Part 1: Up the Arch, Down the Stairs
Arrived at the arch just after sunrise, 7:10 a.m. The arch was once a hidden secret, but this morning, I am accompanied by several folks snapping social media shots. None are heading to the rim. A coastline that feels as intimate to me as my own pulse The arch becomes something monstrous, ready to swallow me My initial attempt to hike past the arch landed me face to face with this gatekeeper, and I was forced to turn around and go straight up the top of the steep arch. Talk about a real nail-biter. Like a gecko, I was spread eagle on the vertical face, laddering my hands and feet for any tiny indent to keep me secure against the rock. My pictures are taken during the moments when I'm breathing, secure with two feet on the ground, and not during my adrenaline spiking climbs. Finally at the rim, I'm met with glorious views of Oahu's east coast I see the path to the top of famous Koko Crater Stairs, where a crowd at the pinnacle ke...