Kawiwi Ridge to Tiki Ridge

I was still all wet from the soaking we had just had on the Ko’olau Mountains last weekend, so we headed off to the West side to enjoy a dry spell for a change. Thanks to Jasmin for dropping Aida, Analyn, Dale, Ferlino, Sally, Tessa and myself out to the valley.

Walking up the much deserved maligned service road. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Trading in the blistering paved road for Mother Earth. Photo by Aida Gordon.

We saw Aunty picking dahon ng ampalaya for her mungo beans. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Tessa crossing the flowing dam.

Going up the wide firebreak, which made it much easier to gain the spur ridge. Photo by Sally Chow.

Cardio puff up the short and steep hill. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

The girls resting at the top of the firebreak. Photo by Dale Yoshizu.

Tessa contouring to gain the ridge line. Ranch workers down below were yelling at us but their words were lost in the elevation.

Starting our rocky climb up the ridge. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

Analyn making her way up. I think we lost Dale around this point as he was feeling fatigued and went back down.

Tessa scampering up the rocks. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Analyn pulling herself up.

Going up the angled rocks. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

Aida’s turn to go up. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

Single file shuffling on the narrow ridge line. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Stepping stones that kept us out of the brush. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

Aida hugging the steep rock face as she climbs her way up. Photo by Sally Chow.

Tessa climbing her way up. Photo by Sally Chow.

Sally coming up the progressively steep climb. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Tessa contouring around the rockface before climbing up. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Aida against the backdrop of Waianae and Lualualei Valleys. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

Tessa working her way to the tricky crack. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Somebody take my picture! Ate! Kuya!

Group photo left to right: Analyn, Tessa, myself, Aida, Sally and Ferlino. When you don’t have a mask to cover your face, a t-shirt or banana will do.

Somebody was quite limber today.

Sally coming down from the 2,957′ summit.

Traversing the narrow spine of the rocky ridge line. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

Spotting and safety go hand in hand. Photo by Sally Chow.

Sally taking the low road. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Just do it. Double reinforcement.

Our first contact with the fence line meant to keep out pigs and goats from chewing up the native plants. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Leaving the fence behind us as we traded it for more rock climbing. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

The girls breaking down the language barrier by visual illustration.

Making our way over and around the boulders seemingly thrown at random on the ridge line.

Looking yonder at the pyramidal peak framed by the drifting clouds.

Go big or go home. Photo by Ferlino Carinio.

Analyn passing through a patch of pine trees.

The group making the slow climb to the top. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

The girls taking a break from their derrieres.

Making our way down from the 2,950′ summit.

Heading down the ridge line that buffered the rolling clouds. Photo by Analyn Baliscao.

Climbing down the fence line. Photo by Sally Chow.

Posers amongst the towering rocks that interrupted the ridge line.

Going down the old hunter trail that Waianae Steve found and cleared.

Contact with the first tiki.

Two heads are better than one. Photo by Sally Chow.

Going down one of several rock climbs. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

Tessa practicing for the upcoming pole dancing competition as we followed the red/white bottle caps on our way down. Photo by Sally Chow.

Analyn passing through Hawaii’s version of Middle Earth.

Trail meets the road. Analyn and Tessa hurried down the road to finish the job of picking bitter melon leaves.

Thanks to Jasmin for picking us up from the valley of the howling dogs.

Our 5.23 mile loop hike started and ended in Waianae Valley that were filled with rock climbs, narrow ridge crossings and great company. Post hike meal consisted of carbonated colas and melting ice cream. Times are tough when you can’t eat in.

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.

Tagged as: broken teeth, kamaileunu ridge, kawiwi ridge, no name peak, teddy bear, tiki ridge, waianae valley