Pe'e Pe'e Falls-Hilo Hawaii

Big Island, Hawaii

This is a very easy trek within the city of Hilo. Pe'e Pe'e Falls is just northwest of The Boiling Pots, a series of very dangerous turbulent pools attached to a series of waterfalls-that are not swimable, and also close to the very tourist laden Rainbow Falls.

Though this area is not very condusive to clothing optional visitors, we shed our clothes one weekday morning when the tourists were not around. It's actually in a pretty neighborhood of older homes. Be discrete if you decide to sans your clothes here. Also be very cautious when swimming this river. It's cold, with the water coming downhill from Mauna Loa, and can be very trecerous. Stay away from the falls and pools to the east of the parking area. We paid no attention to the no swimming signs but we were with a group of locals who have swam there for years.

Directions:
From Downtown Hilo
- Take Waianuenue Ave. (Hwy 200) east from town. The road will branch off to the right with signs directing you to Rainbow Falls. Continue on the road past the turn out to Rainbow Falls and turn right on Pe'e Pe'e Falls Street.
- Park in the parkinglot as close to the river as possiible.
- Hike down to the falls from the right hand edge of the viewing platform.
- Continue east, up river, to the falls, about a 1/4 of a mile.
- You will be in sight of the parking and viewing area so be discrete with nudity. This is not a place to layout. If you're going to get naked, shed your clothes and jump in the river. There are some sheltered places to she your clothes but this is not a place to runa round buck naked because the police patrol this area and it is very close ot a residential area.

Here's to a Happy and Sunny Thanksgiving!

Foxes Landing

Big Island, Hawaii

Foxes Landing is an oasis in the middle of the current lava field that had covered over the village of Kalapana and the subdivision of Royal Gardens. The lava divided and left a "kipuka" or untouched part of the jungle and beach. The hike out to Foxes Landing is long and easy. Wear appropriate shoes and bring in water. The lava field gets very hot.

Directions:
From Kalapana Cafe; check with locals as to accessibility-the current lava flow into the ocean is very close to the landing and access may be closed due to danger. This is a remote and dangerous part of the island and you should not go out here on a whim. Make sure that you have water and remember that the current and waves here are very trecherous. It is best not to go here alone.
-Hike out to the new beach
-At the beach turn right and walk along the coastline for about 2 miles. You'll know when you get to Foxes Landing by the accessible black stone beach.

The Bridge House

Big Island, Hawaii

This past September we had the pleasure to rent the Bridge House. better known as the Lava Flow 4 from it's recent article in Dwell magazine (Nov 2008) http://www.dwell.com/homes/new/29902539.html

The house is located on the Big Island of Hawaii just a short 10 minute stroll from the clothing optional Kehena Black Sand Beach in the little gay enclave of vacation homes of Puna Palisades. San Francisco architect, Craig Steely, has become an architectural phenom in this part of paradise. He has designed four beautiful homes that are nestled in a 1950's lava flow, working with the stark lava and the pockets of dense tropical jungle, called a kipuka, and designing structures that are as minimal as the lava flow itself, but functional, beautiful and stylish, as gay guys demand.

The neighborhood is remote. It only received electricity little more than 5 years ago. Rainwater is caught in catchment tanks and there's only one road in and out of the community. This is what has attracted gays from the Mainland to build vacation homes, second homes and also permanent residents here. Commonly referred to as Penis Palisades, you'll find a mix of professionals, doctors, lawyers, artists and yoga enthusiasts scattered in the neighborhood. The mix of gay to straight is something like 70/30, but as this area grows and amazing homes are built more straight people are moving into the hood. Whether gay or straight, everyone gets along and a beautiful feeling of ohana, family, is felt though out the community.

The closest town is the village of Pahoa 15 miles up the volcano. There are no gay bars here, no gyms, no coffee houses (there's a little coffee cafe up the road at Kalani Oceanside Retreat), but there is community. In lieu of bar life residents get together for dinner parties, cocktails and treks to the beach. Invites are informal, a shout out as you walk by a house or a casual "Aloha" on the beach.

As for the house. It's minimal in design but filled with every amenity that you need. It's open, screened in living area, gives it the feeling of being in a millionaires tree house. And speaking of trees, the house is nestled in between two 100 year old Monkey Pod Trees, reminiscent of the Swiss Family Tree House at Disneyland. But my favorite feature is the outdoor shower, discretely visible from the street. This is a neighborhood where your neighbors stroll by and wave to you while you shower in paradise.

For rental information go to www.punatreehouse.com

The Beautiful Red Road and Vicinity

Big Island-Hawaii

One of the most beautiful places on the Big Island of Hawaii to visit isn't a waterfall or a beautiful black sand beach, it's a road. The Kapoho/Kalapana Rd between Kalapana and the vacation homes in Kapoho is one of the most scenic roads on the island. It is remote, relatively untraveled by tourists, shrouded by rainforest, tree tunnels (where the trees on both sides of the road meet and create a tunnel over the road), scenic viewpoints overlooking the Pacific and remote and beautiful vacation homes. Off the Red Road, named for the red volcanic cinders used in the original paving of the road, are backroads where rural papaya farms, banana farms and horses graze in acers of tropical pastureland. As you can see by the pics, it's so remote you can wander around naked without disturbing anyone.

To get to the red Road, Google Map Kalapana/Kopoho Rd, Pahoa, Hawaii and you will find the stretch of road that goes on for about 15 miles.

Green Mountain

Big Island-Hawaii

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to go skinny-dipping in a remote fresh water lake in paradise? The kind you've read about in books like Tom Sawyer? Well Green Lake is the place to make those fantasies come true. Green Lake is a fresh water lake that has formed in the caldera of an old volcanic crater. Over the years that it has been dormant it has collected fresh water (over 1,600 feet deep) and has been overgrown by ferns, coconut trees and other tropical foliage.

The lake is on private property so you must pre-arrange passage to the lake with the owners. They generally charge $5.00 a person and it is well worth the admission price. Make sure that you park your car on their property behind the gate. We failed to do this and one of the cars we were caravaning with was broken into. From the parking area it is a short walk thorough a beautiful meadow and down a slippery but navagatable path to the lake. While there try out the rope swing over the lake and swim out to the bamboo platform in the middle of the lake.

To get to the Kopoho Green Lake from Pahoa: Call Shirley or Jerald at 808-965-5500 or cell 808-430-3071 for reservation and to let you in through the gate. Shirley or Jerald can give you detailed directions if needed.

- Take Hwy 132, Kopoho Road to Hwy 137, Kopoho/Kalapana Road (at the intersection Hwy 132 turns into a dirt road) and turn right

- Continue about 1/4 mile past intersection of Kopoho Beach Lots Rd.

- Slow down and you will see the gate and sign on the right side of the road.

Kehena Black Sand Beach

Hawaii-Big Island

Kehena Beach is one of the Big Islands only two clothing-optional beaches. It's located in the south eastern section of the island, approximately 15 miles from the village of Pahoa and 45 minutes from Hilo. Monday's are "boys-days" when you'll find many naked guys enjoying themselves, socializing, body surfing (very rough and dangerous-there are drownings here every year) and swimming out to the school of dolphins that live just off the beach.

To get to Kehena Beach from Hilo: Use www.maps.google.com for map (kehena beach, pahoa, hawaii)

- Take highway 11 from Hilo towards the Volcano

- At Keaau, turn onto Highway 130 Pahoa/Kalapana Road

- Continue towards the end of the road (covered over by recent lava flow). About one mile before the end of the road you will see a turn out for "Kapoho-Kalapana". Exit the highway here and continue to the end of the road (about 1/4 mile). Turn left at roads end and continue on this road, the "Red Road" or "Kapoho/Kalapana Road) for about four miles

- Continue through the neighborhood of Kehena Beach Estates. You will see a parking lot on the ocean side of the road with a lava-rock wall. Park here, or along the road. Do not leave any valuables in your car-they will be stolen. Walk into the vegitation along the road just ahead of the parking lot and take on of the well worn paths (100 ft long) to the trail down to the black sand beach. Be carefull, there are no stairs so you will be hiking down rocks.