On November 28, 2004, I replaced the container for Jess’ “Mason Jar Cache” (GC357) with a new one since after three and a half years in the wild, the sauce jar’s metal lid had turned into shards of rust.
The old glass jar sat in my kitchen for almost a year. I did not have the heart to throw it away. It was the container for the second oldest active cache on Oahu and should perhaps have another chance.
Meanwhile, one of my favorite caches, “Jumbo Cache By The Falls” (GCG3NC) had two disappearing acts. In my early caching days, this one had brought me to a beautiful waterfall and introduced me to a trail I would return to again and again, just for the enjoyment of hiking on it.
I’d like to bring everyone back to the area with this easy hike. You can start at the trailhead near the Ko'olau Golf Course. (see waypoints below) Bring a compass.
If you park in the golf course parking lot, please be polite and discreet since the owners have kindly allowed hikers to use their property to access the trails. The security patrol does take note of who parks there and for how long so please be on good behavior. On Sundays please do not park there before 1:00 pm due to church services. Mahalo!
The coordinates listed above will bring you to the falls. Since satellite reception at the cache will likely be poor, here’s what you do:
After your stop at the waterfall, walk westward on the trail. As soon as you lose sight of the falls over your shoulder, start counting your steps. At approximately 45 to 50, you will see a tall, lone kukui tree on the edge of the trail to your right and a “pig trail” on your left. From the kukui tree, the cache is about 20 feet away at 210° magnetic. It is in a crevice at the base of a small boulder and covered by a few small rocks. The jar contains a log book and some small trade items.
Many thanks to jessohyes, paxwithlove and BPer for their part in this cache!
***** JUNE 2008 UPDATE *****
The glass mason jar has been removed. For safety's sake, it has been replaced by a slightly larger plastic peanut butter jar. The glass mason jar is back in my kitchen, on top of the refrigerator, waiting for its place in the Hawaii Geocachers' Museum!
*****MARCH 2014 UPDATE*****
Hikers are asked to refrain from parking in the golf course lot before 1:00pm on Sundays due to church services. Please comply to their request. Mahalo to the Ko'olau Golf Course for letting us continue to use their parking lot to access the trail!
