Manana Trail to Aiea Ridge

by kenji SAITO on March 11, 2017

Hiking Manana Trail to Aiea Ridge

The mountains were calling and we answered with a weekend camping hike.

Trailhead

Trailhead

Met up with Chris, Ethan and Shirley at the top of Pacific Palisades to start our hike. I guess when you have to park, you have to park.

Manana Trail

Manana Trail

Chris grabbing the tree by its branches.

Manana Trail

Manana Trail

Synchronized sunrise picture taking. Soon to be an Olympic sport.

Manana Trail

Manana Trail

Ethan going down the eroded section of the trail.

Manana Trail

Manana Trail

Passing the picnic shelter as mans best friend and the smell of campfire cooking greeted us.

Manana Trail

Manana Trail

Shirley at the 2.5 mile marker. The day has just started.

Manana Trail

Manana Trail

Your pack is heavy. Your pack is not heavy.

Manana Trail

Manana Trail

Apple break. The fruit and phone kind. Photo by Shirley.

Manana Trail

Manana Trail

We could soon see the hole for the summit.

Manana Trail

Manana Trail

Chris and Shirley passing a dry waterfall chute. Glad the waterworks were turned off today.

Manana Summit

Manana Summit

The group at the top of the b*tch trail.

Manana Summit

Manana Summit

Group photo by Out of My League, left to right: myself, Shirley, Ethan and Chris.

Manana Summit

Manana Summit

Panaromic view from the 2,660′ summit by Ethan Clavecillas.

Ko'olau Summit Ridge Trail

Ko’olau Summit Ridge Trail

Leaving the summit behind as Shirley almost forgot her sweater and somebody’s number.

KSRT

KSRT

Ethan up close and personal with a Ko’olau Range lobelia. Photo by Chris.

Eleao Meadows

Eleao Meadows

The group dropping down into the wide open grassy field.

Eleao Meadows

Eleao Meadows

Ethan providing assistance in the form of sweater securement. Photo by Chris.

Eleao Meadows

Eleao Meadows

Chris leaving the lush and rolling field. Photo by Ethan Clavecillas.

KSRT

KSRT

The group traversing the hilly up and downs of the Ko’olau spine.

Waimano Summit

Waimano Summit

Group photo at the 2,160′ lookout.

Waimano Summit

Waimano Summit

What is that smell? When you got to go, you got go.

Waimano Summit

Waimano Summit

Leaving the summit and the panoramic views of Waihe’e Valley behind.

Waiau Summit

Waiau Summit

Who’s on the summit?

KSRT

KSRT

One of the few times that I have witnessed the meadows so clear. Lucky us.

KSRT

KSRT

Chris dropping into the meadows.

Waimalu Meadows

Waimalu Meadows

Shirley striking a pose. Yoga pose.

Waimalu Meadows

Waimalu Meadows

Water hole. Scoop. Strain. Sterilize. Is the light supposed to be on? Try again. Repeat.

Waimalu Meadows

Waimalu Meadows

The lush and spongy meadows that have often been described as magical and mystical. Something to be experienced in person. Photo by Chris.

Waimalu Meadows

Waimalu Meadows

Group photos in the meadows.

Waimalu Meadows

Waimalu Meadows

Leaving the meadows and hiking up towards our home for the night. Photo by Ethan Clavecillas.

Waimalu Summit

Waimalu Summit

What’s for dinner?

Waimalu Summit

Waimalu Summit

Dining in the clouds. Reservations required. Photo by Chris.

Waimalu Summit

Waimalu Summit

Panoramic view from our campsite.

Waimalu Summit

Waimalu Summit

The sun setting in the cloudy mountains. Magical. Photo by Shirley.

Waimalu Summit

Waimalu Summit

Standing on a spur ridge with the sunrise behind me. Mystical. Photo by Chris.

Waimalu Summit

Waimalu Summit

Turning the lights on in the mountains. Who brought the honey whiskey? Photo by Shirley.

Waimalu Summit

Waimalu Summit

Spinning the glow light fantastic. Without ecstasy.

Waimalu Summit

Waimalu Summit

If you can’t catch the moon at night … Photo by Shirley.

Waimalu Summit

Waimalu Summit

… you can catch the sun at daybreak. Photo by Chris.

Waimalu Summit

Waimalu Summit

Breakfast in a bag. Who needs Starbucks?

Waimalu Summit

Waimalu Summit

Group photo ushering in another beautiful day in the mountains.

KSRT

KSRT

Time to hit the mountains.

KSRT

KSRT

The clouds started to roll in from the Windward side …

KSRT

KSRT

… but were kept at bay by the ridge line.

KSRT

KSRT

Break time.

KSRT

KSRT

Back to the hill climbing.

KSRT

KSRT

The group passing through another meadow. Photo by Chris.

KSRT

KSRT

The clawing vegetation had claimed my left pants leg. Now I didn’t have a hiking pants leg to stand in. The view was blinding. Time to finally retire my hiking pants. Patches and all.

KSRT

KSRT

We can see the power lines!

KSRT

KSRT

Ridge life. Photo by Chris.

KSRT

KSRT

What are we pointing at?

KSRT

KSRT

We spotted the yellow bird flying around.

KSRT

KSRT

Do the electric slide.

KSRT

KSRT

Making the final push up the last hill.

KSRT

KSRT

Almost there. Photo by Ethan Clavecillas.

Aiea Summit

Aiea Summit

Group photo at the 2,805′ summit with clear views all around.

Aiea Ridge

Aiea Ridge

We left the summit as Shirley left a silent present behind for some other unfortunate hikers.

Aiea Ridge

Aiea Ridge

The heat and the hills.

Aiea Ridge

Aiea Ridge

Shirley giving the H3 traffic and trail report.

Aiea Loop Trail

Aiea Loop Trail

A bench with a valley view.

All pau

All pau

The heat had really gotten the best of me as I was burning up. As luck would have it, a group was eating at the picnic area. Not only was I thirsty, but I was also a HTMC member. Membership has its rewards. Thanks to Chris’s friend, Joey, who picked us up and dropped us back to our cars.

GPS Tracks

GPS Tracks

Our fun camping hike covered 15.7 miles through hilly terrain, grassy meadows, verdant vistas with great company. Post hike meal at Alley Restaurant. Their oxtail soup gives Kam Bowl a run for their money.

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.

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{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }

Lai Yee Chan January 11, 2020 at 6:46 am

I’m trying to look for official topographic maps and coordinates to hike the Koolau ridge portion from Manana Ridge to Waimano Ridge. I am having a hard time finding any online, do you know of a guidebook that you could recommend?

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kenji SAITO January 11, 2020 at 9:11 am

It’s roughly two hours from Manana to Waimano at an average pace. Sorry I don’t know of any guidebook. The only main tricky part is when you pass Eleao Meadows and start going down the ridge, you have to make sure you stay on the left. If it’s clear, it’s pretty obvious. Sometimes it’s socked in, so you have to make sure you take the right ridge going down. Hope this helps.
Mahalo

Reply

Lai Yee Chan January 21, 2020 at 6:25 pm

Hi Kenji,

Thanks for the info. One last question, since I’m not too familiar with the Hawaiian terrain yet. How narrow are the narrow parts? Is it doable with a 44 L backpack as we have planned on camping (will be lightly packed though)?

Mahalo

Reply

kenji SAITO January 24, 2020 at 5:58 am

Aloha Lai,
Yes it’s doable as long as you watch your step as the trail is littered with branches that can trip you and false holes. Narrow parts typically range about 2-3′. Just take your time and be safe.
Mahalo

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