Haiku Stairs to Kalihi Saddle (Powerlines)

by kenji SAITO on August 1, 2020

Hiking Haiku Stairs to Kalihi Saddle (Powerlines)

Back to back KST completion hikes saw us back at the world famous Haiku Stairs. Mahalo to Quan for dropping Aida, Lilyn, Tessa and myself off at Aiea. Thank goodness we didn’t get lost from Kahalu’u. Photo by Art Young.

Haiku Stairs

Haiku Stairs

Climbing up the steep stairs while attempting to recover something of important medical value that we had lost on our last unexpected trip.

Trampolining

Trampolining

I don’t see a bright future in mimicry for these girls. Jumping jacks is not the same as bouncing up and down.

Hoist House

Hoist House

Catching sight of the CCL building perched on top of the ridge line.

Hoist House

Hoist House

Hope that pulley doesn’t fall and give somebody a bad headache one day. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Hoist House

Hoist House

Lilyn capturing the sun. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

Haiku Stairs

Haiku Stairs

The upper landing and stairs were clogged with campers catching the sunrise.

Haiku Stairs

Haiku Stairs

Yielding to the traffic on the stairs. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

Stairway to Heaven

Stairway to Heaven

Group photo left to right: Aida, myself, Tessa and Lilyn.

Pu'u Keahi a Kahoe

Pu’u Keahi a Kahoe

Taking our leave of the popular camping spot.

Ko'olau Summit Ridge Trail (KSRT)

Ko’olau Summit Ridge Trail (KSRT)

Looking ahead to the noticeable man-made infrastructures topping the ridge line. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

KSRT

KSRT

Leaving the defunct radio tower behind us.

Tripler Summit

Tripler Summit

Shadows on the summit. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Bowman Summit

Bowman Summit

Group photo at the 2,740′ summit. The last one we would step foot on today.

Kalihi Saddle

Kalihi Saddle

Getting ready to drop in on the saddle. Hang on tight. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Kalihi Saddle

Kalihi Saddle

Scooting our way down the narrow strip of dirt that passes for a ridge line.

Kalihi Saddle

Kalihi Saddle

Contouring on the crumbly Leeward side. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

Kalihi Saddle

Kalihi Saddle

This was either a nail biting or butt clenching moment for Lilyn. Only her manicurist or proctologist would know. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

Kalihi Saddle

Kalihi Saddle

Looking back at our steep and crumbly descent from the summit.

Dirty Slide

Dirty Slide

Enjoying the ride down. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Kalihi Saddle

Kalihi Saddle

Contouring our way back to the ridge line.

Kalihi Saddle

Kalihi Saddle

Passing the non-existent wave on our way down. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Kalihi Saddle

Kalihi Saddle

Tessa coming down one crumbly rock at a time. Photo by Lilyn Avendano.

Kalihi Saddle

Kalihi Saddle

Lilyn coming down the Leeward side of the hardest rock triangle. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

Kalihi Saddle

Kalihi Saddle

Look! Up in the sky! It’s a mynah bird! It’s a drone! … Photo by Aida Gordon.

Rock Triangle

Rock Triangle

… It’s Lilyn! Photo by Aida Gordon.

Kalihi Saddle

Kalihi Saddle

One yawyaw and two substitutes at the bottom of the obstacle.

Kalihi Saddle

Kalihi Saddle

Going down the Hot Wheels Track. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

Kalihi Saddle

Kalihi Saddle

The group making their way over the crumbly, uneven and narrow ridge line.

Kalihi Saddle

Kalihi Saddle

I never get tired of these views. I suppose that’s why I’m a frequent visitor.

Rock Triangle

Rock Triangle

Lilyn climbing down on the Windward side. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

Rock Triangle

Rock Triangle

Tessa looking for her next foothold. Photo by Lilyn Avendano.

Kalihi Saddle

Kalihi Saddle

To scoot or to walk? Photo by Tessa Bugay.

Kalihi Saddle

Kalihi Saddle

This is not your father’s dirt dragon.

Kalihi Saddle

Kalihi Saddle

Making our way to the place where no reservations are required. First come, first serve. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Tabletop

Tabletop

The girls climbing down through the rocks.

Kalihi Saddle

Kalihi Saddle

Riding the wave of a ridge. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

Kalihi Saddle

Kalihi Saddle

It’s always hump day somewhere in the mountains.

Kalihi Saddle

Kalihi Saddle

Soaking in the views at the iconic photo spot. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Kalihi Saddle

Kalihi Saddle

Aida coming down the steep and rocky section.

Witch's Hat

Witch’s Hat

Scrambling up the pointy obstacle in under two minutes. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

Kalihi Saddle

Kalihi Saddle

Looking back at the steep drop that we had just climbed down. Never fails to disappoint. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Witch's Hat

Witch’s Hat

Art had come to meet us and was expecting a continued hike to the Pali and all he got was this ghetto candle. It’s the thought that counts. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Witch's Hat

Witch’s Hat

Best wishes on your birthday with a real candle.

Witch's Hat

Witch’s Hat

Lilyn going down the backside.

Kalihi Saddle

Kalihi Saddle

The group making their way over the still surprisingly narrow ridge line. The saddle was not over yet. Photo by Lilyn Avendano.

Kalihi Saddle

Kalihi Saddle

Lilyn working her way towards the knob. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Kalihi Saddle

Kalihi Saddle

Are we done? Am I finished?

Slacklining

Slacklining

We had time to kill so I decided to see if I could make a better go at mimicry than the girls. It’s best that I keep my day job. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Services rendered

Services rendered

That, and a nickel, will get me a can of Coke. Wait a minute! Photo by Tessa Bugay.

Powerlines

Powerlines

Group photo at the terminus of our hike. All smiles. We weren’t going to the Pali after all.

All pau

All pau

We were going to the Pali after all, but by mechanized means. Thanks to Quan and Sally for picking us up. We also found a iphone and turned it over to our AT&T contact.

Pali Lookout

Pali Lookout

Does anybody have a bottle opener? Since somebody didn’t get the twist off caps. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

Pali Lookout

Pali Lookout

Pouring champagne on Lilyn to celebrate her completion of the KST. Congratulations! Photo by Aida Gordon.

Pali Lookout

Pali Lookout

Thanks to Katie, Narissa, Petra, Quan, Chris and Sally for joining the champagne celebration.

Post hike meal

Post hike meal

We grabbed food from Pampanga Kitchen and found out that persistence pays off when you want those halo-halos. We all retired to Casa Avendano where some had shots that took them to hell without even setting foot on the hike itself, some of us picked fruit from the neighbors yard, blondie went off the inebriated deep end and wrestled quite vigorously for her phone, Art showed off his dancing skills while enjoying a real birthday cake, and Agnes swung by with free eggs in hand, while some of us practiced our city and county skills while trying to figure out how to set up a tent and all these activities were papered over with a very direct, loud and opinionated New York accent. Fun times had by all.

GPS Tracks

GPS Tracks

Our 4.15 mile hike through heaven and down a crumbly saddle marked the end of the road for Lilyn’s KST completion. Cheers and congratulations again to her.

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.

Leave a Comment

{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }

Aida Gordon September 15, 2020 at 5:23 pm

Punny write-up, Kenji! Such a great day! Congrats again to Lilyn and thanks for the nickel tour on Kalihi saddle.

Reply

kenji SAITO September 15, 2020 at 6:48 pm

Aloha Aida,
Thanks. Yes it was a great day all around! Fun times.
Mahalo

Reply

Ferlino Carinio September 20, 2020 at 11:23 am

awesome! Congratulations! Good work! I miss the fun!

Reply

kenji SAITO September 20, 2020 at 8:47 pm

Aloha Ferlino,
Thanks. Don’t worry, fun will still be waiting for you when you get back.
Mahalo

Reply

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