Met up with Katie before the chickens came out to roost at the top of Kalaau Place to start our hike.
Kuli’ou’ou Ridge Trail
Going up the rooted trail where I rolled my ankle ten minutes into the hike. Two left feet.
Kuli’ou’ou Summit
Not surprisingly, we had the 2,200′ darkened summit all to ourselves. Photo by Katie Bingham.
Ko’olau Summit Ridge Trail (KSRT)
Making our way along the eroded ridge line where we could see the cloud soaked mountain tops ahead of us. Photo by Katie Bingham.
IG Spot
Katie on the picturesque spot framed by the backdrop of the fluted flanks of the Ko’olau Mountains.
KSRT
Making our way down the sliver of an eroded ridge line.
Pu’u O Kona Summit
Leaving the 2,200′ flat topped scenic-less mountain. Photo by Katie Bingham.
KSRT
Katie coming up the trail and hopefully leaving the clouds behind us.
Hawaii Loa Summit
We actually got Windward views from the 2,520′ knob.
Kulepeamoa Summit
The clouds came back home to roost at the flapping chicken summit.
KSRT
Heading up the roller coaster ridge line. Photo by Katie Bingham.
Wiliwilinui Summit
Somewhat cloudy conditions greeted us at the summit where a friendly visitor from Korea snapped our picture.
KSRT
Traversing the ridge line dominated by power lines that brings power to the Waimanalo side.
KSRT
Our luck was still holding as the projected thunderstorms had still not appeared, but the hard blowing winds stayed to push us around.
True Lanipo
Catching the views at the windswept summit. Photo by Katie Bingham.
Kainawa’aunui Summit
Reaching another scenic-less summit that topped at 2,520′.
KSRT
Going with the flow of gravity as we came down the big hill.
Trail meeting
Met up with Tessa who had hiked up from Manoa Middle and met us somewhere in the middle. Photo by Tessa Bugay.
Ka’au Crater
Heading down the rutted trail that skirted the tuff cone ringed with power lines. Photo by Tessa Bugay.
Ka’au Crater
Can you see the marsh for the clouds?
KSRT
Heading towards Mount Olympus. Photo by Katie Bingham.
KSRT
Scrambling our way up the eroded hill. Photo by Tessa Bugay.
KSRT
Katie approaching the 2,486′ summit.
Awaawaloa Summit
Group photo at the wind blasted small clearing with sweeping views of the Windward and Leeward sides.
Wa’ahila Ridge Trail
Scooting down the heavily rutted trail that gives Moanalua Middle Ridge a run for its money.
Wa’ahila Ridge Trail
Running down the roped section of the slippery red packed dirt trail. Photo by Tessa Bugay.
KSRT
Contouring our way on the KSRT. Photo by Tessa Bugay.
Sedan Rock
The test drive did not even get out of the showroom. Photo by Tessa Bugay.
KSRT
Threading our way through the isolated stand of pine trees that interrupted the ridge line. Photo by Tessa Bugay.
KSRT
Katie and Tessa coming up the last hill of the day.
Manoa Middle Summit
This right hand. This one! Two right hands.
Manoa Middle Summit
Lunch is served. Hot ramen! Photo by Tessa Bugay.
Manoa Middle Summit
Group photo at our last summit.
Manoa Middle Trail
Heading down the trail with the city sprawl ahead of us.
Manoa Middle Trail
Panoramic view from summit to stream, although you can see neither, just the sign.
Manoa Middle Trail
Going down the steep and rocky slope. Photo by Katie Bingham.
Queen’s Bath
We interrupted some people that looked like they were practicing “hippie love.”
Manoa Middle Trail
Are we there yet?
Pu’u Pia Trail
Stepping our way down the rooted and rocky trail. At least it was relatively flat. Photo by Katie Bingham.
All pau
The girls testing the load limit on the tree branch. Thanks to Tessa for taking us back to our cars. Post hike meal at Pieology, where we made mountains out of molehills.
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.
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
What happened to the other group?! Haha… It’s alright, the 3 of us had fun. Thank you for cooking ramen. Hot soup is ono, for the always cold weather up there.
Aloha Tessa,
They took the shortcut. LOL. Yup hot ramen will always taste good up in the mountains. Thanks for meeting us and taking us back to our cars.
Mahalo