Moanalua Saddle to Red Hill

My journey to traverse the Ko’olau Mountain Range began with a saddle and fittingly ended with another saddle today. I had no intentions of completing the entire Ko’olau Mountain Range when I first started hiking, it was just to get out and hit the trails. That all changed after one of our hikes, when the topic turned to connecting and finishing all the trails that made up the Ko’olau Mountains, the idea was then planted in my head and thus began my journey that ended today. Much appreciation and thanks to all my fellow hikers that have showed me new trails, shared advice, and kept me company in the mountains.

Head count?

This being a social hike, it was a chance to see old friends and make new friends. Our group of 19 hikers pushed off the Kamananui Valley Road in Moanalua Valley to begin our hike. It was surprising that we had the trail to ourselves on a Saturday morning.

Bridges and streams

There are seven bridges that once made up the carriage road that led to the Damon Estate tucked deep in the valley. No carriages for our dogs, just boots and sneakers.

Overloaded?

I must have missed a bridge. Group photo left to right: Chris C, Randy, Jose, Marvin, Troy, John, Bob, Lyzel, Ahnate, Kelly, Chance, Nani, Donald, Chris H, Ryan, Brian, Shane and Art. The rest of the road alternated between semi-dry to muddy.

Kulana’ahane Trail

Group photo at the Kulana’ahane Trailhead left to right, standing: Chris H, Art, Brian, Ahnate, Kelly, Lyzel, Bob, Donald, Randy, Shane, John, Jose and Chris C. Sitting, left to right: Chance, Ryan, myself, Nani, Marvin and Troy. All accounted for.

More steam crossings ahead

Headed into the valley. There are supposed to be over two dozen stream crossings. I didn’t keep count.

Rain gauge station

Somebody tagged the outhouse! Taggers and Litterbuggers beware! Night marchers are known to frequent hiking trails, even during the daytime. Please show respect by following three simple rules: Leave nothing but footprints (maybe webbing on sketchy sections). Take nothing but photos (okay the occasional banana or dragonfruit). Kill nothing but time (maybe the invasive flora and fauna).

Follow the signs and streams

The trail was well defined with signs and ribbons, hard to get lost on this trail.

Hau trees

Groves of hau trees, if not checked, can form an near impenetrable barrier. In the old days, Hawaiians needed the permission of the village chief to cut these tree branches.

Going upstream

The trail followed Kamananui stream as it meandered its way through the valley.

Watering hole

Taking a break before our climb up the mountain. Nobody wanted to jump into the pool today. Photo by Chris Hiona.

Unmaintained trail

Despite the sign, the trail looked remarkably maintained.

Short but steep

Nothing like a nice little cardio workout in the morning.

Dry chute

No raging waterfall today. Photo by Chris Chun.

Moanalua Valley

Looking back into the valley, to see how far we had come. Photo by Nani Dee.

Moanalua Saddle

Topping out in the middle of the saddle at 1,680′ elevation.

Haiku Valley

Click here for the larger image of Haiku Valley. The H-3 was unusually empty, due to Honolulu bound lanes closed for the weekend. Photo by Marvin Chandra.

Saddle crew

Group photo left to right, standing: Art, Nani, Randy, Donald, Chris H, Ryan, Shane, Chance, Jose and Chris C. Left to right, sitting: Lyzel, myself, Brian, Bob, Marvin, John, Kelly, Ahnate and Troy.

Not coming?

Chance and Chris decided to return back down into the valley, reducing our group to 17 hikers.

Now the fun begins

We turned left towards Red Hill to begin our climb out of the saddle.

Skinny ridge

What would a saddle hike be without skinny ridges?

A little crumbly

Troy, Marvin and John coming down a crumbly section of the saddle. Photo by Art Millan.

Leeward side contour

The trail largely contoured to the Leeward side, avoiding the steep Windward drops.

Can you see the CCL building?

Looking towards the “better half” of Moanalua Saddle. Photo by Nani Dee.

Exposed rocks

The group scrambling over an exposed and rocky section of the saddle.

Hello?

Who are you calling?

Hello?

Oh me? Too funny. Photo by Nani Dee.

Overgrown

Heavy overgrowth marked this saddle section.

So close, yet so far

At the washed out section of the saddle, Marvin’s leg locked up. Continuing the climb was now out of the question.

Decisions

After discussing options; Marvin decided to head back down, with Randy and Nani keeping him company. Better safe than sorry. Photo by John Garrity.

Last steep climb

Climbing the last steep section. Photo by Art Millan.

Almost there

The rest of the trail slightly sloped as we made our way to Red Hill.

Red Hill summit

We were at the summit of Red Hill before we even knew it. It was that quick.

All the dots are connected

My Ko’olau journey was now complete. Cheehoo! Photo by Bob Tyson.

Going down Red Hill Ridge

The group making their way up and down the roller coasting Red Hill Ridge.

Ridges everywhere

Halawa and Aiea ridges sandwiching the H-3 to our right. Photo by Chris Chun.

Lyzel in a tree

Lyzel taking a break up in the trees.

Godek-Jaskulski Trail

Troy and Bob going down the spur ridge known as the Godek-Jaskulski trail, which drops down into Moanalua Valley.

Laundry day

Who brings a hangar on a hike? Lyzel, that’s who. Photo by Lyzel.

Back on the trail

Out of the original group of 19 hikers, 14 of us completed the loop. Only three miles left back to our cars.

Happy Birthday Bob!

Today Bob turned 65. Still kicking and hitting the trails, hope I’m that active when I get to be his age. He was also passing out ice cold beer like there was no tomorrow. Group photo left to right, top: Ahnate, Troy, Chris H, Chance, myself, Lyzel, Chris C, Donald, Marvin, Randy and Nani. Left to right, bottom: Shane, Bob, John, Kelly, Art, Ryan, Jose and Brian.

GPS Tracks

The 9.7 mile hike was my last segment needed to complete the Ko’olaus. Thanks to everybody that came out and kept me company. If I had to do it over again, I would do longer crossovers on the KST. Going up and down the long ridges to the KST, takes a lot of time and energy. After the hike, 13 of us hungry hikers descended onto Old Spaghetti Factory and replenished our liquids and carbs! Keep up waiter! LOL.

Ko’olau Journey

Click here for the larger image of my section hikes across the Ko’olaus. Map by Marvin Chandra.

Tagged as: godek-jaskulski trail, kamananui stream, kamananui valley road, koolau summit ridge trail, koolau summit trail, ksrt, kst, kulana'ahane trail, moanalua saddle, moanalua valley, red hill