Kaniakapupu Letterbox Hybrid

The cache is placed outside the ruins of the former summer palace of King Kamehameha III and his Queen Kalama just off the Nu'uanu Pali Drive. The palace was completed in 1845 and was used for the entertaining of foreign celebrities, chiefs, and commoners. In 1847, an estimated ten thousand people gathered at the palace for a luau to celebrate the return of Hawaiian independence following five months of British occupation. The palace was abandoned after the king's death in 1854. The surrounding area is said to contain a burial mound from the Battle of Nu'uanu, which King Kamehameha I won to unite the Hawaiian Islands.

I chose to use a Letterbox Hybrid here, because of the heavy tree cover which lead to poor GPSr reception. I felt it was very important that people don't start tearing up the place looking for the box/cache.

Someone hides a waterproof box somewhere (in a beautiful, interesting, or remote location) containing at least a logbook and a carved rubber stamp, and perhaps other goodies. The hider then usually writes directions to the box (called "clues" or "the map"), which can be straightforward, cryptic, or any degree in between. Often the clues involve map coordinates or compass bearings from landmarks, but they don't have to. Selecting a location and writing the clues is one aspect of the art.
Once the clues are written, hunters in possession of the clues attempt to find the box. In addition to the clue and any maps or tools needed to solve it, the hunter should carry at least a pencil, his personal rubber stamp, an ink pad, and his personal logbook. When the hunter successfully deciphers the clue and finds the box, he stamps the logbook in the box with his personal stamp, and stamps his personal logbook with the box's stamp. The box's logbook keeps a record of all its visitors, and the hunters keep a record of all the boxes they have found, in their personal logbooks.

1. The coords listed above will take you to the trailhead where you will need to start your little adventure.
2. If you don't have a GPSr make your way NE (Kailua bound) along Nu'uanu Pali Drive, the trailhead is just past the last house on the right.
3. Parking can be a bit hard to locate nearby, so a short stroll to the trailhead may be in order.
4. Once at the posted coords/trailhead start down the obvious trail.
5. At approximately 300 feet in you will come to the second fork in the trail, go left here.
6. Travel along this trail for another 350 feet, soon you should be able to see the ruins.
7. Stop just shy of the break in the stone wall and turn right.
8. Walk alongside the wall until it makes a 45 degree turn toward the ruins.
9. Stop, the fallen tree about ten feet in front of you conceals the box/cache (medium sized cammo taped lock-n-lock).

This Letterbox/Cache is also listed on the LbNA website as LbNA #: 39058 under Box Name Kaniakapupu.

Please remember that this letterbox contains a rubber stamp and sharpie (used to ink the stamp) that are NOT trade items, they must remain in the bag with the logbook. Letterboxers can bring along their own inkpad if they don't want to use the sharpie.

After finding the cache take some time and carefully walk around. Try to imagine what this place was like during its heyday. To me the area just exudes MANA.

Disclaimer: Before placing the cache I contacted the Board of Water Supply and inquired about the No Trespassing signs in the area and at the beginning of the trail. I was told that the signs were placed for liability reasons and that it is okay to go hiking in the area "at your own risk". I was also told that if you are stopped just say you are there hiking and it should be fine. One more thing, please do not leave anything of value in your car.

Cache with Alha

FTF Prize: Letterboxing Geocoin----> Congrats Kailua Al!