Kulana’ahane Trail to Waimano Trail

by kenji SAITO on April 21, 2018

Hiking Kulana'ahane Trail to Waimano Trail

It was another weekend and another opportunity to introduce somebody to the wonderful world of camping in the mountains.

Kamananui Valley Trail

Kamananui Valley Trail

Met up with Lopaka in Moanalua Valley as we hit the trail that is well on its way to becoming a paved road.

Kamananui Valley Trail

Kamananui Valley Trail

My fleeting and futile attempt to walk on water. Photo by Lopaka Hipperson.

Kulana'ahane Trail

Kulana’ahane Trail

What a tangled hau thicket we weave in the forest.

Kulana'ahane Trail

Kulana’ahane Trail

I guess it’s getting serious as the trail is no longer maintained. Time to put on our big boy pants.

Moanalua Falls

Moanalua Falls

Watching a trickle of a fall flow down the mountain.

Kulana'ahane Trail

Kulana’ahane Trail

Going up the short and steep hill to gain the summit.

Kulana'ahane Summit

Kulana’ahane Summit

Heaven or Hell today? Hell it is.

Moanalua Saddle

Moanalua Saddle

It was time to tackle the better or easier half of the saddle.

Moanalua Saddle

Moanalua Saddle

Traffic down on the highway, but none up here. Photo by Lopaka Hipperson.

Ko'olau Summit Ridge Trail (KSRT)

Ko’olau Summit Ridge Trail (KSRT)

Hiking the ridge line in the clouds, always a surreal experience.

KSRT

KSRT

Lopaka climbing down the rusted stairs. The State can spend $875,000 to repair this side and keep it closed as well.

North Haiku Stairs

North Haiku Stairs

Who said hell was hot? It was sheeting freezing rain up here. Usually we would sit down, admire the view, take tons of photos, eat a bite and rest up here. But today, we couldn’t wait to get the hell out of there!

KSRT

KSRT

Climbing out of hell.

KSRT

KSRT

We were still stuck in cloud purgatory on the ridge line.

KSRT

KSRT

Let’s not forget the sprinkling showers as well. Picture complete. Photo by Lopaka Hipperson.

KSRT

KSRT

Hanging onto the fence for dear life for my dramatic photo. Photo by Lopaka Hipperson.

KSRT

KSRT

Just a couple more hills to climb and it’ll be all over.

KSRT

KSRT

A pink ribbon! We must be on the right trail.

Aiea Summit

Aiea Summit

Standing at the sign that Chris Bautista made.

KSRT

KSRT

Dropping down from the 2,805′ summit and approaching our home for the night. We arrived with an abundance of time. Time well spent by Lopaka as he set up his tent on his first camp over.

Camp Powerlines

Camp Powerlines

The wind howled and the rain poured for most of the night, which made for little sleep time. Forgot our ear plugs.

Breakfast of Champions

Breakfast of Champions

Nothing like hot soup to get you started on a cold and rainy morning.

KSRT

KSRT

Another Groundhog Day on the ridge.

KSRT

KSRT

This is not the meadows we are looking for.

KSRT

KSRT

It was still a windy day …Photo by Lopaka Hipperson.

KSRT

KSRT

… that helped to temporarily blow the clouds away to give us partial Windward views.

KSRT

KSRT

No more false summits.

Waimalu Summit

Waimalu Summit

We have arrived! Photo by Lopaka Hipperson.

Waimalu Meadows

Waimalu Meadows

Was that mystical or mythical meadows?

Waimalu Meadows

Waimalu Meadows

Somebody liked the cold weather. Somebody liked their rain jacket even more.

Watering hole

Watering hole

You have to be able to see the water past the discoloration and floating bugs. Photo by Lopaka Hipperson.

Waimalu Meadows

Waimalu Meadows

Leaving the meadows; the clouds lifted and the sun broke through, affording us the spectacular scenery this place is noted for.

KSRT

KSRT

Back on the ridge line.

KSRT

KSRT

We could see the landslide for the summit.

Waimano Summit

Waimano Summit

Panoramic view of Waihee Valley bordered by Kalahaku Teeth and Eleao Windward.

Waimano Trail

Waimano Trail

Leaving the summit as we headed down into the valley.

Waimano Trail

Waimano Trail

Our first human contact in two days.

Waimano Trail

Waimano Trail

Lopaka rock hopping one of a few stream crossings on the trail.

Waimano Trail

Waimano Trail

No picnickers spotted today.

Waimano Trail

Waimano Trail

Lopaka passing one of multiple irrigation tunnels sprinkled throughout the valley.

Waimano Trail

Waimano Trail

Climbing up the hardest part of the trail. Photo by Lopaka Hipperson.

Waimano Trail

Waimano Trail

Traffic jam on the trail.

All pau

All pau

We were so over with the long trail. Thanks to Jasmin for picking us up and taking us back to our cars.

GPS Tracks

GPS Tracks

Our two day camping hike covered 16.5 miles of ridges and crossing over the Ko’olau Mountains. Job well done by Lopaka on his first camping hike in the mountains. Post hike meal at Alley Restaurant. Oxtail soup is what’s for dinner. What else would I order here?

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

{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }

Lopaka June 2, 2018 at 10:29 pm

Awesome, awesome time… can’t wait for the next camping trip. I’ll make sure I’ll bring ear plugs for night :)

Reply

kenji SAITO June 7, 2018 at 11:22 am

Aloha Lopaka,
Yup awesome hike, wish the weather was just as awesome. lol. Yes , don’t forget the earplugs!
Mahalo

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