Aiea Ridge to Kulana’ahane Trail

by kenji SAITO on March 26, 2017

Hiking Aiea Ridge to Kulana'ahane Trail

We went back to complete some unfinished business in the mountains. Mahalo to Rocky’s wife, Glory, for dropping us off at the top of Keaiwa Heiau State Park. Photo by Rocky Abad.

Trailhead

Trailhead

Group photo left to right: Shirley, Tina, Rocky, Mia, myself, Daryl, Lee, Dale, Ethan and Chris. Photo by Daryl Cacatian.

Aiea Loop Trail

Aiea Loop Trail

The group crossing through a deeply eroded section of the trail.

Aiea Ridge Trail

Aiea Ridge Trail

Transitioning from the loop to the ridge trail. Miles and miles of hiking ahead of us. 5.5 miles to be exact.

Aiea Ridge Trail

Aiea Ridge Trail

The girls descending down the trail.

Aiea Ridge Trail

Aiea Ridge Trail

Dale crossing the landslide section. Look ma, no hands!

Aiea Ridge Trail

Aiea Ridge Trail

The group picking their way along the narrow stretch of the ridge. Photo by Daryl Cacatian.

Aiea Ridge Trail

Aiea Ridge Trail

Somebody is out of their element. Photo by Rocky Abad.

Aiea Ridge Trail

Aiea Ridge Trail

Panoramic view of the mountain range. Photo by Ethan Clavecillas.

Aiea Ridge Trail

Aiea Ridge Trail

Lee doing a handstand without assistance.

Aiea Ridge Trail

Aiea Ridge Trail

Shirley not doing a handstand with assistance.

Aiea Ridge Trail

Aiea Ridge Trail

Girls only. Photo by Dale Yoshizu.

Aiea Ridge Trail

Aiea Ridge Trail

Group photo at the 2,441′ summit of Pu’u Kawipo’o.

Aiea Ridge Trail

Aiea Ridge Trail

Making our way to the power line tower. Photo by Tina Corpuz.

Aiea Ridge Trail

Aiea Ridge Trail

If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em. Scenic shot. Every hiker has their photo. Photo by Shirley.

Aiea Ridge Trail

Aiea Ridge Trail

Almost to the summit.

Aiea Summit

Aiea Summit

Silent Shirley strikes again.

Aiea Summit

Aiea Summit

Group photo at the gusty 2,805′ summit.

Ko'olau Summit Ridge Trail

Ko’olau Summit Ridge Trail

Windward winds kept us straight on the ridge line. Photo by Dale Yoshizu.

KSRT

KSRT

Scrambling up one of the many hills on the ridge. Up and down.

KSRT

KSRT

Smile break or smoke break?

KSRT

KSRT

Chris and Daryl in the middle of the saddle. Photo by Dale Yoshizu.

KSRT

KSRT

Hikers on the ridge line.

KSRT

KSRT

Heading into the meadows. Photo by Dale Yoshizu.

KSRT

KSRT

When the wind takes your favorite cap down wind and you have to go retrieve it.

KSRT

KSRT

When you don’t learn from the first time and have to do it the second time.

KSRT

KSRT

Group photo by Daryl Cacatian in front of the fenced enclosure protecting a rare endemic bellflower plant.

KSRT

KSRT

Stunning views of the valley to the valley to the ocean. Photo by Lee Shreve.

KSRT

KSRT

Chris and Daryl dropping down the ridge.

KSRT

KSRT

Looking back as the clouds started to roll down the mountains, chasing us to hell.

KSRT

KSRT

Chris and Daryl dropping off the ridge.

KSRT

KSRT

Bad hair day in the mountains.

North Haiku Stairs

North Haiku Stairs

Looking down at the unfinished stairs to hell. Photo by Lee Shreve.

North Haiku Stairs

North Haiku Stairs

These girls packed some serious lunch. Glass containers and all. Photo by Lee Shreve.

North Haiku Stairs

North Haiku Stairs

Portraits in Hell.

North Haiku Stairs

North Haiku Stairs

Chris Zeppelin strumming Stairway to Hell. Photo by Dale Yoshizu.

North Haiku Stairs

North Haiku Stairs

Ethan, I have an owie.

North Haiku Stairs

North Haiku Stairs

The Goodwill Bunker. Photo by Rocky Abad.

North Haiku Stairs

North Haiku Stairs

Shirley feeling nostalgic.

North Haiku Stairs

North Haiku Stairs

Taking the stairs out of hell.

North Haiku Stairs

North Haiku Stairs

Looking back as the rest of the group made their way down the rusting stairs.

North Haiku Stairs

North Haiku Stairs

What happened to the stairs? Photo by Lee Shreve.

North Haiku Stairs

North Haiku Stairs

Leaving hell behind us. Photo by Shirley.

KSRT

KSRT

Whiteout conditions at the weather beaten geo marker. Photo by Dale Yoshizu.

KSRT

KSRT

Dropping down to the Halawa junction.

KSRT

KSRT

We dropped below the clouds to clear views of the Windward side. Photo by Shirley.

KSRT

KSRT

Looking ahead to Moanalua Saddle.

Red Hill Summit

Red Hill Summit

The stashed water supply has dwindled dramatically. Don’t be expecting free samples. Photo by Chris.

Red Hill Summit

Red Hill Summit

Shirley leaving the summit behind her.

Moanalua Saddle

Moanalua Saddle

Treading carefully along the eroded saddle section. Photo by Lee Shreve.

Moanalua Saddle

Moanalua Saddle

Contouring or detouring? Ethan should’ve bet lunch. Photo by Chris.

Moanalua Saddle

Moanalua Saddle

The group dropping down into the saddle.

Moanalua Saddle

Moanalua Saddle

A good day on the saddle. The company and views make it all worthwhile. Photo by Chris.

Moanalua Saddle

Moanalua Saddle

Up and over.

Moanalua Saddle

Moanalua Saddle

Daryl straddling the straddle. Photo by Chris.

Moanalua Saddle

Moanalua Saddle

Shirley making her way down the saddle. Photo by Ethan Clavecillas.

Moanalua Saddle

Moanalua Saddle

Looking back at the saddle.

Kulana'ahane Summit

Kulana’ahane Summit

Group photo at the summit. Third time is the charm. Jumping back and forth is hard work.

Kulana'ahane Summit

Kulana’ahane Summit

Filming in progress. Traffic was everywhere but on the H-3 today. Photo by Dale Yoshizu.

Kulana'ahane Summit

Kulana’ahane Summit

Looking behind at the panoramic view of heaven and hell.

Kulana'ahane Trail

Kulana’ahane Trail

Leaving the summit and dropping down into the valley.

Kulana'ahane Trail

Kulana’ahane Trail

One of multiple dry and wet stream crossings.

Kulana'ahane Trail

Kulana’ahane Trail

Pockets of tangled and twisted hau branches lined the valley trail. Photo by Lee Shreve.

Kulana'ahane Trail

Kulana’ahane Trail

The barely rippling stream was so clear and inviting. No swimming today.

Kulana'ahane Trail

Kulana’ahane Trail

Crossing the streambed to join the rest of the group at the junction.

Kamananui Valley Trail

Kamananui Valley Trail

Group photos are like bunny ears, they multiply like crazy if you don’t watch your back.

Kamananui Valley Trail

Kamananui Valley Trail

Passing by one of seven storied bridges on the trail.

All pau

All pau

We walked out of the trail and into the park to use the restroom and wash our feet with the open faucet. Somebody lost her car keys. Looked for them. Found them. We can leave the park now.

GPS Tracks

GPS Tracks

Our group hike covered 13.38 miles through windy and cloudy ridges with great company and fun all around. We survived our hike from hell and some of us went to Cattle Company Steakhouse for our post hike meal. Daryl was going to do his leg workout but changed his mind and joined us for our wait workout, which took over an hour. Samplers and souvenirs were the course for the day.

Note: I have been made aware the some hikers have been using my blog as a hiking guide and getting lost on the trails. Please note that this blog was made to document the hike for the crew(s) that did it. That is why some of my comments will seem to have no relevance or meaning to anybody outside of the crew(s) that hiked that trail. My blog was never meant as a hiking guide, so please do not treat it as such. If you find inspiration and entertainment from these hikes, that is more than enough. If you plan on replicating these hikes, do so in the knowledge that you should do your own research accordingly as trail conditions, access, legalities and so forth are constantly in flux. What was current today is most likely yesterdays news. Please be prepared to accept any risks and responsibilities on your own as you should know your own limitations, experience and abilities before you even set foot on a trail, as even the “simplest” or “easiest” of trails can present potential pitfalls for even the most “experienced” hikers.

Leave a Comment

{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }

Dale Yoshizu May 8, 2017 at 12:41 pm

Thanks Kenji! Another excellent blog of our hike! Like your pictures and descriptions too!

Reply

kenji SAITO May 8, 2017 at 7:15 pm

Aloha Dale,
Thanks for tagging along! Always fun company and you did great! See you on the next saddle!
Mahalo

Reply

jonathan albano April 12, 2018 at 10:42 am

Hey Kenji,

Thanks for sharing these. How long does it take to get to Puu Kawipoo from the start of Aiea Loop Trail? And are there any dangerous sections. Thinking about going solo.

Thank you for your time and hope to hear from you.

Aloha

Reply

kenji SAITO April 19, 2018 at 12:32 am

Aloha Jonathan,
It took us about 90 minutes, give or take. There is a small landslide in the beginning, but time and hikers have tamped it down and there are webbing for assistance, but always trust such webbing with a grain of salt. The rest of the ridge is pretty much straight forward. Hope this helps.
Mahalo

Reply

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