Mauna o Ahi to Mariner’s Ridge

by kenji SAITO on March 7, 2015

Hiking Mauna o Ahi to Mariner's Ridge

Met up with Jasmin and Jose to do a short ridge loop trail in Hawaii Kai.

Small climb

Small climb

Climbed up a small cliff thick with bougainvillea bushes. Nothing like a poke in the morning to get the juices flowing.

Watch your step

Watch your step

Small mountain ball cacti.

Follow the poles

Follow the poles

Jasmin and Jose following the electric poles to the top of the ridge.

Fact or fallacy

Fact or fallacy

Glad to know that. I can sleep better at night now.

Mauna o Ahi Ridge

Mauna o Ahi Ridge

Looking back towards Maunalua Bay.

Which way does the wind blow?

Which way does the wind blow?

Let me lick my finger and find out.

Exposed ridge

Exposed ridge

We were buffeted with blustery winds and blessed with overcast skies.

Not in season

Not in season

Trail snacks not ready for plucking.

Canopy cover

Canopy cover

Towering trees started to dominate and cover the ridge.

Make yourselves at home

Make yourselves at home

Taking a short break.

Going up

Going up

Short cardio climb to the top, as the ridge took on a steeper slant.

Timber

Timber

Uprooted tree.

Mauna o Ahi summit

Mauna o Ahi summit

Group photo at the 1,735′ summit left to right: Jasmin, Jose and myself.

Mauna o Ahi Windward

Mauna o Ahi Windward

Looking back at another steep Windward Ridge.

KSRT

KSRT

We turned right on the Ko’olaus to continue the trail that weaved between the Windward and Leeward sides of the mountains.

Scenic view

Scenic view

Windward views of Waimanalo, Mokulua Islands and Kaneohe Bay.

Power lines

Power lines

Providing power since 1891.

Ko'olau Mountains

Ko’olau Mountains

It was a nice day on the mountains. Photo by Jose Luis Delaki.

Detour

Detour

Flower power. Wilted orchid.

Pyramid Rock

Pyramid Rock

We contoured on the Windward side to stay on the KSRT.

Flip side

Flip side

Jasmin looking back at the Pyramid Rock from the Leeward side.

Rocky area

Rocky area

Looking out towards Hahione Valley and Koko Head.

Crumbly rock

Crumbly rock

Jasmin coming up the hard way.

Mariner's Ridge Summit

Mariner’s Ridge Summit

Jose headed towards the lonely 1,361′ summit.

To the right

To the right

Your other right.

Panoramic view

Panoramic view

Click here for the larger image.

Kaluanui Ridge Summit

Kaluanui Ridge Summit

The original plan was to hike to Makapu’u, but due to time restrictions, we had to bail out at Mariner’s Ridge. A trail that is now closed to the general public. Several hiking clubs are granted limited access.

La, la, la

La, la, la

Jasmin be limbo. Jasmin be quick. Jasmin go unda limbo stick.

No traffic

No traffic

The once bustling trail was now eerily empty going back down.

Petroglyph?

Petroglyph?

Signs of modern man.

Going back to nature

Going back to nature

The trail is slowly being reclaimed by Mother Nature.

All pau

All pau

The trailhead is now blocked by a wrap around gate. Greased from top to bottom. Left to right. Jiffy Lube?

GPS Tracks

GPS Tracks

The breezy ridge loop hike covered 4.97 miles. Post hike meal at Aina Haina Chop Suey. Family Style. Pass the rice. Post hike run to Kaimuki Laundromat. Got quarters?

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{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }

Baron March 17, 2015 at 6:24 pm

Instead of going down Mariner’s, go down the backside of the Pyramid Rock into Haiahaione. Gotta love water tanks. I know you’re pretty good with topo maps and Google maps. LOL

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kenji SAITO March 17, 2015 at 8:09 pm

Depends on the people that I’m hiking with, not all of them want to go down a Windward Ridge. LOL. But they are a bunch more that I want to hit up.

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Baron March 18, 2015 at 4:49 pm

The route off of the Pyramid going into Haihaione is on the leeward side of the KST. Not on the windward side. It’s a very easy one.

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Baron March 18, 2015 at 5:03 pm

Disregard my last comment as I went back and saw that you did the Haihaione loop going up the water. LOL tank ridge. LOL

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kenji SAITO March 18, 2015 at 9:20 pm

Haha okay. I thought you meant Hahaione Windward, which we may do this weekend. Or not. So many trails to explore and hike.

frank June 21, 2016 at 2:12 pm

so just jump over the fence in the end?:)

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kenji SAITO June 21, 2016 at 10:05 pm

Aloha Frank,
Yes we had to climb up and down the slippery greased gate. The trail is now closed and I would not recommend anybody climbing up that gate. It’s just an accident waiting to happen.
Mahalo

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