We spent the weekend in the mountains hiking a section that we usually do in a day. Change of pace. Literally.

Aiea Loop Trail

Day 1
Thanks to Matt for dropping me off at one of the most trafficked hikes on the island in the afternoon. Somebody was running late so I decided to push off on the straight forward trail.

Pu’u Kawipo’o

Enjoying the views while I had them from the 2,441′ hill.

Aiea Ridge Trail

I soon passed descending hikers who let me know there were two other hikers ahead of me.

Aiea Summit

Talking to the pair whose original plans were to hike to Stairway to Hell, but the soupy weather dissuaded them and they went back down to the powerline towers to set up camp.

Aiea Summit

The clouds soon cleared at the 2,805′ top and revealed sweeping views of Kaneohe Bay and the Windward coastline.

Aiea Summit

Looking down at our campsite for the night.

Ko’olau Summit Ridge Trail (KSRT)

Rose soon joined me at the summit and we began our descent down the ridge line.

KSRT

Approaching camp. Now if the rain would just cooperate and stay its hand until our tents were pitched. Thank you Mother Nature!

KSRT

We retired early in the mountains to hear the sounds of voices in the far off distance. Night marchers? Also known as huaka’i po, are spirit manifestations of Hawaiian warriors that have been recorded as marching down from the mountainsides carrying torches and blowing conch shells. Bottom line, best not to mess with them.

KSRT

Day 2
The next day we woke up and looked across the valley to find out the source of the voices, the two hikers who I had met earlier yesterday. Sometimes the physical world can be more scary than the spiritual world.

Waimano Trail

Meanwhile, down in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood, Jen and Tessa started off on what has been described as one of the best preserved graded trails built by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) back in the 1930s.

KSRT

We broke down camp and hit the trail with the goal of passing the invisible demarcation line of the Ko’olau Summit Ridge Trail and the Ko’olau Summit Trail. Tomato. Tomatoe.

KSRT

Hiking on the cloud soaked ridge line, where the views were measured in feet and not miles.

KSRT

What goes down …

KSRT

… must go back up.

Waimano Trail

Jen switch backing her way to the summit.

KSRT

Scrambling our way through the moisture rich vegetation that was getting a steady feed from the blanket of clouds around us.

Waimalu Summit

We gained the boggy summit to be greeted by parting clouds with Windward views.

Waimalu Meadows

Dropping in on the mythical and magical meadows.

Waimalu Meadows

Group photo at the relatively wind and cloud free grasslands, an uncommon experience in my books.

KSRT

Back on the ridge line as we left one of the largest meadows on the KST behind us.

Waimano Summit

Where are they? Did somebody rush themselves into a lather by confusing Waimano for Waimalu?

KSRT

Approaching the low point in the mountains marked by a noticeable landslide.

Manana Trail

On another ungraded trail, Chris had hopped off the delayed plane from the mainland and jumped right into the hiking frying pan. So many moving parts on different trails that would join at the summit of Manana.

KSRT

Going down the slippery slope.

KSRT

Alternating between the rut and ridge to get to the summit.

Waimano Summit

Group photo at the 2,160′ saddle before Rose took our leave of us due to mobility concerns.

KSRT

Traversing over the landmark landslide.

KSRT

Hiking on the edge.

KSRT

Going up the cardio intensive hill(s).

KSRT

Scrambling up the last big hill towards the fenced ridge.

KSRT

A lot of elbow grease was required to open the rusted gate. Somebody couldn’t wait and climbed over the fence.

KSRT

Following the fence with sweeping views towards our right.

Eleao Meadows

Taking in the “pocket” meadows.

KSRT

Almost there!

Manana Summit

Group photo at the 2,660′ knob. Sometimes you feel like a nut and sometimes you don’t. I was definitely the Mounds candy bar today. The original plan of reaching Camp Rusty below the summit of Waiahole was swept off the table and we decided to stay put and make camp.

Manana Summit

Due to no vacancy, Chris left to make his home at Waimano Summit.

Manana Summit

Trying to decide who got the better spot for their tent.

Manana Summit

We soon got a return visitor as Chris came back to borrow a battery charger for his phone and then hiked back under dwindling daylight hours.

Manana Summit

City lights.

Waimano Summit

Day 3
Chris got a sunrise inside and outside his tent.

Manana Summit

Our sunrise viewing was kept strictly outside. We didn’t have spare tents to burn.

Manana Trail

Going down the trail that I thought I would never step foot on again. That’s what I get for thinking.

Manana Trail

The roller coaster of peaks and valleys and seemingly endless false peaks is why I beg to differ with Stuart Ball’s characterization of this trail as the best of of the ungraded Ko’olau ridge trails. To each their own.

Manana Trail

Working our way through the rutted section of the trail.

Manana Trail

Mountain shadows.

Manana Trail

Climbing up the hill to the gate that marks 3.5 miles left to hike.

Manana Trail

Taking a break at the clearing where Jen rested her back and Tessa rested her foot.

Manana Trail

Documented slip and fall.

Manana Trail

Pushing up the last false peak of the trail.

Manana Trail

When Marco doesn’t meet Polo. Unexpected surprise that Chico came to meet us at the picnic shelter and came bearing cold beverages. What a guy!

Manana Trail

Balancing ourselves across the eroded section of the trail.

Manana Trail

Group photo at the end of the trail where we jumped into Chris’s van and Chico went back home.

Pearl City

We honked the horn for an open house but visiting hours were over, so we picked up our other car and met at Keaiwa Heiau State Recreation Area to wait for the last member of the group to come down from the mountains.

All pau

Picked Chris up from Aiea Loop Trail, where we drove to the nearby Alley Restaurant to have our post hike meal of oxtail soup.

GPS Tracks

Our weekend camping hike while it didn’t go as originally planned, still covered 13.7 miles with a fun group.

Photos taken by Chris Bautista, Jen Odence, Tessa Bugay, and yours truly. Not necessarily in order.

Note: I have been made aware that 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. One should also always let somebody know of your hiking plans in case something doesn’t go as planned, better safe than sorry.

Met up with Dale and Jasmin in Kuli’ou’ou Valley to piggyback on HTMC‘s hike. The club no longer congregates near the top of the street, but further down the trail road due to numerous neighbor complaints about the collective noise.

Trailhead

Hike coordinator, Barb, explaining the two different route options available to the group. Plan A was go up to Puu O Kona and come back down the same way. Plan B was go up to Puu O Kona and come down Kuli’ou’ou Ridge. We were going with Plan C.

Kuli’ou’ou Valley

Rich Bailey, the club’s unofficial videographer, making sure I am framing my picture correctly or just wants to be in the picture?

Kuli’ou’ou Valley

Jasmin making her way up through the carpet of matted pine needles.

West Kuli’ou’ou Ridge

Sweeping rain showers splattered our progress on the ridge.

West Kuli’ou’ou Ridge

Going up the wide path that the HTMC trail crew had cleared weeks earlier. Kudos to these hard working men and women that keep the trails alive and well in the mountains.

West Kuli’ou’ou Ridge

Working our way up the eroded section of the trail.

West Kuli’ou’ou Ridge

Rich showing exemplary dexterity by using his walking stick and the rope at the same time to pull himself up.

West Kuli’ou’ou Ridge

Almost to the 2,200′ summit.

Puu O Kona

Group photo left to right: Stuart, Rich, myself, Don and Janice.

Puu O Kona

The group leaving me at the summit to continue the hike towards Kuli’ou’ou. I ate my lunch in solitude on the summit, waiting for Dale and Jasmin.

Puu O Kona

Reunited, group photo left to right: Jasmin, Dale, myself and Ralph, who swept Jasmin to the top.

Ko’olau Summit Ridge Trail (KSRT)

Perfect timing as we left the summit, the clouds blew over the mountains. Stunning views all around.

KSRT

Taking a breather in between the ups and downs.

KSRT

Dale standing by the scalloped sections of the ridge.

KSRT

Jasmin and myself coming down the well-known eroded section of the ridge. Photo by Dale Yoshizu.

KSRT

We soon ran into hikers coming from Kuli’ou’ou and most of them knew Dale. Time to talk story.

KSRT

Jasmin standing on one of the most photographed and camped spots on the Southern Ko’olaus.

KSRT

We caught up with the group from Puu O Kona who had lunched further down on the ridge.

KSRT

Looking back at the hikers making their way to Puu O Kona.

Go with the wind

Be the tree. Lean like the tree. Zen hiking.

Whole Foods Market

Fresh pickings. Thimble berry and mushroom flavored flowers. Party in your mouth.

KSRT

Dale and Jasmin on the exposed section of the ridge line.

KSRT

Oahu’s answer to the sliding sands trail in Haleakala.

Kuli’ou’ou

Dale and Jasmin approaching the 2,028′ summit.

Kuli’ou’ou

Group photo left to right: unidentified hiker, Rich, myself, Janice, Don, Jasmin, Dale, unidentified dog, Stuart and Ralph. The dog knew which way to look.

Kuli’ou’ou

We took our leave of the group that headed down Kuli’ou’ou Ridge and continued on the KSRT. Are you coming with us buddy?

KSRT

The trail alternated between exposed and forested sections.

KSRT

Where Leeward meets Windward at the power lines.

KSRT

Popping out of the vegetation and looking ahead to the second set of power lines straddling the mountains.

KSRT

Great scenic spot to soak in the mountain, coastal and ocean views. Photo by Dale Yoshizu.

KSRT

Contouring through the heavily wooded trail section.

Hahaione Pyramid

The profile of the pyramid is hard to pick out from this side. So is the hiker’s profile. Photo by Dale Yoshizu.

Hahaione Pyramid

Jasmin climbing her way up.

Hahaione Pyramid

Dale hiking like an Egyptian. Photo by Jasmin Nepomuceno.

Hahaione Pyramid

Top of the pyramid. Photo by Jasmin Nepomuceno.

Hahaione Pyramid

Last look around before leaving the top.

New Mariner’s Ridge

Making our way down the ridge into Hahaione Valley.

Goodwill in the Mountains

Replace hike with work and Dale would have the perfect shirt.

New Mariner’s Ridge

If there were less trees and we had cardboard boxes, it would have been the perfect ride down.

All pau

Walking down the paved road back to our staged car, that would take us back to the other valley.

GPS Tracks

The fun loop hike through the lush valleys and ridges covered only 3.93 miles. Great hike with old and new friends. Post hike meal at Zippy’s. You could cut the silence with a chopstick as somebody was bone tired.

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.