Manoa Falls to Summit

by kenji SAITO on October 2, 2016

Hiking Manoa Falls to Summit

Blustery conditions pushed Chris, Kailon and myself off the mountains and into Manoa Valley for Plan B. More waterfalls. I just can’t get away from them lately.

Trailhead

Trailhead

Early birds get free parking.

Manoa Falls Trail

Manoa Falls Trail

Kailon going up the stone steps.

Manoa Falls

Manoa Falls #1

A good place to stash water and a sweater.

Manoa Falls

Manoa Falls

Time to climb some trees. Tree roots to be exact.

Manoa Falls

Manoa Falls

Kailon climbing up nature’s ropes.

Manoa Falls #2

Manoa Falls #2

We left the crowds and a pair of shoes behind us as we started hiking up the seemingly never ending stream of waterfalls.

Manoa Falls

Manoa Falls

Rooting up the mountain.

Manoa Falls

Manoa Falls

Chris making his way up the tricky rock face.

Manoa Falls

Manoa Falls

Chris making his way down …

Manoa Falls #3

Manoa Falls #3

… to another waterfall. Time to start counting and contouring.

Manoa Falls

Manoa Falls

We contoured and climbed too far up …

Manoa Falls

Manoa Falls

… and overshot at least two waterfalls.

Manoa Falls #6

Manoa Falls #6

Looking for tilapia. Nothing but guppies. Who brought the fishing poles?

Manoa Falls #7

Manoa Falls #7

Looking for mynah birds. Nothing but mosquitoes. Who brought the bug spray?

Manoa Falls

Manoa Falls

Chris and Kailon scrambling up on the vegetated side of the waterfalls.

Manoa Falls #8

Manoa Falls #8

Tickle of a trickle coming down the wall.

Manoa Falls #9

Manoa Falls #9

The flow was better from the top. So was the view.

Manoa Falls

Manoa Falls

The water coursing and carving its way through the boulder laced stream.

Manoa Falls #10

Manoa Falls #10

A waterfall spilling down into the seemingly sluggish stream.

Manoa Falls #11

Manoa Falls #11

Top down point of view. Photo by Kailon Tyndzik.

Manoa Falls

Manoa Falls

Looking back at the slowly rippling stream flowing down the mountain.

Manoa Falls #12

Manoa Falls #12

Chris on the left …

Manoa Falls

Manoa Falls

… Chris on the right.

Manoa Falls

Manoa Falls

Does this count as a waterfall?

Manoa Falls #13

Manoa Falls #13

A rare sight in the mountains. The bare footed hiker.

Manoa Falls

Manoa Falls

The rest of us not sure footed hikers relied on our micro-spikes to purchase traction on the moss and wet slicked rocks.

Manoa Falls #14

Manoa Falls #14

Chris hugging the side of the rocks in his bid to stay dry.

Manoa Falls #15

Manoa Falls #15

Sprinkle of raindrops.

Manoa Falls

Manoa Falls

Chris rock hopping up the stream.

Manoa Falls #16

Manoa Falls #16

Splatter of raindrops.

Manoa Falls

Manoa Falls

The stream being split into twins.

Manoa Falls

Manoa Falls

Native flora.

Manoa Falls #17

Manoa Falls #17

Kailon took a slip into the water and rebounded back faster than one can say iPhone.

Manoa Falls #18

Manoa Falls #18

Shallows to the deep end. Photo by Chris Bautista.

Manoa Falls

Manoa Falls

Solitude in the stream. Soon to be interrupted.

Manoa Falls #19

Manoa Falls #19

Public water fountain.

Manoa Falls

Manoa Falls

Chris meandering his way upstream.

Manoa Falls #20

Manoa Falls #20

The stream falling down the mountain seems to be the only reason stopping the jungle from completely covering all traces of her rugged character.

Manoa Falls

Manoa Falls

Colony of bamboo orchids.

Manoa Falls

Manoa Falls

We can see the the summit. False.

Manoa Falls #21

Manoa Falls #21

Scattered tree branches amidst the oftentimes dense jungle added to the colorful clutter.

Manoa Falls #22

Manoa Falls #22

Chris climbing up the waterfall.

Manoa Falls #23

Manoa Falls #23

Is this the final waterfall? Let’s take a group photo.

Manoa Falls #24

Manoa Falls #24

Kailon bare footing it up the waterfall.

Manoa Falls

Manoa Falls

Chris coming up one slippery rock at a time.

Manoa Falls

Manoa Falls

Kailon passing the weather beaten and water logged rope around the rock.

Manoa Falls #25

Manoa Falls #25

Maybe this is the last waterfall. Let’s take another group photo.

Manoa Falls

Manoa Falls

As our hike penetrated further into the mountain, the overgrowth seemed to close in as we approached the top.

Manoa Falls #26

Manoa Falls #26

This has got to be the last waterfall. One more group photo.

Manoa Falls

Manoa Falls

The approach contouring up the waterfall was somewhat steep and further complicated by mud, moss slicked boulders and suffocating ferns.

Manoa Falls

Manoa Falls

Deep in the jungle.

Manoa Falls #27

Manoa Falls #27

Wrong. Chris climbing up the last waterfall.

Manoa Falls

Manoa Falls

The clouds hung suspended near the mountain top, diffused and stayed by the thick canopy.

Manoa Falls

Manoa Falls

The source of the stream?

Trail

Trail

Our departure from the falls was greatly hastened by a relatively fresh cut trail. Most likely the work of the amazing HTMC trail clearing crew.

Trail

Trail

Chris pointing out another seemingly freshly cut trail on the other side of the mountain.

Trail

Trail

Looking into the misty ridges and valleys.

Trail

Trail

Where will this trail take us?

Trail

Trail

Civilization sighted.

Trail

Trail

We soon intersected with the trail that comes down from K2.

Upper Lulumahu Falls

Upper Lulumahu Falls

The valley was populated with scattered hikers, here and there.

Trail

Trail

Chris and Kailon stepping over trees dislodged by a landslide.

Trail snacks

Trail snacks

Still in season.

Trail

Trail

Kailon hopping over a tree on our way down.

Nu'uanu Valley overlook

Nu’uanu Valley overlook

Group photo overlooking Nu’uanu Reservoir, Saddle and Valley.

Trail

Trail

Taking the high and low road back down.

Aihualama Trail

Aihualama Trail

Under and over the trees scattered on the trail.

Aihualama Trail

Aihualama Trail

Visually impressive roots cascading down the hill.

Manoa Falls

Manoa Falls

Kailon recovered his sweater, we washed our mud off and took our final group photo.

Manoa Falls Trail

Manoa Falls Trail

Two way traffic going down the now bustling trail.

Manoa Falls Trail

Manoa Falls Trail

Looking back at another waterfall deep in the valley.

All pau

All pau

Time to put the shoes back on. Awesome adventure that covered over six miles up and down the mountain with an amazing crew. Post hike meal at Serg’s Mexican Kitchen. The soda costs the same next door.

Note: I have been made aware the some hikers have been using my blog as a hiking guide and getting lost on the trails. It is not advisable to hike to waterfalls during heavy rain as one will be at risk to flash flood conditions and falling rocks. 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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