Pali Puka to Likelike Highway

by kenji SAITO on April 1, 2018

Hiking Pali Puka to Likelike Highway

Met up with Lopaka and Sean at the Pali Lookout, Chris was running fashionably late.

Trailhead

Trailhead

Catching the breaking sunrise over the mountains, filtered by the clouds. No morning woody spotted.

Trail

Trail

We caught up with a couple that was on their way to the popular hole in the mountain. We talked story with them until Chris caught up with us.

Pali Puka

Pali Puka

Hello from the other side. Group photo left to right: Sean, myself, Chris and Lopaka.

Slippery when wet

Slippery when wet

Making our way up the steep flank cobbled with stones of varying degrees of traction.

Nu'uanu Saddle

Nu’uanu Saddle

Looking ahead to the imposing mountain top that the Hawaiians called “Swirling Heavens.”

Nu'uanu Saddle

Nu’uanu Saddle

Time to mix cardio and climbing together on this crumbly ridge.

Pu'u Suicido

Pu’u Suicido

Silhouetted shadows providing temporary shade to Sean. Photo by Chris Bautista.

Incisor Rock

Incisor Rock

Sean swinging his way up and around the toothy rock.

Ko'olau Summit Ridge Trail (KSRT)

Ko’olau Summit Ridge Trail (KSRT)

Hiking on the ridge line with the sun on our backs and the trade winds in our faces, or at least that’s the way I would like to have remembered the day.

KSRT

KSRT

Somebody soon found themselves between a rock and a hard place. They chose wisely.

Donkey Kong

Donkey Kong

Scrambling our way towards the most recognizable of the rock formations populating the ridge line.

Nu'uanu Saddle

Nu’uanu Saddle

Looking back at the unusually clear summit of Konahuanui, the highest peak on the Ko’olau Mountain Range.

Nu'uanu Reservoir

Nu’uanu Reservoir

Lopaka taking the “high road” coming down the side of the hill. What’s life without a challenge thrown your way every now and then? I believe it’s called character building or something that’s not fit to print.

W

W

Contouring and climbing our way over the triple diked formation.

Steeple

Steeple

Standing and sitting high above the clouds or so it seems.

Anvil

Anvil

Dropping off the ridge line to contour around the badly eroded “lost puka of the pali.” Photo by Chris Bautista.

KSRT

KSRT

Back on the ridge line.

KSRT

KSRT

Looking ahead to Pu’u Lanihuli that had clouds seemingly swirling towards her summit. Living up to her name.

Lanihuli

Lanihuli

Laying eggs is hard work, as one needs a solid nap to recover. Photo by Sean Bingham.

KSRT

KSRT

Leaving the 2,700′ summit as the day was still young and the breathing still labored.

Heaven

Heaven

One particular mountain top was swirling in heavenly clouds. Quite the sight.

KSRT

KSRT

Making our way down from the mountain.

Dirt Dragon

Dirt Dragon

I knew I had one more in me. Just had to push it out. Photo by Lopaka Hipperson.

Kalihi Saddle

Kalihi Saddle

Looking ahead to the ridge line that dominates Windward commuter driving.

Lanihuli Wall

Lanihuli Wall

See you at the bottom.

Lanihuli Wall

Lanihuli Wall

Making our way down the steep, grassy flank. Photo by Chris Bautista

Lanihuli Wall

Lanihuli Wall

One more drop to go. Photo by Sean Bingham

Contour

Contour

Lopaka making his way back to the ridge line.

Got eggs?

Got eggs?

Happy Easter from Kalihi Saddle.

Can Opener

Can Opener

Leaving the base of the Can Opener, where it looked like a huge chunk of rock is about to take a tumble from the mountain.

Kalihi Saddle

Kalihi Saddle

Time to get in some more climbing time. Photo by Chris Bautista.

Pimple

Pimple

Lopaka contouring around the naked rock after he popped the pimple.

Doorstop

Doorstop

Climbing up the wedge shaped rock. Photo by Chris Bautista.

Bunny Ears

Bunny Ears

Looking for the Easter Bunny. In all the wrong places. Photo by Sean Bingham.

Kalihi Saddle

Kalihi Saddle

Sometimes, you just have to stop on the saddle and check out the views.

Shark's Fin

Shark’s Fin

Climbing down from the triangular shaped rock.

KSRT

KSRT

Almost there. Photo by Sean Bingham

Kalihi Saddle

Kalihi Saddle

Panoramic view of the ridge line and the Windward coast.

Powerlines

Powerlines

Our last group photo before dropping down into the valley of miniature macropods.

All pau

All pau

Tee time anybody? Thanks to Jasmin for picking us up from our hike. Fun hike with a great bunch of guys. Post hike meal at Lilihia Bakery. Forget the baked goods, we came for some butt swishing soup. Well, some of us did.

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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