Humuhumunukunukuapua'a, Mermaids, and The Day we Almost Died!

I knew this title would get you!

This was just one day in the adventures that awaited Danielle and I 

as we strived to fulfill her wish list for Oahu.

First, snorkeling at Paradise Cove.

This is where we saw the aforementioned Hawaii State fish, the

Humuhumunukunukuapua'a,

And many other beautiful tropical fish, but alas, no sea turtles that day.

After snorkeling we did a little exploring the shore and then got coffee of course.

Great start to an exciting day!

Next, Mermaids.

Danielle and I had both read about a Mermaid cave 

so we looked it up on Yelp (of course) and searched it out!

It was a magical place!

We braved climbing down the makeshift ladder and enjoyed the adventure.

Oh, and here's your mermaid.

The whole area of the shore was filled with holes and tunnels in the volcanic rock. 

After a scenic drive up the west shore and lunch overlooking the Pacific we went spelunking.

This is where it gets dangerous!

This first cave was harmless, easy to access, large, just a little scary.

So, I heard that there was an upper cave, a short hike, kind of steep, but accessible.

(Again- thank you YELP)

Well, that was one person's opinion.

Here's the mountain and the upper cave.

Of course we believed YELP and ventured up without even a bottle of water.

And, must have walked right by this sign without seeing it.

Well, you know when you get in over your head but you are not smart enough to turn around.

It was extremely steep, dry, with crumbling rock & dirt beneath our feet.

Then, the reason you don't turn around is because you are too terrified to try to go back down.

So you keep climbing higher. 

Grabbing rocks- weeds- dirt anything we could, climbing higher - we finally made it.

Here is Danielle crying out of relief that we made it 

and terror at the prospect of climbing down.

You think I'm kidding!

I started thinking:

Did I tell Ken where we were going?

I wonder if he could send a helicopter for us?

Maybe we could just live up here?

So, we met a really nice young Navy guy who put some of our fears to rest. He offered to accompany us down, but we knew it would take us 10 times longer so we declined.

Here are some spectacular views that I will NEVER enjoy again.

Here we are after sliding down half the mountain on our butts 

and clinging to the rocks & dirt for the other half.

I think we scared a little kid on our way back to the car.

Anyone who visits Oahu probably has to have at least 1 near death experience- this was ours.