Trail Masters

By Michael Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer

Hiking with the Paws on the Path club is a good way for dogs to meet other dogs (likewise for owners), and to stay fit while enjoying Hawai'i's wilderness. Above, Deb Matsukawa walks her dog, Brandee. Michael Tsai photo

— Jack London, "Call of the Wild"

Brandee won't budge.

For the better part of an hour, the 7-year-old sheltie-border collie had whined and fidgeted in the backseat of owner Deb Matsukawa's Toyota Echo, anxiously surveying the rush of scenery between her home in 'Aina Haina and today's North Shore destination.

Now, here, pulled over on the grassy shoulder of Pupukea Drive, Brandee decides she likes the car just fine. Rugged terrain, mind you, hard on the pads.

Matsukawa attaches a nylon leash to Brandee's collar and coaxes the city slicker from the backseat to the dirt road below. Warming slowly, Brandee graciously introduces herself — snout to butt, butt to snout — to Koa, a 10-year-old Labrador-dachshund.

Koa was a volunteer in the Hawaiian Humane Society's pet visitation program some seven years ago when her companion, Sherry Hunt, came up with the idea of a hiking club where masters and their humans could explore Hawai'i's trails together.

"I loved to hike, but none of the other clubs let you hike with animals," Hunt says. "I'm single and I don't like to hike alone, so I talked to the Humane Society about starting a program."

The Society bit, so to speak, and Paws on the Path was born. The club meets once a month for free dog-friendly hikes on some of O'ahu's most scenic novice and intermediate trails, from Likeke to Kuli'ou'ou to Peacock Flats. The program, open to the public, attracts up to 30 people (and their pets) per hike.

Perhaps because of the long drive from town, today's hike is considerably less crowded. Still, it's a perfect morning — bright but cool, skies clear and trail firm.

Rachel Halverson drove in from 'Ewa Beach with her father, Lyle, and her Chihuahua-terrier, Belle. Kelly Min of Hawai'i Kai is also here with her beagle, Kalei.

Brandee and Kalei walk side by side through the Army training grounds, stopping to smell the flowery and the not-so-flowery as Min and Matsukawa chat.

The trail is wide, level and, despite several long uphill sections, easily followed.

Just past a small stand of paper trees, the Cimino family — Leo, Rhonda and daughter Rachel — follow their black Labrador, Misty, to the front of the pack.

The Ciminos, recently arrived from Washington, D.C., heard about the club through a dog-obedience class at Schofield, where Leo, a sergeant major, is stationed.æFor the family, the hikes are a chance to get acquainted with Hawai'i's unique geography while getting a little exercise.

"It's also really nice for (Misty) to get out and interact with other dogs," Rhonda says.

The friendly, tails-up atmosphere is also what attracts Tracy Nakama, a teacher at Central Middle School, who is here for her second hike with the group. Her American Eskimo terrier, Casey, has been particularly dog-shy since being attacked by a pit bull. Through Paws on the Path, however, Casey has been able to mix with other dogs in a safe, controlled environment.

"Sometimes we have some timid dogs who can get a little snappish, but most of the dogs are well trained and under control," Hunt says. "Mostly they're just tickled pink to be out here."

Koa certainly is as she follows Hunt's daughter, Amy, around a bend and down into the shade of the mountain.

The hikers take a short break at the top of a long hill before heading back. Here, Brandee takes a couple of long slurps from a water bottle and sends a sharp mental command — "Cookie!" — straight through Matsukawa's forehead. Her owner hears and obeys.

A half-hour later, the party returns to the trailhead, hot and smelly, tongues wagging. The dogs are tired, too. Matsukawa opens one of the back doors of her car, unhooks Brandee's leash and gestures with her head.

The rugged mountain hound hesitates as her eyes trace the abandoned trail line along a gentle arc disappearing into the gathering forest. She sits, listens, chooses.

The call of the air conditioning.