Ohikilolo Valley to Peacock Flats

by kenji SAITO on March 8, 2020

Hiking Ohikilolo Valley to Peacock Flats

It was time to spend another anniversary on this particular mountain. Aida dropped off Katie and Lilyn at the trailhead, who had her knife at the ready in case any trouble appeared. Thanks to Janell for driving Aida, Quan, Tessa and myself to the trail head.

Our Lady of Kea'au

Our Lady of Kea’au

Luckily the gate was open early in the morning, so we didn’t have to separate the group.

The Shack

The Shack

How many people can you fit in a cacti covered shack? Apparently just one.

Ohikilolo Valley

Ohikilolo Valley

Going up the jeep road with our 2×2 legs.

Ohikilolo Valley

Ohikilolo Valley

Plunging into the forest and following the fence line for the most part, where we attracted the unwanted sticky burrs to our clothes.

Tree Stand

Tree Stand

The only game seen today were two legged hikers.

Ohikilolo Valley

Ohikilolo Valley

Climbing over the fence to connect to the spur ridge that would lead us out of the valley floor.

Ohikilolo Valley

Ohikilolo Valley

Leaving the relatively flat ground for steeper and rockier pastures. Photo by Lilyn Avendano.

Ohikilolo Valley

Ohikilolo Valley

Are we having fun yet? Perhaps, I should ask that question later. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Ohikilolo Valley

Ohikilolo Valley

Climbing up the ridge. Photo by Katie Bingham.

Ohikilolo Valley

Ohikilolo Valley

Lilyn and Tessa cresting over one of the humps on the ridge. Photo by Quan Haberstroh.

Ohikilolo Valley

Ohikilolo Valley

Strike a pose. Yoga pose. Photo by Quan Haberstroh.

Ohikilolo Valley

Ohikilolo Valley

The girls checking out each other’s gluteus maximus muscles.

Ohikilolo Valley

Ohikilolo Valley

I think I need to work on mines. Photo by Lilyn Avendano.

Ohikilolo Valley

Ohikilolo Valley

Janell scrambling her way up the dry grassy ridge. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

Ohikilolo Valley

Ohikilolo Valley

Enjoying their personal space this time around. Photo by Quan Haberstroh.

Ohikilolo Valley

Ohikilolo Valley

The group climbing up one of the exposed dikes on the ridge. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

Ohikilolo Valley

Ohikilolo Valley

Katie climbing her way up.

Ohikilolo Valley

Ohikilolo Valley

To climb or not to climb? Rhetorical question. Photo by Katie Bingham.

Ohikilolo Valley

Ohikilolo Valley

Contouring and climbing our way up.

Ohikilolo Valley

Ohikilolo Valley

The group climbing their way up the ridge that was populated with exposed rocks. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

Ohikilolo Valley

Ohikilolo Valley

Bird’s eye view. Photo by Katie Bingham.

Ohikilolo Valley

Ohikilolo Valley

Tessa didn’t want to wait in the climbing queue and went up her own way. The hard way.

Ohikilolo Valley

Ohikilolo Valley

Quan still having fun. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

Ohikilolo Ridge

Ohikilolo Ridge

Katie gaining the fenced ridge line. No stuck goats to be seen or heard.

Ohikilolo Ridge

Ohikilolo Ridge

Aida looking ahead to the fenced ridge line. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

Ohikilolo Ridge

Ohikilolo Ridge

Tessa climbing the fence for a better view or a better shot? Photo by Aida Gordon.

Ohikilolo Ridge

Ohikilolo Ridge

The sun came out to play that was accompanied by brisk winds. Photo by Katie Bingham.

Fence Hammock

Fence Hammock

Surprisingly comfortable. Photo by Lilyn Avendano.

Ohikilolo Ridge

Ohikilolo Ridge

Lilyn leaning over into Makua Valley. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

Ohikilolo Ridge

Ohikilolo Ridge

Approaching the helipad. Photo by Lilyn Avendano.

Helipad

Helipad

Group photo left to right: Tessa, Janell, Quan, Lilyn, Katie, myself and Aida.

Ohikilolo Ridge

Ohikilolo Ridge

Traversing the exposed and eroded ridge line.

Ohikilolo Ridge

Ohikilolo Ridge

Not everybody wanted to use the webbing. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

Ohikilolo Ridge

Ohikilolo Ridge

Our arms were getting quite the workout today.

Ohikilolo Ridge

Ohikilolo Ridge

Approaching the forested area that was interrupted by a washed out and weathered section of the ridge before the cabin. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

Ohikilolo Cabin

Ohikilolo Cabin

Katie stumping for views.

Ohikilolo Cabin

Ohikilolo Cabin

Snack break. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

Ohikilolo Cabin

Ohikilolo Cabin

You can knock, but you can’t come in.

Ohikilolo Outhouse

Ohikilolo Outhouse

Call the Governor, the TP shortage is over. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

Ohikilolo Outhouse

Ohikilolo Outhouse

When you got to go, you got to go.

Ohikilolo Ridge

Ohikilolo Ridge

Tessa on the edge looking towards the distinctive triangle peak of Ohikilolo. Photo by Lilyn Avendano.

Ohikilolo Ridge

Ohikilolo Ridge

Leaving the cabin and outhouse behind us. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Ohikilolo Summit

Ohikilolo Summit

Climbing to the top of the pyramid peak. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

Ohikilolo Summit

Ohikilolo Summit

Group photo at the 3,052′ top with sweeping views of the Waianae Mountains, Ridges and Valleys. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Ohikilolo Summit

Ohikilolo Summit

Scooting our way down the backside of the peak. Photo by Lilyn Avendano.

Ohikilolo Summit

Ohikilolo Summit

The rest of the girls headed back down to the valley floor, where they enjoyed some extra time exploring the forest and covered with more sticky burrs.

Ohikilolo Summit

Ohikilolo Summit

Most of us came down with our backpacks while somebody just rolled hers down the hill, including her hair pin.

Ohikilolo Ridge

Ohikilolo Ridge

Fences for daze. Photo by Katie Bingham.

Ohikilolo Ridge

Ohikilolo Ridge

Hello from the other side. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Ohikilolo Ridge

Ohikilolo Ridge

Following the fence line. The theme for the day.

Ohikilolo Ridge

Ohikilolo Ridge

Straddling a very crumbly dragon. Photo by Katie Bingham.

Martians

Martians

I don’t think potatoes can be planted here. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

Ohikilolo Ridge

Ohikilolo Ridge

We could still see the cabin in the distance. Photo by Lilyn Avendano.

Ohikilolo Ridge

Ohikilolo Ridge

The girls getting some air time.

Ohikilolo Ridge

Ohikilolo Ridge

Trying my best not to get a groin injury. Photo by Katie Bingham.

Ohikilolo Ridge

Ohikilolo Ridge

Lilyn stepping on the dragon. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

Ohikilolo Ridge

Ohikilolo Ridge

Climbing my way down. Photo by Katie Bingham.

Ohikilolo Ridge

Ohikilolo Ridge

The colorful girls descending the steep stretch of the ridge equidistantly.

Ohikilolo Ridge

Ohikilolo Ridge

Scenic views all around. Photo by Katie Bingham.

Ohikilolo Ridge

Ohikilolo Ridge

Katie contouring her way down the ridge.

Ohikilolo Ridge

Ohikilolo Ridge

When the fence becomes a ladder. Photo by Katie Bingham.

Ohikilolo Ridge

Ohikilolo Ridge

Hanging onto the fence line as we followed the ridge line that gained and dropped elevation on the way.

Ohikilolo Ridge

Ohikilolo Ridge

Making our way down to the section where a giant boulder interrupts the fence line. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

Ohikilolo Ridge

Ohikilolo Ridge

Katie sliding her way around the protruding boulder.

Ropes and Ladder

Ropes and Ladder

Climbing up the last steep section. Photo by Lilyn Avendano.

Ohikilolo Ridge

Ohikilolo Ridge

Lilyn overlooking the valley views. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

Ohikilolo Ridge

Ohikilolo Ridge

The woodland rodent meant that we were within sweating distance of the summit, which was heavily overgrown on the way up.

Three Corners

Three Corners

When your tendons are simply exhausted from grabbing the fence all day.

Three Corners

Three Corners

1, 2, 3. Makaha, Makua, and Mokuleia. All corners accounted for.

Three Corners

Three Corners

Hot lunch in the making. Complete with Vienna sausage. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

Waianae Summit Trail (WST)

Waianae Summit Trail (WST)

Leaving the clear summit as we followed the fence down.

WST

WST

Taking in the somewhat obstructed view of Makua Valley.

Mokuleia Overlook

Mokuleia Overlook

Our last group photo of the day before we came down from the mountains.

Tangelo Tree

Tangelo Tree

The citrus tree was loaded with ripe fruits that were just begging to be picked. Tasty and refreshing trail snacks. The nearby avocado trees were flowering but not fruiting yet.

Mokuleia Trail

Mokuleia Trail

Leaving the short and sweet trail.

Peacock Flats

Peacock Flats

Feminine charm and positive thinking failed to secure us a ride down the road.

Mokuleia Access Road

Mokuleia Access Road

My last climb of the day. Photo by Lilyn Avendano.

Mokuleia Access Road

Mokuleia Access Road

Pounding the pavement on our way down.

Mokuleia Access Road

Mokuleia Access Road

The end of the road and a long day for us.

All pau

All pau

We used our phone lights to flag Quan down, who was nice enough to pick us up and drive us back to our cars. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

GPS Tracks

GPS Tracks

Our 11.1 mile coast to coast hike covered stunning and sweeping scenic views that were filled with fun times and good friends. Post hike meal at Restaurant Kunio where I just missed the last ribeye steak served for the night. Such is my luck.

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.

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{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }

Wahinee01 April 10, 2020 at 9:27 am

Ohhh, what a fun long hike… Thank God my pack/hair clip didn’t rolled down the ridge, or else I’d roll down right after it. Haha
Thank you for everything Kenji. You are our fearless hiking leader.

Reply

kenji SAITO April 10, 2020 at 11:55 am

Aloha Tessa,
Yup that was an amazing adventure that day. Thanks for tagging along.
Mahalo

Reply

Aida Gordon April 11, 2020 at 1:04 am

Great narrative like always! Kinda regret not going all the way but aside from the lack of space, it would have made for a very long day before wfh was institutionalized ;-).

Reply

kenji SAITO April 13, 2020 at 11:41 am

Aloha Aida,
Thanks. Well now you have WFH, so no excuses. lol.
Mahalo

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