Manoa Author, Blogger to Walk Around Oahu

Chris Damitio, local author and blogger (and artist and one-time podcaster), is about to take a hike. A long hike, around the entire perimeter of the Island of Oahu. He's starting at 9 a.m. on Monday, May 19, heading east from UH Manoa, through Waikiki, and then over 130 miles around the island until he gets back where he started.

Damitio told me he hopes to get to know Honolulu's many and diverse shoreline communities along the way, meeting and learning about people, and documenting his trip as he goes on Twitter and on his blog. (I also suggested he map his journey on BrightKite.)

Why now?

"I’ve been thinking about doing it for a long time and this seems like the right time to do it," he says.

Apart from his cell phone, Damitio is taking minimal gear and minimal cash. He invites people will join him for any portion of his walk, and is hoping he'll find a few meal partners and couches to surf along the way.

He's no stranger to challenging journeys. Damitio is the founder of Hawaiihikers.com, a local hiking club, and has written a book on urban survival and "the art of rough living." When he's not walking around the island, he's a full-time anthropology student at UH.