Update

Looks like I went another year without an update. Not too much in terms of surf, but there were some decent swells here and there. Didn't have the usual summer swells in 2023, so we'll see how 2024 turns out. The weather was hot and humid until about January, where a cold front came through and gave us some pretty low temperatures. Well, relatively low - high 50s and low 60s, which is cold for Hawaii. After about a week or two of that, the weather went back to hot and humid. One junk thing that happened in 2022 was that I got sciatica from surfing. It took just about a year for the sciatica to go away, and even after over a year, I still have a little bit lingering. Now, I make sure to do daily stretches and pre-surf stretches as well. Piriformis stretches have seemed to help the best.

Another year gone by

It's the third year of the pandemic, and the past year went by pretty quickly again. There were some nice swells later in 2021, and we had what was probably one of the best south swells we've seen in years in August. Things cooled down around November/December and haven't warmed up to summer temperatures yet, so a lot of us have been wearing our wetsuit tops and vests. The COVID situation seems to be getting under control, so things may be transitioning back towards normal if everything goes as expected.

A year later

It's been just under a year since my last post from 2020, and the time went by pretty quickly. The development of vaccines in the earlier part of 2021 is helping to get COVID numbers under control and allow states & countries to begin to open back up.  We haven't gotten any good summer swells yet, compared to 2020 where we had swells starting in March.   By this time last year, we had a good amount of fun south swells, but so far we've only had minor south swells and probably had the biggest one so far last week, topping out at around head high/a little overhead.

Current events

We're just around the halfway point of 2020, and the world is in a state of uncertainty. The COVID-19 pandemic hit, with surges of cases continuing to pop up just when it seems like the numbers are leveling off or decreasing. There are protests against police brutality, and the presidential election is in November. The government initially restricted travel and implemented a stay-at-home order but has started to ease the restrictions. This post is just the 2020 update that I never got around to until now. Fortunately for surfers here, the government did not prohibit surfing and many ocean activities, so we have a way to get our exercise and can still enjoy the summer swells coming to our islands.

Ten-Year Mark

I started this blog back in 2009, so it's officially been around for 10 years. The original purpose of this blog was to document things of interest to me outside of school and work, and it initially focused on my hiking adventures. Along the way, I documented some of my side projects, like the Surefire Kroma Mod and the Electric Skateboard Build.

This blog

No, I haven't forgotten about this site, but it looks like I went for more than a year without posting anything and didn't post anything for 2018. Looks like the plan to update this at least once per year is over, but I'll still try to update this blog as long as it stays online. Also, it looks like the skateboard speed calculator has gotten quite popular, so I wouldn't want to make it difficult for everyone who relies on the calculator if I were to take the blog down.

Surf Cams

I decided to make a page embedding the surf cams I usually check. This is pretty much just for me to have a more convenient way to take a look at all the cams on one page, but others who surf Oʻahu south shore can check these as well.

I guess this post is about surfing

I've been behind on putting anything up here, but I want to have at least one post per year as long as I can, so here's this year's post. I didn't even realize it but apparently I've started multiple posts in the last year but never got around to finishing & publishing them. If I do anything else worth noting, I'll post on that too. I actually haven't been hiking as much because I switched over to surfing more often and have been making it a point to get in the water at least 2 times each week nowadays.

Pointless Post

It's been a little under a year since I last posted here, and I felt that I should just add something. Gotta keep this blog going even if it's not on a regular basis. Nothing has changed much, and I haven't been able to go on any new or noteworthy hikes in a while due to school and work. I've been hiking here and there, but I rarely bring my camera anymore because I'm just doing repeat hikes. These hikes are good for exercise, but many of the friends who hike the new or challenging trails with me are on the mainland or busy with other obligations.

The Gear

This is for anyone who's curious and so I can look back in the future. I decided to make this writeup of the gear I've been using on hikes. This is not a guide or recommendation of gear to use. I don't receive any benefits or promotional items from the manufacturers, and any opinions are my own.

The Recent Past

I was looking back through some of my older posts and realized how much things have changed since then. With how connected the Internet has made the world, many of the "hidden" and lesser known trails & areas I had written & heard about are quite busy today. It was inevitable that these places would become popular and more sought-out, but the time it took was probably shortened by the ease and convenience of using the Internet to find the island's attractions.

The conditions of some places have changed as well - there is no longer a telephone pole at Alan Davis; the last time I went, there was just a wood plank. I can imagine that removing a telephone pole from that area would not be easy, and more than one person had to have been involved. Much of the rest of the area has stayed the same, but without the appeal of the telephone pole, Alan Davis didn't seem to be as crowded those times I went.

The Stairs has become the subject of much controversy. Board of Water wants to break it down, and it seems that will happen unless someone steps in. The Stairs had become one of the most popular and well-known trails on the island due to all the sites around the web talking about it and people wanting to climb it. It had become a very popular and unique tourist attraction in that it was illegal to hike, yet many people risked being ticketed or arrested by police to be able to say they went up. Many people didn't treat the neighborhood residents well either, which led to hostility from the neighborhood. There will probably be some opposition from the residents if the state does decide to open the trail to the public.

I've noticed my writing has changed too, and it was pretty evident that I was in high school when I wrote those older posts. I don't really have anything new to write about this time around since I've been busy with school, but I created this blog as a sort of journal that I can look back on, so I just wanted to put something up.

I've been working on a second electric skateboard with different components and may change the software around. I bought a different ESC and will see if I can find a different control method other than the cruise control style. If not, then I'll just stick with the cruise control method because it's been working well enough, and I've gotten used to it.

Updates

It's been a while since I last updated this blog. I haven't really gone on any new hikes but recently did the Olomana Loop hike. It went as usual, but some ribbons were falling off, and parts of the trail were getting overgrown. Aaron and I finished the hike in what we think is a new record - 3.5 hours - and got a good workout in the process. It seems like people removed our ribbons differentiating the Waimanalo path and the entrance path. If we go again, we'll remark the trail and try to clear some of the brush in the forest area.

What have I been up to for the past 8 months? After graduating from UH, I got a temporary full time job at the law school in the administrative office. After that job was done, I got a temporary full time job at the Hawaii Senate. That job lasted for about 6 months, and my last day was in May. From the end of the Senate job until now, I've just been relaxing and preparing for law school, which starts towards the end of August. As busy as I assume I'll be, I'm going to try to hike when I can but may not have time to document the hikes.

There is one thing that is certain - due to all the recent events and the situation with the Haiku Stairs, I don't think I'll be going there anytime soon unless the state decides to open it up to the public. Many hikers who attempt to climb the stairs are disrespectful to those in the neighborhood, and residents are understandably angry at anyone who even looks as if they will try to access the hike. With the new preschool near the beginning of the stairs, there is more concern and disapproval of hikers on the stairs. It was fun in the past and also a good workout, but now, you'll be on the stairs with hundreds or more.

We'll be trying some of the hikes that challenged us and were fun in the past: True Manamana, Olomana Loop, Moanalua Saddle, and Kawiki/Tiki Ridge.

Google Glass

Google Glass, a sometimes controversial wearable device, has potential to change the way people interact with technology. It's Google's second independently created hardware device that straps the equivalent of a Galaxy Nexus phone to your head in a very compact form factor. For the large time that Google's Nexus line of hardware has been around, all (except the short-lived Nexus Q) were assembled and co-branded by other companies such as HTC, Samsung, and LG. The only difference between Glass and a phone is that Glass has no cell phone radio and a smaller battery (~570 mAh). This means that you can't make calls directly from Glass or get 3G/4G data directly to Glass, but you can still use it as a bluetooth headset and tether Glass to your phone for data. Glass can also connect to wifi for those who want to conserve their data usage. Just to be clear, Google Glass is most often referred to simply as Glass, not glasses or a pair. There is only one set of the device's electronics, so it's not really a pair. Google is also working on Google Goggles, an app that lets you run a search based on a picture.

Tiki Ridge Hike - With a Twist

This past Saturday, Aaron and I decided to go on a hike. We wanted something challenging and wanted a trail where weather wouldn't be as much of a concern. The Tiki Ridge -> Unnamed Peak -> Kawiwi hike came to mind. Aaron wasn't able to come the last time with me and Nick, so it was a good opportunity for him to see the trail. This time, however, Nick wasn't able to go, so Aaron and I went out to Waiʻanae. There must be something about this side of the island because just as before, we deviated from the original plan, and this time turned out to be nothing like the previous time.

Tiki Ridge to Unnamed Peak to Puʻu Kawiwi

Except for one or two times where my parents took me as a baby (which I don't remember anyway), I've never been to Waiʻanae. After the many years I've lived on Oahu, I never had a reason or desire to head out to that side, until this past weekend when Nick and I decided to check out a trail marked as "extreme" on David Chatsuthiphan's site, Unreal Hawaii.

We saw the pictures from David's post, Pu’u Kawiwi, No Name, Tiki Ridge, and were eager to try the hike ourselves. You might notice the title of my post is in the reverse order from David's, and that's because we accidentally did the trail backwards from what was planned. We felt like this backwards route changed the difficulty of the trail significantly, and we found ourselves descending some steep and hair-raising sections that would have been easier the other way around. Either way, this hike should only be attempted by experienced hikers who aren't afraid of heights and climbing. There is a significant amount of climbing on this hike in addition to some steep parts on the way up to the ridge, so make sure you're in shape and bring lots of water.

True Manamana - The complete trail

This write up is long overdue. Aaron and I headed over to the Kualoa area to check out the True Manamana trail about a month ago, but I hadn't gotten around to writing about the adventure. Reaching the True Manamana trail involves first reaching the turnaround on the regular Manamana trail, which is a long and strenuous trek to begin with. Not wanting to go through the same experience as the last time we went on the trail, we made sure to pack extra water. As a warning, the True Manamana hike is said to be one of the hardest and most dangerous on the island. You'll need to be able to handle thin, crumbly sections with steep drops on both sides. Wind gusts may come and go abruptly, throwing you off balance, which can be dangerous on this trail. Despite those threats, the hike is very fun and provides some nice views on clear days.

Olomana - Down the third peak

I had been wanting to check the entirety of Olomana off my to-do list for quite some time, and not just the usual trail where you back track after reaching the third peak; I wanted to see how the trail looked going down the third peak and try to exit through the entrance of the Olomana trail.

I checked out a little of the hike down the third peak earlier but was on a time budget because our group didn't have time allotted for potentially getting lost in the dense forest that's sandwiched between the golf course and the mountains. This time, however, we made sure to start early in order to factor in any extra time required to find our way out of an otherwise un-trekked trail, as far as I know.

Moanalua Saddle to Haiku Stairs Hike

It's been quite some time since I've gone on a new trail and a trail worth writing about. Nick wanted to check out the Moanalua Saddle trail and hook up with the stairs so we could get down. I have to say, because of the terrain and likeliness of severely hurting or killing yourself on this hike, it's definitely one of the most crazy and extreme hikes on the island. Compared to True Manamana, I thought this hike was more difficult.

You're pretty much traveling on a narrow path that consists mainly of loose dirt and rocks along with far drops on either side. Depending on the weather, you might also need to deal with intense gusts of wind. If it rains, this hike may not even be possible. You shouldn't attempt this hike if you are afraid of heights or are not sure of your hiking abilities.

Electric Skateboard Calculator

Electric Skateboard Speed Calculator

This calculator is intended to help you find the theoretical maximum speed for an electric skateboard. It takes motor kV as an input because it is aimed more at electric skateboards, but it may work for electric scooters and electric bikes.

More Progress on the Electric Skateboard

After quite a long hiatus, I've finally got some time to add a post updating the electric longboard build. This past semester was my last in undergrad. I graduated from UH and have a temporary job that will give me some money to add to my savings. The plan is to try to get into law school and see how that route goes. Looks like I'm actually gonna study law.

Anyways back to the longboard - Thanks to the recommendation of a reader, I picked up an Alien Drive Systems motor mount kit for the skateboard, and my work on the electric longboard has progressed immensely. I've already been through many versions of the longboard, each with improvements on the previous.