Ka’au Crater to Manoa Middle

by kenji SAITO on November 15, 2020

Hiking Ka'au Crater to Manoa Middle

Picking up from where I left off a couple weeks ago. Aida joined me today to help finish off the Southern section of the KST. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Trailhead

Trailhead

Thanks to Quan for dropping us off deep in Palolo Valley.

Ka'au Crater Trail

Ka’au Crater Trail

We scrambled down the boulders, followed the streambed and then the water pipe as we made our way on the trail. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Ka'au Crater Trail

Ka’au Crater Trail

Aida walking in between the new and old water pipes.

Trail sprinkler

Trail sprinkler

All wet already. And we didn’t even get to the first waterfall yet. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Ka'au Crater Trail

Ka’au Crater Trail

Water on tap.

Waterfall #1

Waterfall #1

Aida had the first waterfall all to herself before approaching hikers descended down to the base. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Ka'au Crater Trail

Ka’au Crater Trail

Climbing our way up to the left to get to the top.

Ka'au Crater Trail

Ka’au Crater Trail

Looking down at the first waterfall.

Waterfall #2

Waterfall #2

Aida at the second waterfall with the other group right behind us. This place is a popular watering hole.

Ka'au Crater Trail

Ka’au Crater Trail

Climbing up to the right and contouring above the second waterfall.

Ka'au Crater Trail

Ka’au Crater Trail

Looking down at the group taking their pictures. Not getting too close, as a woman slid off the top four years ago and luckily survived her fall to the bottom. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Waterfall #3

Waterfall #3

Aida going up the multi-tiered waterfall that had somewhat decent flow.

Waterfall #3

Waterfall #3

Making my way up the slippery rocks. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Ka'au Crater Trail

Ka’au Crater Trail

We left the waterfalls and started counter-clockwise on the crater rim to the top. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Ka'au Crater Trail

Ka’au Crater Trail

Aida climbing up through the heavily rutted trail.

Ka'au Crater Trail

Ka’au Crater Trail

Looking down into the marshy caldera that was created when the demigod Maui’s giant hook landed in the valley resulting in the crater we see today. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Ka'au Crater Trail

Ka’au Crater Trail

I decided to do a thing at the top. I proposed to myself. I said yes. Bill and Shirley have nothing on me. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Ka'au Crater Trail

Ka’au Crater Trail

We trailed behind a group as we followed the trail around the crater.

Ka'au Crater Trail

Ka’au Crater Trail

Group photo, left to right: Aida and myself.

Ka'au Crater Trail

Ka’au Crater Trail

Took a photo with the group (Bree, Brit, myself and Kim) that we were following since Aida instigated the picture. Found out that Kim used to hike with the KOMPT (Kronic Oahu Mixed Plate Trekkers). Small world.

Mount Olympus

Mount Olympus

Looking ahead to the 2,486′ peak that was our next stop. Too bad there isn’t a Zippy’s outlet up there.

Ko'olau Summit Ridge Trail (KSRT)

Ko’olau Summit Ridge Trail (KSRT)

Crossing over between the summits. Photo by Aida Gordon.

KSRT

KSRT

Aida climbing up the steep hill towards the summit of Awaawaloa.

KSRT

KSRT

Olomana in the background as I climbed my way up to Olympus. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Wa'ahila Trail

Wa’ahila Trail

Aida going down the rutted trail with the cloud soaked ridge line in the distance.

KSRT

KSRT

Ducking underneath the rainbow. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Manoa Middle Summit

Manoa Middle Summit

Sitting underneath the rainbow.

Manoa Middle Trail

Manoa Middle Trail

Descending down into the thick and vast valley that is Manoa.

Manoa Middle Trail

Manoa Middle Trail

Climbing down the near vertical section before dropping down to the valley floor. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Queen's Bath

Queen’s Bath

Washing off the accumulated mud from our hike. Giving back. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Trail

Trail

Aida going up the muddy hillside where we met other two legged and four legged hikers coming down.

Pu'u Pia Trail

Pu’u Pia Trail

Going down the trail knotted with roots and padded with rocks. Photo by Aida Gordon.

All pau

All pau

We finished our fun little hike with daylight to spare. Quan met up with us for lunch at Serge’s. We ate in the shadow of Safeway.

GPS Tracks

GPS Tracks

Our crater to valley hike covered 5.8 miles through muddy and scenic views. Thanks to Aida for joining me on today’s hike.

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.

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{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }

Aida Gordon December 10, 2020 at 9:43 am

Thank you for another adventure, Kenji! You are a wealth of knowledge. Didn’t know about Maui creating the crater with his hook nor the Hawaiian name for Olympus – Awaawaloa. Also, thanks for showing me the contour trail. I’ve never been that way! And most especially, thanks for your patience with me and my scraped knee!

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kenji SAITO December 10, 2020 at 12:50 pm

Aloha Aida,
Thanks for keeping me company. Always fun times.
Mahalo

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Keough March 14, 2021 at 4:25 pm

Isn’t the Kaau trail private property, aren’t there multiple signs saying “Do not trespass”

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kenji SAITO March 15, 2021 at 12:47 pm

Not that I’m aware of. If you look at the photo in the beginning of the blog, it states the trail is unmaintained and proceed at your own risk. No signs of no trespassing.

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