hiking koko crater

Honestly, I don't know if I'd call it a "hike" because it's more like a giant StairMaster, or "Nature's StairMaster" as I've heard it called. But the most appropriate name I've heard it referred to is "The Stairmaster from Hell." I really don't care what you call it, climbing up the side of Koko Crater was HARD.

Here's a little background on Koko Crater/Koko Head that I've pulled from my brain, and various places on the interwebs. Koko Crater/Koko Head is located in East Honolulu. And in an effort to be as accurate as possible, I started getting a little confused as to whether we were hiking Koko CRATER or Koko HEAD. The more I tried to find an answer, the more confused I got. Leave it to me. Because the hike itself has about 35093 names - Koko Head, Koko Crater Stairs, Koko Head Crater Stairs, Koko Head Railway Trail. Which is right? WELL, from what I can put together, calling it Koko Crater Whatever is the "right" way because Koko Head is technically what Hanauma Bay is tucked inside of. And Koko Crater is what you're climbing up the side of. 

In true Hawaiian fashion though, call it whatever you want, and it's right. (But please, someone, anyone, correct me if I'm wrong.)

I distinctly remembered one of the first times I visited Hawaii. I saw the "trail" and I wondered what the heck it was because IT COULD NOT POSSIBLY be something any human soul would be climbing or hiking. It looked so steep. I'm here to tell you, it looks steep, because it IS steep. 

The stairs are not stairs, but are old railroad ties from WWII. This was formerly a military railway tram track that transported military personnel and supplies to the top; the bunkers are still there. And at some point, some masochist was like, "Let's climb these and make it a 'thing!'" 

It's 1,048 steps to the top. You climb to the summit of 1,200 feet. 

The first half really isn't so bad. It's when you get to the bridge that shit gets real. 

Let's talk about this bridge. There is about a 10-15 foot drop under this portion, and the steps aren't exactly close together. I may or may not have used my hands to help me get across this. Once you cross the bridge, it starts to get pretty steep. I made myself do 20 steps at a time, and then take a break. Once closer to the top, I was probably doing 3 steps at a time before taking a break. Crossing that bridge going up is nowhere near as scary crossing it going down. Supposedly there's a little trail to the side where you can bypass it, but... what's the fun in that? ;)

^^looking back down somewhere close to the top.^^

It took me about 30 minutes to get to the top. 

And the views were worth it. 

^^Hanauma Bay in the background; Koko Head Shooting Range in the foreground.^^

Fun fact: the city tried to close this trail to the public saying it was dangerous because of the shooting range below, which you can hear in full use while climbing. Closing the trail made people lose their minds, and caused a community uproar, including protests. The city reopened the trail within HOURS. I think it's more like "Hawaiians" don't get too worked about much anything... BUT WHEN THEY DO...get out of the way. 

Fun fact #2: the trail is maintained by volunteers! Yes! People climb up there and trim the hedges, so to speak. Watch this cool little video that aired a week or so ago. 

^^Hawaii Kai. I see you Mimi and Papa!^^

And no one hikes Koko Crater without taking a Koko Crater selfie. 

I've heard that it's usually very windy at the top, but I decided to do it on a day I had the motivation to do it. This day had zero wind, and it was hot. I chugged my water and took a nice break up at the top. I walked around taking in the views, and swatting fire ants off my legs. 

^^WWII bunkers at the top.^^

The climb down was pretty fast. You can kind of get into a slow jog and let momentum help you, but I didn't feel quite that comfortable until I got pretty close to the bottom. And my knees cursed my existence. Surprisingly, I was not sore the next day. 

Would I do it again? HECK YES! 

As a matter of fact, I'd love to make it a weekly thing. Because believe it or not, there are people that run to the top. I saw a guy coming down with a huge weighted sand bag (or something??) around his neck. I also saw a guy coming back down with a gas mask on. Rob said, "high altitude training." Alright then. I've heard people do it twice in a row/multiple times a day for their daily exercise. I'm not about to get that crazy, but I most definitely want to do it again! 

Who's with me?! 

aloha friday!

via Pinterest

Good morning!! Aloha Friday to you and Happy Memorial Day weekend!  

The above quote really sums up what is filling my thoughts most days. How to talk to, teach, and discipline Christian with as much love, patience, and grace as I can muster. Some days, it's really easy. Other days, I feel like I fail miserably in the parenting department, and wonder how God could have entrusted me with such a precious life to raise and shape. We have definitely reached an age where Christian is expressing himself A LOT, and I love it! Sometimes he'll do what I ask of him, or vehemently disagree with what I am saying and show me a tantrum I didn't even know he had in him. 

When we were at the marriage retreat, they recommended a book called, Grace Based Parenting, by Dr. Tim Kimmel that I started reading it last night, and it's already my "favorite" parenting book I've come across. Positive Discipline, by Jane Nelsen was another book that came highly recommended that I've started perusing through. Finding books that I feel jive with how I want to teach and raise Christian (and hopefully future children) gives me hope that I can get a handle on this parenting thing. :) And of course, these are merely guides. 

So... IT'S FRIDAY! 

This afternoon Christian and I are going to meet our good friends, Jayme, Isabel, and Joey at the park for a playdate! And then Whole Foods pizza for dinner. Not sure why I felt it necessary to clarify our pizza will be from Whole Foods... like it's healthier or something. But it's been far too long since we've hung out! 

This week has been a easy "recovery" week from the triathlon. Except I still managed to hike Koko Head on Tuesday. (Pictures to come!) On Wednesday, Christian and I met up with some other moms for a pool playdate. We continued our pool themed day by playing at Mimi and Papa's pool that afternoon... where Christian took a running jump right into the pool! Luckily, we were egging him on, and Mimi was there to catch him. :) No fear, that boy! (Also, he saw a "big boy" do the same thing at our earlier play date.) We BBQ'd with Mimi and Papa that evening, where Christian made a new friend that also happened to be BBQing with her family. 

No big plans for the weekend. Once Rob gets home tomorrow from Sydney he has a good chunk of time off. Like, NINE days off! Woo hoo! Monday we'll BBQ at Lanikai Beach with friends and family. 

I hope you have a wonderful Memorial Day weekend weekend!! 

God bless all our troops!! And a huge THANK YOU for the sacrifices they make, and their families make, to protect our freedoms and keep us safe. 

swim, bike, run

Back in 2006, I decided I wanted to do my first triathlon. I started training for the Santa Barbara Triathlon, the sprint distance course. Rob was training for the "long course." Normally with triathlons there's a "sprint course" and an "olympic course." Santa Barbara was taking it up a notch and making it more challenging than your typical olympic distance.

Around the same time, I got hired by Alaska Airlines and was starting Barbie Bootcamp the same weekend as the triathlon. Fortunately, I still got to see Rob race, but I had to leave the next day (the day of the sprint course) for Seattle.

Fast forward SEVEN years, two moves, a few jobs, three pregnancies, and one baby later... I have completed my very first triathlon.

I started training a while back, and was super serious at the beginning, but it tapered off. Of course I would still go for swims, and bike rides, and runs, but more or less when I felt like it. And that week in Virginia... waste of suitcase space packing a sports bra. My evening-before-pre-race-fuel? Rob's home brewed beer and a red velvet Cake Couture cupcake. How I didn't drown, I'll never know.

One of the best things about this race was doing it alongside my good friend Suzi. Love that girl to the moon and back. We are race buddies - we've done the LA Rock-n-Roll Half-Marathon, Great Aloha Run, and now the Honolulu Triathlon.

Race morning started early. Really early. 4am early. And in true Suzi/Amber fashion, we were running on the late-ish side. The transition area opened (the area where you rack your bikes, set out your gear, etc.) at 4am... our alarms weren't even going off until 4am. We were out the door, with a sleepy but happy toddler in tow at 4:30am. For the most part, we were all functioning. Once we got to Magic Island and set-up our stuff we had lots of time to kill before our wave entered the water. 

One thing I love about races is the energy. There's just this great, nervous, excited energy buzzing in the air. People are chatty and happy; I love it. 

At 6:18am the Sprint Women entered the water at Magic Island. We swam 750 meters, which was a cluster. I'm not used to swimming with hundreds of other people in the water, but luckily I was only groped and kicked a handful of times. 

Once I got out of the water, I ran directly to the transition area and searched for where I racked my bike. Let me tell you, I am ashamed of my transition times. It took me FOREVER. I dried my feet off, wiped the sand off as best as possible, put on my bike shorts, tank top, shoes, helmet, sunglasses, took a swig of Gatorade and walked my bike out of the transition area. I biked for 12 miles. It was quiet. It was serene. There weren't too many others around me. The air was crisp, like how it is in the early mornings. The course itself was ugly, but probably the best for the event. We biked down Nimitz Highway, past the Aloha Tower, and towards the airport... and then turned around. 

When I made it back to the transition area, it was time for the run. Surprisingly, it was the portion I dreaded the most. I felt so unprepared to run those 3 measly miles. But I laced up my shoes, TOOK OFF MY HELMET, put on my running shorts and hat, drank more Gatorade, and out I went. I pushed through it. I ran every single mile without stopping. I sprinted through the finish line with an official time of 1:45:06. I was ready for a nap. But Suzi and I hopped back into the water, and it was the best decision all day. The water was calm and cool, and it felt good to float and reflect. 

One of the best things while doing this race? Seeing Rob and Christian cheering me on. Christian's face would light up in recognition as I screamed to him and they screamed and cheered back at me. It was such a huge boost to see them. It kept me going, to know that they were rooting for me. And being able to celebrate finishing this darn thing with such a good friend. 

The rest of the day we low key. We ate a huge breakfast at Jack's Restaurant down the street. And by 11am, Christian was way past ready for his nap. He was such a trooper!! He was beyond a trooper; he was great. 

I loved doing this triathlon. It was probably one of the most fun races I've ever done, and I really hope that I'll be able to do another one sometime in the future. But probably only in Hawaii... I can't imagine doing that swim in cold water... with a wetsuit. I'm such a wimp. The water temp that day was 77 degrees, which technically meant we could wear a wetsuit. And some people did! So, who's the wimp now? Totally joking. I think anyone who even attempts to do one of these races is a rockstar. So, rock on baby!

alooooooha friday!

Is it Friday? It's Friday! So what does that mean for the Willoughby household? Let me tell you!

Rob will enjoy the morning/afternoon in Sydney working out, strolling around the city to get lunch, buying TimTams, and sleeping before flying home tomorrow. Sounds like a mini-vacation to me. Right?

Today I'm picking up my friend Suzi at the airport arriving from LA. We are going to doing the Honolulu Triathlon together this Sunday!! I am so excited, but extremely nervous as well. My biggest fear is starting the run with my bike helmet on. It happens, I've seen it during Rob's triathlon days. (Not with Rob, btw.) And it's a very early morning for us. We'll be entering the water at 6:18am. Today or tomorrow we'll head to Magic Island to pick up our race packets.

This past Wednesday we all returned to the beautiful state of Hawaii we call home after a fun (and mostly relaxing) week in Virginia. Well, actually, let me clarify. Christian and I took the 11-hour flight from JFK direct to HNL. Rob froze his butt off sitting with cargo on a UPS plane. Since he had to be back at work on Thursday, he didn't want to risk it flying home at the last minute (which was with us). So he took the "jumpseat" on UPS, where he says the cabin is kept at about 40 degrees. He knew this in advance and borrowed a beanie hat and gloves from my brother. And then put on all of his clothes in his suitcase to stay warm, while sitting in a "business class" seat.

My flight home with Christian was mostly uneventful. What can you expect on an 11-hour flight with a 20-month old? Compliments from fellow passengers about what a well behaved boy I have, THAT'S WHAT. That's right. Christian did really, really well. He knows that when the seatbelt sign is on, that his seatbelt needs to be one. He points to the sign, and points to his seatbelt. We are an airline family, folks. What do you expect?

We took frequent walks (Christian runs) up and down the aisle, and since the A330 back galley is the size of our apartment, we analyzed every aspect of the doors to the airplane, a few times.  We watched some videos, mostly with no sound because Christian didn't want the headphones. And we are not "those people" that play our iPads at full blast for the entire airplane to hear. (One of my biggest pet peeves as a flight attendant.) We colored, we drove trucks, we slept (a very little), and we lined up our new truck magnets on the tray table. Christian did great. Now I'm not saying I'm ready to hop on another 11-hour flight with him today, I'm just saying that we survived, unscathed, for the most part.

But my time in Virginia was the best. More pictures and stories to come. We're just getting back into a normal routine. And I haven't gotten my pictures off my iPhone yet.

Have a wonderful weekend!!

Aloha!

throwback thursday: florida

Oh, Florida.

I lived in Florida for approximately 6 months in 2005. And although I try to deny it, the fact is, I totally followed Rob down there. Rob and I met in May 2004 through our mutual friend, Ashley, at Trans Mistakes Airlines. We'd been dating for a little while... maybe 6 months or so, when he took a job flying for Planet Airways. Yes, Lou Pearlman's airline (the guy that started the Backstreet Boys and N'Sync) and who is now currently serving 25 years prison. Not for starting the Backstreet Boys, but for running one of the largest Ponzi schemes in American history. I sure did meet him at the company party. Wooot woo... yeah not so much.

After months of playing it cool, and driving/flying between Virginia and Florida to see Rob, I decided to move down there and "get a real job." Not only did Rob help me financially with the move, he also flew to Virginia, packed my car, and drove with me to Florida. I had a 1-bedroom apartment in Indiatlantic, just a few miles from Satellite Beach where Rob lived in a house with a roommate (who he inspired to become a pilot). Heh.

I have good and bad memories of Florida, but really, when I look back at it, I tend to only remember the good. Rob taught me how to surf. I will never forget that weekend and my first time on a board. It changed my life. Oh, and Rob and I were "broken up" when he gave me my first lesson. Hah!
But before those first few lessons, I never "got" why Rob loved surfing so much. I would roll my eyes when he wanted to surf instead of lay out on the beach with me in 95 degree weather, in the direct sun, with 95% humidity, reading US Weekly. As if. Oh, and I get it now.
I will never forget dawn patrolling (early morning surfing) in Cocoa Beach watching the sunrise with Rob.
I will never forget buying my first surfboard, which I had to put on layaway. Of course I still have her! I have bought and sold quite a few boards, but I will never part with Stella.
I will never forget what it felt like to work Monday-Friday 8am-6pm for the first time in my life, and how it felt like I was ALWAYS working... with no free travel benefits.
I will never forget the alligator that lived in the retention pond outside of my office building.
I will never forget those thunderstorms that would roll in every evening and light up the sky in the most amazing way.
I will never forget having THE WORST skin of my life! Way too much humidity.
I will never forget one day in July, after a full morning of surfing, we came back to his house for lunch. He then asked if I wanted to walk back to the beach. When we got there, he proposed.
Great memories. Beautiful memories.

Forget the bad times because here we are... years later, living a life I could have never imagined then. It was a time in our lives where God really showed Himself to us in a big way.

I can't even with my hair.

Celebrating my 24th birthday.

The view from my balcony.

My first (and only?) surf injury. The fins got me!

When Planet Airways got shut down, Rob got hired by a cargo company. They didn't have a base in Florida, and I thought, "Here we go again. I just moved down here, and he's moving again!" But, he proposed, and I knew I'd be moving with him... forever. 

We left Florida in September 2005 on a cross-country drive to Santa Barbara, California just after Hurricane Katrina devastated much of the South and completely changed our original route to the West Coast. Our cars were packed, and not only was it my first time living in California, but it was also my first time IN California. Ever. And nothing but grand adventures from here on out. 

turtle bay resort

This past weekend Rob and I attended the FamilyLife Weekend to Remember marriage retreat. And no, we didn't see Vince Vaughn. Liisa.

To say that we walked away with a stronger marriage would be an understatement. I went into this thinking, "our marriage is good... how could we really make it any better?" Well, now I know. There's always room for improvement, and marriage is a lifelong journey y'all! I'd like to share more on the actual content of it later, but for now I'd like to show you some pictures I snapped exploring the beautiful Turtle Bay Resort.

We didn't have a lot of time to really explore this beautiful resort, but we did our best to see as much as we could during our lunch break on Saturday, and various little breaks throughout the day. Saturday night we drove into Haleiwa for date night.

The hotel is undergoing some major renovations, which is good for future guests... but not so good when you're actually staying there. It is (obviously) still a beautiful place that we'll probably never stay again. Maybe when we win the lottery... that they don't have in Hawaii.

Side note: if you've seen Forgetting Sarah Marshall, this is where a lot of that movie was filmed. These columns belonged to that little glass gazebo where Kristin Wiig taught yoga. Fun fact of the day. 

I've said it a thousand times, and I'll say it again. We are so blessed. And quite spoiled to call this beautiful island our home. 

Aloha!