“Day Hikes on Oahu” by Robert Stone

When we were little our dad told us that we each needed to have a sport. I picked tennis. Kathleen chose swimming. And Scott played Little League baseball. We had to not only play our sports throughout the school year, but also attend summer camps in each discipline and read books by famous athletes who excelled at them. There was only one problem: I soon found out that tennis was not a good fit for me, but it was too late to go back. I loved hitting the ball and even running hard and sweating a lot on the court. I especially loved attending tennis camp in Ojai, California, each summer because the counselors and campers were so nice. But I hated the competition of tennis. I never wanted to win a tennis match that I played, not even once. My favorite part of every tennis game was when I got to go to the net and shake the hand of my opponent. I basked in the fact that the match had been completed. It was years later that I discovered what I really liked to do for exercise is hike.  I like a sport that requires no competition at all. (And yes I also have done yoga for more than 20 years.) This book, “Day Hikes on Oahu,” by Robert Stone is the best $1.99 I have ever spent. It is a book about hiking the trails surrounding Honolulu, where my family has gone to spend Christmas for many years. I bought this used book in 2012 and have brought it back every year since. Every December I try to complete at least two hikes and then I write the year by the number of the hike down on the map in the book. I always take pictures on the hikes, which can be challenging because it often rains. Some of the hikes are quite difficult, and some are so muddy that by the end of the hike I am covered in earth and water up to my ankles. But every single adventure reminds me that hiking is the perfect exercise for me because everyone sweats and no one wins or loses.  “Day Hikes On Oahu” has brought me a lot of joy, and buying a hiking guide to your favorite destination might do the same for you. To purchase this book n Amazon click here.