Chinaman's Hat - Hawaii
If you’re ever in Hawaii, and in a mood for a short adventure, the “Chinaman’s Hat” is one for the list. This teeny tiny island is located one-third mile off the coast of Oahu. It got its name “Chinaman’s Hat” because of its distinctive shape which looks like a traditional Chinese hat.
photo from internet
Also known as Mokolii, this island looks nothing less than a scene from the Jurassic Park movie. It has a very prehistoric feel to it, maybe something like a nesting spot for a pterodactyl dinosaur. Coincidentally, Jurassic Park was filmed not far from this island.
One summer, me and my friend Kyle decided to explore Chinaman’s Hat to celebrate my birthday. There are many ways to get to this island like kayaking, paddle boarding etc. I’d say the most adventurous way to get to this island is to hike in waist deep water.
CAUTION-
DO THIS AT YOUR OWN RISK. MANY PEOPLE HAVE DIED OR HAVE HAD TO BE RESCUED TRYING TO ATTEMPT THE HIKE. THE CHANGING TIDES IN THIS AREA CAN OVERPOWER YOU AND PUSH YOU FURTHER AWAY FROM LAND. A GOOD UNDERSTANDING OF OCEAN CURRENTS IS NEEDED TO ATTEMPT THIS.
If you’re ever game for hiking to this island, then there are some important points to keep in mind-
- Hammerhead sharks are frequently spotted in this area, so take extra precaution.
- You have to time it right. The water reaches waist levels even in low tide. Make sure to check the tide before you begin hiking.
- Plan your return within no more than an hour. You need to start hiking to the island right before low tide so you have enough time to hike back before the tide gets too high.
- Do not attempt to hike bare foot. The corals are sharp and can easily wound your feet. Wear the right kind of shoes.
- Avoid attempting this alone and keep a flotation device as there are a few deeper pockets on the way.
The feeling of hiking so far out into the ocean is surreal though. After a 30-minute hike and a few strokes of swimming, we reached a little beach on the island. There are many ways you can take to the top, but most of them require climbing and scrambling. We had a little birthday picnic at the top, ate our half-wet lunch, and sat at the summit to admire the 360 views.
Before long, our time was up, and we jumped into the ocean and made our way back to Oahu.
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