Kulana’ahane to Makapu’u

Ben joined me on a hike to to pick up from where I had left off a couple months ago.

We started before the chickens were up and walked through the valley of darkness. We had nothing to fear but fear itself and the feral pigs. Oink. Photo by Ben Hinders.

Daylight broke through the shrouded valley as we reached the end of the maintained trail.

The breaking sunrise illuminating the mountains. It was going to be a beautiful day. Did I say that out aloud?

Time to hit the trail as we had a lot of ground to cover today.

Trying to discriminate against the loose rocks.

Ben contouring the crumbly obstacle while ignoring the views of Moanalua Valley.

Why use one rope, when two will do?

Right hand in front of the left hand. Repeat. Photo by Ben Hinders.

Couple more crumbly sections ahead of us.

Well, I guess that’s one way to bite your GoPro.

The classic spot to pose on the saddle.

The Captain Morgan pose and I don’t even drink. Photo by Ben Hinders.

Ben approaching the first landing.

The back stairs going up into the cloudy soup known as heaven. Photo by Ben Hinders.

Following the tetanus approved cable to the top.

What happened to that beautiful day? I’m not a mind reader, but I think those guys were thinking the same thing. Well, at least it’s not raining.

Can you take the picture in landscape and not portrait mode? Thanks!

Missing the green wooden sign that used to hang in the trees.

Ben making his way down the cloud washed ridge.

Refreshing the cocaine addicted public since 1886.

Another short break and it was off to enjoy more of this beautiful mountain weather.

Glad it wasn’t harvesting season for the bug swarms that eat the fruits of these woody climbers.

Let’s not take any wrong turns around here.

The ridge soon transitioned from somewhat wide to somewhat skinny. Photo by Ben Hinders.

Ben descending the steep and crumbly ridge.

Contouring around the sliding dirt section.

Hmmm, should I go over or around? Decisions. Decisions.

Watch out below for the dirt and rock showers.

Passing the broken wave.

Making my way to the overhang spot to avoid falling rocks. Photo by Ben Hinders.

Ben making his way down the first rock triangle.

Pausing to check out the Windward views.

Ben climbing down the second rock triangle.

The summit of Lanihuli was strikingly clear.

Looking back at our descent from Bowman. Crazy fun.

Too early for Halloween.

Looking for treats and not tricks on the backside coming down.

Ben approaching the knob that would drop us down to the power lines.

It was too early for lunch so I snacked on a bag of “fresher tasting” tuna. But is it dolphin safe?

Back in the saddle.

Wrap around view that never fails to disappoint.

Glad we’re hiking instead of being fighting the pau hana Friday traffic.

The one that got away.

I was in the mood for Chinese, since my three horned snack had scurried away.

Ben making his way up to the first Bunny Ear.

Popping our way towards the pimple.

Ben dropping down the Door Stop.

Classic photo spot below the can opener.

A pink ribbon! We must be on the right trail. So excited. Photo by Ben Hinders.

Preparing to climb The Great Wall of Lanihuli.

Ben coming up from the first tier of the wall.

Looking cool on the mountains.

Riding the dirt dragon, a shell of it’s fiery former self. Photo by Ben Hinders.

Ben continuing our uphill climb through tangled roots and ample uki grass.

The view from our 2,700′ summit perch. Not bad. Photo by Ben Hinders.

Peeking over to the town side.

All downhill from here. Crumbly downhill. But still downhill.

Yeah come on down. It’s safe. These tattered and frayed ropes will keep you safe.

Ben looking laser focused on climbing his way up.

Giving the W or was that the finger? Photo by Ben Hinders.

… And now we know our alphabet.

The Pali Lookout and Highway soon popped into view under the towering shadow of Konahuanui.

This rock looks safe to grab. Right?

Ben didn’t want to use the hotline or lifeline.

Just a couple more humps before getting off the ridge.

Best sex ever? Looking out for any used condoms as I didn’t want to slip down on the already slippery slope.

The one that did not get away.

Why is it taking so long to get down?

Almost done for the day.

Out of the woods and into walking on egg shells. Ben’s feet had blistered on his way down the ridge.

What’s for dinner? Chicken. Not the feathered kind, but the boxed kind. Shout out to Chris and Hannah for bringing us iced soda and food from Louisiana Kitchen.

Good night from Camp Pali. Ben could finally take a load off his blistered feet and sleep the night away.

Instead of waking up to crowing chickens, we woke up to the sounds of cars ferrying people to the lookout. Ben’s blisters did not evaporate overnight, so he grudgingly threw in the towel.

I mulled over my choices which were to abort the hike or run afoul of my wife’s no hiking alone rule. The Grace Hopper saying of “It’s easier to ask forgiveness than it is to get permission” kept bouncing around my head. That’s how I found myself heading up the ridge.

Met Alexis, Jason and Robert as they made their way back from the base of the chimney. I offered to take them up the chimney since I was going that way, but they weren’t buying it. Next time. Photo by Jason Murano.

You sure you guys won’t change your minds?

Time to sweep the chimney.

Clearing the rocky, technical sections as rain showers pelted the ridge.

The ridge keeping the clouds at bay on the Leeward side.

Panoramic view of the Windward side.

Denied views at the highest point, so I refreshed myself with the real thing.

The ragged and rugged curves of the ridge were clearly defined by the hugging clouds as I made my way to K2.

So close, yet so far.

Exploring the swath of a trail that parallels the KSRT.

Passed a few hikers as I dropped off Awaawaloa Summit to continue the hike.

Looking down at one tuff volcanic cone nestled against the mountains and the other one hugging the ocean.

Pausing to enjoy the steep valley views on my climb up to Lanipo.

The trail that leads to my “Meru.”

Approaching the power lines and relay station of Wiliwilinui.

I pitched my tent at the heli-pad before the summit of Wiliwilinui and called it a day. Checked in with my better half and that Grace Hopper saying came into play.

Sunrise from the mountains. Not a bad way to wake up.

Thanks to Stuart for coming up to see me and bringing sugary beverages.

This pooch had the right idea.

Another day, another dollar, different hike.

Bumped into Daryl and his friends at the 2,520′ knob.

When you fall off the ridge, pick yourself up and try again. Words to remember.

Met Art and some mutual friends at the grassy flat topped mountain. Even got some home baked foods from Art. It was a good day.

Skirting the eroded section on my way down. Photo by Art Millan.

Art saying hello or waving goodbye?

Looking back at the fluted cliffs cascading down from the mountain tops.

Koko Crater on my left and Koko Head on my right and now I know my mountains.

The two legged hikers outnumbered the four legged hikers at the 2,028′ top.

Passing the power lines on my way to Hahaione.

Selfie at the scenic point.

Not hiking like an Egyptian to the top today.

The trail that Kamehameha Schools would like hikers to forget.

Approaching the Tom-Tom trail named after Tom McGuire and Tom Cadle who “discovered” the old Hawaiian trail.

Making my way to the canopied forest to escape the scorching heat.

Nobody was home at Camp Awesome.

The sun striking and illuminating Manana (Rabbit) Island.

Approaching the old Nike-Hercules missile sites as I climbed out of the saddle.

The sweeping views from the hang gliders platform. Missing the plastic lawn chair.

Climbing down the exposed and rocky ridge line. No shade until the finish line.

The drifting sounds from Sea Life Park kept me company in the mountains

I can see somebody’s van.

If three times is the charm. What is the fourth time? What happened to my other glove? Thanks to Chris for meeting me at the lookout with a cold carbonated beverage and driving me back to my car. Photo by Chris Bautista.

The three day hike covered 24.11 miles across the Ko’olau Mountains. Great company on the first day and scenic solitude on the last two days. Thanks to Ben for sticking it out with me on the first day and to my wife for allowing me to finish the last two days by myself. Post hike meal at Pho Viet. A hot bowl of rice noodles with real chunks of assorted meat parts floating in a chili laced broth tasted so good after three days in the mountains.

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.

Tagged as: awaawaloa, bowman summit, chimney, hahaione pyramid, haiku stairs, hawaii loa summit, k1, k2, ka'au crater, kalihi saddle, kamananui valley trail, kamehame ridge, kamiloiki summit, konahuanui, kulana'ahane summit, kulepeamoa summit, kuliouou summit, lanihuli summit, lanipo, makapuu puka, manoa middle summit, mariners ridge summit, moanalua saddle, moanalua valley, mount olympus, nuuanu saddle, pali lookout, pali notches, pali puka, puu o kona, stairway to heaven, tom-tom trail, tripler summit, wailupe summit, wiliwilinui summit