Imagine scaling a gray rock face with your hands clutching the chalky holds, your heart pumping, your calves quivering as you search for the next minute foothold on a 50-foot crag.

Yet, with every glance to your side, you're mesmerized by the sights of world-class waves below and a spectacular view that can stretch from Ka'ena Point to nearly Waimea Bay.

Welcome to rock climbing in Hawai'i.

"I remember the first time I climbed," said Kane'ohe's Cliff Hashimoto, 33, while taking a break from climbing the wall at Mokule'ia.

"It was a real rush and I was a little bit scared, a little nervous, but now that I'm experienced at it ... I like to climb more than surf, probably because I'm better at this now."

"The rush is like pulling into a really tough wave," said Makiki's Mike "Bugman" Richardson, who has owned and operated Hawai'i's only complete climbing shop, Climb Aloha. "You know it's right at the edge of you, overhead, and then you pull it off and you're just stoked."

While not new to the cliffs of O'ahu, rock climbing provides a perfect contrast to the crowded beaches.

Some spots such as Mokule'ia offer 85-foot faces, more than 50 bolted, trail-blazed climbing routes, and attract dozens of climbers on weekends; fewer on weekdays.

"I love coming out here when no one else is climbing," said Hashimoto, who says he climbs there every Tuesday. "It's just nice to get away from everyone for a while."

Rock climbing, however, shouldn't be done without some basic training.

"The first thing I would recommend is that people find someone who knows what they're doing," said Honolulu's John Robb, 42, who has been climbing since sixth grade in Massachusetts. "Someone in the group needs to know what they're doing or everyone is in trouble."

Climb Aloha offers guided courses that are supervised by trained professionals.

The group specializes in instructing beginners on the dry, wind-swept cliffs of Makapu'u, while more advanced courses are located around Mokule'ia on the Wai'anae mountain range.

Newcomers can learn the basics of rappelling, operating a "belay" system and experience "top-rope" climbs, where novice climbers rely on a rope that runs from the ground to an anchor atop the cliff.

"Belay" is the term used for the partner who remains on the ground and removes slack from the rope to ensure that when the climber slips off the rock face, they only fall a foot or so before being suspended in the air. This allows them to regain their position on the cliff.

"My No. 1 one safety tip would be to take a class," said Richardson, who got his nickname, "Bugman," because he is an entomologist with the Department of Land and Natural Resources. "When you take a class it helps you basically skip two years of making stupid mistakes. You learn how to belay properly and keep your partner that is climbing safe. We just want to give instruction and keep people safe."

Once a climber gets the basics down, it can become harder to fight off the thrill of scaling rocks.

"I actually started climbing to get into shape for downhill mountain biking," said Robb, who began climbing in Hawai'i in 1996. "But now my mountain bike is gathering dust. I don't surf anymore."

If you go:

Climb Aloha offers guided courses supervised by professionals.

The group specializes in instructing beginners on the dry, wind-swept cliffs of Makapu'u, while more advanced courses are around Mokule'ia on the Wai'anae mountain range.

Newcomers can learn the basics of rappelling, operating a belay system and experience "top-rope" climbs, where novice climbers rely on a rope that runs from the ground to an anchor atop the cliff. This ensures maximum safety and allows climbers to focus on making it up the rock face without worrying about clipping into bolts on the way.

For more information, call Mike Richardson at 387-7825 or visit www.RockClimbingHawaii.com.

POPULAR CLIMBING SPOTS

MOKULE'IA WALL

The wall is considered the most popular and developed climbing spot in the state. It offers nearly 50 bolted routes. The 85-foot wall offers challenging climbs and the strings that run from the summit to the ground allow climbers to "top-rope" the wall without having to lead climb and set anchors themselves.

Directions: Park your car in between Camp Erdman and the beginning of the trail to Kaena Point. The path up to Mokule'ia Wall begins at a small break in the shrubbery on the side of the road. The hike up to the wall takes close to 30 minutes and can be strenuous, so climbers are advised to wear shoes and bring water. However, once climbers get beyond the hike, the view is magnificent, spanning miles of the North Shore.

MAKAPU'U CLIFFS

The cliffs offer one 40-foot bolted route and numerous top-rope opportunities, which range from easy to moderate in difficulty. Climbers can experience striking views of Windward O'ahu.

Directions: Park at the Makapu'u lookout off of Kalaniana'ole Highway and hike up the ridge, past the World War II bunkers into the saddle of the larger and smaller summits of Makapu'u Head, overlooking the lighthouse.

Source: www.RockClimbingHawaii.com

For more information, go to www.RockClimbingHawaii.com