Avocado Hunting

We hiked Tantalus this past week.

Let me explain Tantalus: "One of the most peaceful drives on Oahu is just minutes from the bustle and congestion of Honolulu. Tantalus Drive winds its way into the hills of the Honolulu Forest Reserve at the foothills of the Koolau Mountain range which hems Honolulu into the coast. Rising to a summit of 2000 feet, Tantalus Drive offers spectacular views of Downtown Honolulu, Waikiki Beach and Pearl Harbour. There are several walking trails into the forest reserve which offer real solitude and a glimpse of the verdant tropical forest and flora." Ok, so we didn't necessarily HIKE because I think to be considered a hike you gotta sweat, but we did walk through all the walking trails and it's a great trail- really quiet, lots of lushness everywhere, birds...and yeah, there's skeeters.

Tantalus is home to many people...there's a house pictured here- every house is straight up a hill, therefore they have lots of what I call "Peter Pan Homes" Don't you remember on the movie how they had tree houses that had tons of "bridges" like this one? Can you image carrying your groceries ALL the way up those stairs? Elevator anyone? Also, all the homes are on rainwater catchment- so no water flows up to them...too high. Good thing they live in a rainforest to get all that water. It's crazy!

We set out on the hike to go avocado hunting. Robby had been up there before and the avocado trees grow over the road, so you're welcome to pick them. The week before we went some resident said that they had come by and trimmed all the trees back. :( We kept looking until we found a bunch way way up high in the back of a tree. Have no fear- my little Mobley was here to climb that tree and pick those green pearls out. We came home with 8 LARGE avocados- all for free, and let me tell you...they are delicious!!! Good bye days of paying $3 an avocado!!!