Moanalua Saddle to Kalihi Saddle (Night Version)

by kenji SAITO on February 4, 2024

Weather forecasts had predicted windy conditions this weekend to possibly paraphrase the saying “fools rush in where wise men fear to tread.” We all met up relatively on time, except for the “new CB.”

Moanalua Valley

Moanalua Valley

The group crossing one of the seven storied bridges and cobblestone paths that at one time gave passage to the Damon family’s horse drawn carriages. Samuel Mills Damon was bequeathed over 6,000 acres of land (Moanalua Ahupua’a) in 1884 from Ke Ali’i Bernice Bishop, who was the last living member of the House of Kamehameha. The ahupua’a of Moanalua at one time encompassed the valleys of Moanalua and Halawa down to the edge of Pu’uloa (Pearl Harbor). Over time it has shrunk due to the US government’s condemnation of huge tracts of land for military bases, and the selling off of land for commercial and residential development. Moanalua Valley was also the original route for the H3 highway until court battles forced the State to construct in its present home, Halawa Valley.

Kulana'ahane Trail

Kulana’ahane Trail

Is this the way to Stairway to Heaven?

Kulana'ahane Trail

Kulana’ahane Trail

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of the hau trees, I will fear no evil, for high winds await me on the mountains.

Kulana'ahane Trail

Kulana’ahane Trail

Haig crossing one of over 28 stream crossings on the trail. Nobody was counting. Mathematically challenged.

Kulana'ahane Trail

Kulana’ahane Trail

Some of the guys clearing the trail. There is no scientific evidence that a certain complex plant made of major compounds makes people stronger, rather it has a reputation for decreasing athletic performance. Hence, the rock did not budge even one inch. Not even a centimeter.

Kulana'ahane Trail

Kulana’ahane Trail

Chico passing his stone. Pretty painful.

Kulana'ahane Trail

Kulana’ahane Trail

Have rock, will fix spike.

Kulana'ahane Trail

Kulana’ahane Trail

Leaving the valley floor as we climbed up the steep and short spur ridge.

Kulana'ahane Summit

Kulana’ahane Summit

Group photo at the windswept summit, left to right: Chris, Robin, Aileen, Haig, myself, Akira, Aida and Chico.

Moanalua Saddle

Moanalua Saddle

We left the summit to practice our balancing skills on a narrow ridge line with wind gusts pushing us around for good measure.

Moanalua Saddle

Moanalua Saddle

The group transitioning from bipedal to quadrupedal locomotion. Whatever will get us there.

Moanalua Saddle

Moanalua Saddle

Woman down! The first rule of falling is don’t fall. The second rule is if you have to fall, go in the direction of the Leeward side. The last rule is do not fall on the Windward side. Luckily, Robin followed the second rule. Haig came up from the rear and safely guided her back to the ridge, where she belonged.

Moanalua Saddle

Moanalua Saddle

Some of us went up the direct route.

Moanalua Saddle

Moanalua Saddle

Others chose the longer route and contoured around the rock face.

Moanalua Saddle

Moanalua Saddle

Contouring and climbing our way up the Windward side. What was that about Rule #3?

Moanalua Saddle

Moanalua Saddle

Making our way to the most famous obstacle, the Dirt Triangle.

Dirt Triangle

Dirt Triangle

Contouring around the grassy and slippery slope.

Dirt Triangle

Dirt Triangle

Aida pulling herself up on the Leeward side. What was that about Rule #2?

Dirt Triangle

Dirt Triangle

Robin’s turn to go up.

Dirt Triangle

Dirt Triangle

That expression on your face when you know you’ve made it to the top. Priceless.

Moanalua Saddle

Moanalua Saddle

We don’t need no stinkin’ webbing!

Moanalua Saddle

Moanalua Saddle

Going up the exposed crumbly climb as we noticed rain showers in the valley. Wind + rain. What could go wrong?

Moanalua Saddle

Moanalua Saddle

Haig climbing to the top of the last “technical” section of the saddle.

Moanalua Saddle

Moanalua Saddle

It’s not well known is that Akira was the original Karate Kid until Hollywood decided Ralph Macchio looked more the part. Much like how David Carradine got the lead role in the TV show Kung Fu because Bruce Lee was too “asian.” A little known fact is that the iconic martial artist was not 100% Chinese, he was of Chinese and European ancestry.

Moanalua Saddle

Moanalua Saddle

We ran into an imported goat from the province of Pangasinan. This particular one was sure footed and fleet of foot.

Moanalua Saddle

Moanalua Saddle

Aileen climbing up one of the last eroded sections as the rain showers marched their way towards us.

Ko'olau Summit Ridge Trail (KSRT)

Ko’olau Summit Ridge Trail (KSRT)

Approaching one of the platforms that was used to suspend six antennas across Halawa Valley during WW2. Each antenna spanned 6,955′ and was suspended 1,968′ above the valley floor. Quite an engineering feat back in the day.

KSRT

KSRT

Wondering if the grass is greener on the other side of the stairs.

KSRT

KSRT

Hazing ritual.

KSRT

KSRT

The rusted stairs soon ended and the rain showers finally made their appearance.

CCL Building

CCL Building

Haig on top of the building that will still be here after the stairs are long gone.

CCL Building

CCL Building

What every girl wants on her birthday. Chocolate? Flowers? Jewelry? Nope. A stick of butter. Happy Birthday Aida! While we took shelter from the cold and driving rain outside, muted mutterings about bailing began to circulate. Optimism still ran high with some in the group.

Stairway to Heaven

Stairway to Heaven

Dear hikers, can you hear the wind blow?
And did you know
Your stairway lies on the last gasps?

KSRT

KSRT

The weather soon cleared and we all agreed to push to the next saddle. We still have enough daylight. Right?

KSRT

KSRT

Dropping down the ridge to the defunct radar tower.

KSRT

KSRT

Sit not stand.

KSRT

KSRT

Akira climbing up for some elevation change.

KSRT

KSRT

I am high high!

KSRT

KSRT

Passing the transmission tower lines as we made our way up the rutted trail with panoramic Windward views to our back.

Tripler Summit

Tripler Summit

Brief break at the 2,760′ grassy peak. Is that the way down to the valley in the back of us?

KSRT

KSRT

We left the summit and continued our hike on the ridge as the winds that we thought we left behind us returned with renewed gusts.

KSRT

KSRT

Ferlino would climb it! I guess peer pressure only works so far.

Bowman Summit

Bowman Summit

Group photo with the obstructed Leeward background at the 2,740′ peak.

KSRT

KSRT

The birthday girl about to drop down into the saddle.

Kalihi Saddle

Kalihi Saddle

Butt scooting our way down the crumbly ridge line.

Kalihi Saddle

Kalihi Saddle

Robin climbing over the bulging rock.

Kalihi Saddle

Kalihi Saddle

Bottleneck as everybody was taking their time to traverse …

Slippery Slope

Slippery Slope

… around this soft patch of dirt.

Dirty Slide

Dirty Slide

Just missing the lasso.

Dirty Slide

Dirty Slide

Chris shadowing Aida on her way down.

Dirty Slide

Dirty Slide

Maybe should change the name to Grassy Slide.

Broken Wave

Broken Wave

Stay in your lane. Deja vu.

Broken Wave

Broken Wave

Haig walking it down.

Free Fall

Free Fall

Aida climbing her way down the constantly changing character of the saddle.

Rock Triangle #1

Rock Triangle #1

Clear? NOT YET!

Rock Triangle #2

Rock Triangle #2

Robin navigating her way through the severely eroded section on the Leeward side.

Rock Triangle #2

Rock Triangle #2

Akira going over the edge.

Rock Triangle #2

Rock Triangle #2

I had my fill of rocks being rained down in my direction.

Hot Wheel Tracks

Hot Wheel Tracks

Going down on the denuded and eroded stretch. I had wanted to make Witch’s Hat before sundown. I also wanted to play in the NBA. Dashed dreams.

Kalihi Saddle

Kalihi Saddle

The city lights below us started turning on. Time to get our headlamps ready.

Rock Triangle #2

Rock Triangle #2

Climbing down the Windward side, my headlamp started to flash which meant it was slowly losing illumination. I could barely see going down but was assisted by the bright light of CB’s lamp down below.

Rock Triangle #2

Rock Triangle #2

CB guiding the rest of the group down.

Tabletop

Tabletop

Driving rain pelted us as we went down the jumbled slabs of rocks.

Kalihi Saddle

Kalihi Saddle

High winds and the darkness kept us on all fours most of the time on the ridge.

Kalihi Saddle

Kalihi Saddle

City lights on the left and trees on the right.

Kalihi Saddle

Kalihi Saddle

Are those people up there in the mountains?

Hump

Hump

Scooting our way over the irregular rounded rockface.

Kalihi Saddle

Kalihi Saddle

We could see the conical shaped rockface. We are close to the end!

Witch's Hat

Witch’s Hat

It would have been a lot easier for some if they had a broomstick to fly up instead of climbing up.

Witch's Hat

Witch’s Hat

Going down the backside.

Powerlines Trail

Powerlines Trail

Getting out of the wind and off the ridge and down to the valley floor. What a relief!

All pau

All pau

A big shout out and hearty appreciation to Agnes and Tessa who waited for us way past their bedtime and brought us drinks and food. Props to the group for helping everybody come out safely in the dark and keeping it together.

GPS Tracks

GPS Tracks

Our unforgettable saddle hike covered 7.98 miles through high winds, rain and darkness with a solid group that was there for each other. The constant peppering of our faces with wind blown volcanic dirt left our ears fertile ground and bloodshot eyes.

Photos taken by Aida Gordon, Aileen Agustin, Akira Suzuki, Chico Cantu, Chris Bautista, Haig Van Roubian, Robin Farr, and yours truly. Not necessarily in order.

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. One should also always let somebody know of your hiking plans in case something doesn’t go as planned, better safe than sorry.

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{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }

Aida Gordon February 8, 2024 at 8:38 am

Nice combo of witty remarks and historical facts! This one is another one for the books! But then again, we have been pushing boundaries since January 1. What is that saying about doing something on New Year’s Day, you’ll be doing it the rest of the year? Lol. Thank you for such an unforgettable birthday hike!

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kenji SAITO February 11, 2024 at 4:54 pm

Aloha Aida,
Thanks, but I don’t want to go in the books for these type of unplanned hikes. lol. But I’m glad we all came out safe and everybody had a good time, depends on ones definition of a good time. lol.
Mahalo

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