Pali Notches to Kalawahine Trail

by kenji SAITO on September 17, 2017

Hiking Pali Notches to Kalawahine Trail

Picking up the trail from last week; met up with Ani, Analyn, Chris and Ferlino at the blustery Pali Lookout.

Trail

Trail

Ready … 1,2,3 … Push. Wait, I’m not ready! Photo by Ferlino Carinio.

Trail

Trail

Ferlino climbing up the short and steep hill from the lookout.

Trail

Trail

Catching a view. Photo by Ani Lagpacan.

Pali Notches

Pali Notches

Ani making her way down the first notch.

Pali Notches

Pali Notches

Chris climbing down the second man-made notch.

Nipple

Nipple

Some took the high road … Photo by Ani Lagpacan.

Nipple

Nipple

… others took the low road. Photo by Ani Lagpacan.

Chimney

Chimney

The winds were slamming the ridge as Ani watched Chris make his way up. Pay close attention as there will be a test later on. Climbing test. Photo by Ferlino Carinio.

Chimney

Chimney

Try and try again was the theme for today. Good job Ani.

Chimney

Chimney

Everybody wanted to warm up the Chimney. Saw a couple guys loitering around the base of the nipple looking at the rotating chimney seat. They soon turned around. Sorry guys. Photo by Chris Bautista.

Trail

Trail

Photo shoots are over, let’s get back to hiking. Photo by Ani Lagpacan.

Contour

Contour

Contouring and climbing up on the thin ledge of loosely packed dirt. Photo by Ani Lagpacan.

Trail

Trail

Ani making her way up the last section of crumbly rocks.

Trail

Trail

Up, up and away on the ridge line. Photo by Ani Lagpacan.

Trail

Trail

Looking back at the group making their way along the ridge with stunning mountain and ocean views.

Trail

Trail

Fragrant, invasive yellow ginger flowers overlooking the mountain and valley views. Photo by Ferlino Carinio.

Mud Wall

Mud Wall

Analyn coming up none the worse for wear.

Trail

Trail

Passing the Piliwale Junction on the way to the summit.

Konahuanui Summit

Konahuanui Summit

Coca Cola. Sardines. Balut. Kankanen. The basic four food groups for hikers.

Konahuanui Summit

Konahuanui Summit

Alberto’s group had raced up to the summit to catch up with us. Group photo left to right: Rick, Alberto, Ani, Zach, Analyn, myself, Captain America, Chris and Ferlino.

K2

K2

Still looking for the geodetic marker for K1. Photo by Ferlino Carinio.

Trail

Trail

Analyn making her way down the steeply rutted trail from K2. Photo by Ani Lagpacan.

Trail

Trail

The ridge soon leveled off and we found ourselves strolling through fields of bamboo orchid flowers. Flower children at play. Somebody also kept losing their boonie hat.

Trail

Trail

Get out of the way. She’s gonna fall! Photo by Ferlino Carinio.

Trail

Trail

Ferlino showing us how it’s done. Photo by Analyn Baliscao.

Trail

Trail

Watching Alberto’s group going down Lulumahu Ridge to rappel Waipulani Falls.

Trail

Trail

Looking down into Manoa with her thick canopied forest and densely urbanized valley.

Trail

Trail

Instead of taking the trail that winded down the ridge, we decided to go up the higher ridge that was recently cleared by another hiking group.

Trail

Trail

Looking back at the twin testicles and wondering about Ani’s “friend.”

Trail

Trail

Strawberry guavas for the picking as we dropped off the ridge.

Trail

Trail

I always wondered where this trail went. Now I know the rest of the story.

Nu'uanu Valley Overlook

Nu’uanu Valley Overlook

Honorary Filipino … by sweat and jacket … Salamat. No, you can’t have the jacket Ani until you eat that balut. Photo by Ferlino Carinio.

Nu'uanu Valley Overlook

Nu’uanu Valley Overlook

The 1,600′ lookout was getting crowded when this guy strolled up playing his ukulele. Live music on the mountains.

Pauoa Trail

Pauoa Flats Trail

Chris going through the bamboo forested trail.

Pauoa Flats Trail

Pauoa Flats Trail

Walking on the boardwalk.

Pauoa Flats Trail

Pauoa Flats Trail

Hanging. Upside down. Photo by Analyn Baliscao.

Junction

Junction

We got off the remaining boardwalk and turned right at the junction.

Kalawahine Trail

Kalawahine Trail

Tree branches growing from a cut stump in the shadow of a fallen tree.

Kalawahine Trail

Kalawahine Trail

Church service in the mountains. Every Sunday.

Kalawahine Trail

Kalawahine Trail

Just hanging out and sitting around.

Kalawahine Trail

Kalawahine Trail

Analyn checking out from the hunter check in station.

All pau

All pau

We popped out of the trail near the top of Tantalus. Thanks to Ferlino’s son-in-law, RJ for driving us back to the Pali Lookout.

GPS Tracks

GPS Tracks

Our windy hike covered 4.45 miles through saddles, ridges and valleys. Great hike with a fun group. Post hike meal at Chao Phya Thai. The salmon melted in our mouths. The complimentary chocolate mousse in a spoon was on spot. Thanks Ferlino for the delish meal.

Note: I have been made aware the 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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{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }

Ferlino December 6, 2018 at 1:27 pm

Thank you. Such a beautiful hike and awesome pictures.

Reply

kenji SAITO December 6, 2018 at 10:23 pm

Aloha Ferlino,
You’re welcome, that was an awesome hike!
Mahalo

Reply

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