letterboxes on this isle--

--We are sorry to report that the Hawaiian Mystery Letterbox exists
no more thanks to a wildfire that hit about 5 days before we visited
the area. All that we could find while sifting through the ashes
was a charred sketch-book spiral-ringed binding to a log book.
Otherwise, there was no other sign of a letterbox or its remnants
amongst 2 feet of ashes--even soda cans in the area were partially
melted--a testimony to how devastating this fire was (apparently set
by campers in the area).

--Puako Petroglyphs is alive & well and quite popular. Seems lots
of first time letterboxers with stamps have found it. Pretty
exciting to see all the different stamps from around the country.

--We left 3 little reminders for future LBers in this region, too
(all flower-inspired & some of our best stamps to date IMH&HO):

-- Koki'o
-- Bird of Paradise
-- Orchid Isle

All three of these 'adventures' are kid friendly and fairly short
hikes taking you to either great vistas or incredible geologic
formations that you wouldn't see anywhere else around the world!
Simply incredible.

While on the isle, don't forget to visit Mme Pele & view her
incredible nighttime magmatic show if you are afforded the
opportunity! We went twice and were absolutely awed!!! Don't
forget to look up and gaze at the stars, while you're there
either. ;)

dvn2r ckr
DuPont, WA