21.04: Koko Head provides incredible workout and sunrise surprise.
Blue, blue is my world...with a touch of yellow. Koko Head is one of the places a person returns to often...the more frequent, the better. Besides rather stunning views including wonderful sunrises, it keeps a person honest. By that we mean it's a grueling climb of some 1,200 feet and usually against competition and always, the clock. It is also treacherous in places, particularly when walking along the sleepers across the bridge. The 1,048 steps begin steeply and become even more acute over the second half. By the time a person reaches the final third, one is really tired and is then greeted by the steepest segment of the climb. Still blue but more yellow light. City of Honolulu begins to wake at dawn. Editor reflects while waiting for daylight after a record climb to the peak. We hiked last Wednesday to the top and then onto the rim. Our times were less than satisfactory then and so we convinced our editor to try again but this time with the sunrise ...