On President’s Day weekend, BSA Troop 148 (sponsored by the Lihu’e Christian Church) had its annual winter hike and camp in Koke’e. Starting from Kalalau Lookout, Troop 148 hiked five miles along the Waimea Canyon Rim, Alaka’i Swamp and the
On President’s Day weekend, BSA Troop 148 (sponsored by the Lihu’e Christian
Church) had its annual winter hike and camp in Koke’e. Starting from Kalalau
Lookout, Troop 148 hiked five miles along the Waimea Canyon Rim, Alaka’i Swamp
and the Pihea Trail to Kawaikoi State Park. Roaming into the deep forests and
mountains carrying their food, clothing, and camping gear in their backpacks,
the scouts ate their lunch on the trail.
For some scouts, it is their first
time away f rom home. Hiking and camping are perfect opportunities for fun and
fellowship, cooking tasty meals, and enjoying the natural streams and
environment. It takes them away from the T.V., video games, and radio and
instead, they discover the quiet, peace, and greenery of the
wilderness.
Kelly Ching (Tenderfoot Rank) commented that “the trail was not
difficult but I struggled on the hike because of the weight of my backpack.
This was my first ever backpacking hiking-camping experience. I loved
it!”
Once at Kawaikoi State Park, the scouts replenished their water supply
from Kawaikoi Stream using a water filter/purifier, pitched their tents and
participated in a knot-tying skill event.
At 6 a.m. and in the dark, cold
morning, adult volunteer, Calvin Uyesono supervised the scouts in their morning
calisthenics. The scouts struggled to leave their warm cozy sleeping bags as
Assistant Scoutmaster Nathan Yatogo’s thermometer had “bottomed-out” at 35
degrees and noticed that ice had formed on all of the tents. After breakfast,
Troop 148 policed the camp site to ensure a clean camp site for the next camp
user and then hiked out to Koke’e State Park, a distance of 3 1/2
miles.
Troop 148 wishes to thank Alvin Kyono and Craig Koga of the State
Department of Land and Natural Resources for their continued support and
cooperation. Also contributing to the successful hike and camp were Scoutmaster
Myles Uyesono, Assistant Scoutmaster Nathan Yatogo, and adult volunteers Mark
Tanaka, Calvin Uyesono, Joan Fujimura, and Karen Uyesono.
