Geocaching (Geo what?)
The old-fashioned treasure hunt goes high tech with computers and GPS devices that are required to find secret caches hidden all over Oahu, from the Blow Hole to the North Shore. And it’s growing in popularity worldwide
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Brasuca follows his GPS signals
When asked about the most valuable finds, Menehune Man and Backwoodlessons2 unanimously agree that tikis top the list as the most coveted item. They weren’t talking about just any tiki.
“This guy who goes by the name ‘Tiki’ hand-makes these amazing bronze tiki heads,” says Menehune Man. “That’s what I want to find.”
A phenomenon known as TBs or “travel bugs” adds yet another dimension to the hobby. TBs are small objects, such as coins or other toys, marked with codes so they can be tracked from cache to cache. A couple from Texas arranged for a TB made of a pair of Care Bears to land in a cache in Hawaii so that when they visit this summer on their fifth anniversary, they can celebrate by tracking it down together.
“I sent out a ‘geocoin’ in Hawaii,” says Backwoodlessons2. “And it went from Hawaii to Utah, to Belize, to Iowa. It’s fun to get e-mails and pictures from fellow geocachers who track where it goes. “
Menehune Man describes one unusual TB: “Shadowace - he is the TB,” he says. “He has the bug tattooed on his arm and you’ve got to get a picture with him (to log your find).”
Sweepstakes have also found their way into the mix. Jeep distributed 5,000 TBs this year and finders are entered into a drawing to win an all-new 2007 Jeep Compass (though Hawaii residents are excluded by state law).
Geocaching has mushroomed since its creation by a tech wiz in Seattle in 2000, and is now active in more than 200 countries. Honupohaku owns the distinction of being the first finder of the first geocache in Mongolia (last month). Migoi (Tim Billings) planted Hawaii’s first geocache in July of 2000, one of the first 100 in the world. There are now more than 550 in Hawaii, more than 360 of which are on Oahu.
Some caches have gained recognition among the geo-tribe. “Triple Dog Dare You” got a resounding vote from Backwoodlessons2 and Menehune Man as their best find because it was an “awesome hike” and was a planned group excursion of 10 geocachers. “Cache of the Holy Grail,” which won the Best Cache in Hawaii in April, also got an enthusiastic thumbs up from the duo. “Manini Gulch” at Kaena Point was voted one of the hardest, and Makapuu Lighthouse caches were named some of the most beautiful.
Menehune Man created “Menehune Island,” which earned the dubious nickname “The Most Expensive Cache” after two GPS units fell in the ocean and died while on the journey. (The average price of the lower-end Garmin brand units used by three of my interviewees is $200.)
Menehune Man has also distinguished himself with the Department of Land and Natural Resources. His cache, “Jasmine’s Permanent Christmas Tree,” which was named after a Norfolk pine he and his daughter planted in 1988, was discovered and removed by a DNLR representative, who then graciously built a park bench under the tree in Jasmine’s honor.
The geocaching family does its share to care for the environment by removing trash on their path to maintain their “Cache in Trash Out” (CITO) creed. They host CITO events where they gather for cleanups, most recently at Ala Wai Peninsula and Waialae Beach Park. In June, about 50 participants showed up for a purely fun Bellows Beach Bash, complete with a temporary cache hunt that culminated in a raffle.
Be forewarned: Geocaching is addictive. You will find yourself making friends, getting exercise and spending money on GPS systems. You will also become intimately familiar with Google Earth maps. Upgrading your geocaching account to premium member status will allow you to take advantage of better maps, information storing capacity and transfer of information between the computer and your GPS.
Be further warned that it is paramount that you follow the user-friendly guidelines in each cache description so you don’t end up performing death-defying acrobatics through bamboo forests or picking your way under impending darkness across craggy ledges, while braving buffeting gales near the Blow Hole to find a micro cache camouflaged as a rock - only to discover when you get there that you’ve left your pen in the car ... but that’s another story.
Happy trails.
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