Poamoho to Manana

by kenji SAITO on December 12, 2020

Hiking Poamoho to Manana

Team BASK had its rare meet up in the mountains this weekend. Photo by Chris Bautista.

Trailhead

Trailhead

Mahalo to Edgar for driving Analyn, Bill, Shirley and myself up the bumpy jeep road. No cows sighted this time around.

Poamoho Trail

Poamoho Trail

Passing through the barriers that filtered only two legged hikers onto the trail.

Poamoho Trail

Poamoho Trail

Heading into the gulch with a trickle that was barely passable as a stream.

Poamoho Trail

Poamoho Trail

Isolated pockets of still flowering lobelia punctuated the trail on our approach to the windswept grassy hump.

Poamoho Summit

Poamoho Summit

Group photo at the 2,520′ summit, where I also discovered one of my slippers had popped out of my backpack. Not again.

Poamoho Summit

Poamoho Summit

The views did not disappoint as did the winds. It was blowing hard at the summit.

Ko'olau Summit Trail (KST)

Ko’olau Summit Trail (KST)

Sheltered from the winds as we made our way on the Leeward side of the trail.

Poamoho Cabin

Poamoho Cabin

We ran into a group of bullfrog hunters that were staying at the cabin, where we topped out our bladders and bottles, left a cupcake surprise for the birthday girl and alerted Tessa and company of the situation. Photos and facetiming slowly convinced her of the impending cabin conflict.

KST

KST

Back on the fenced trail.

KST

KST

Analyn hiking out on what I like to call the “runway.” The runway to spectacular scenic views second to none.

KST

KST

Looking back at the trail cut into the side of the mountain. Photo by Shirley Gloriani.

Pauao Junction

Pauao Junction

The overgrown trail that goes down into Kahana Valley.

KST

KST

Our pic … Photo by Analyn Baliscao.

KST

KST

… for your pic. Photo by Shirley Gloriani.

KST

KST

Hugging the side of the cliff as the winds were really gusting hard in the mountains today.

KST

KST

The winds were so loud that it drowned out YawYaw#2, no small feat I can tell you.

KST

KST

Even the endangered Ko’olau Goose was being battered and stripped of its feathers. Photo by Analyn Baliscao.

KST

KST

Analyn approaching the junction.

Schofield-Waikane Junction

Schofield-Waikane Junction

Group photo at what is arguably the superior viewpoint of the valleys below us.

KST

KST

Brushing past one of many loulu palm trees that dotted the trail.

KST

KST

Making our way over the uneven terrain towards the split in the trail.

Waikane-Waiahole Junction

Waikane-Waiahole Junction

Blink and you’ll miss it.

KST

KST

Traversing the now well-trodden landslide.

KST

KST

Looking out into the rugged landscape.

KST

KST

Wait, why are we doing this section again? After some of us said one and done?

KST

KST

Bill was doing some kind of obscene dance over Shirley as she was tying her shoes. It’s okay, they’re engaged.

KST

KST

Analyn rounding the bend in the trail.

KST

KST

Following the fenced line down towards the first clumping of sugi pine trees.

Tree of Life

Tree of Life

Group photo with the horizontal pine tree. I should work on my camera angles.

Tree of Life

Tree of Life

Climbing our way out of the meadows as the winds tried to push us back.

Selfie Stick Junction

Selfie Stick Junction

Might as well make myself comfortable as we’ll be stuck here for quite awhile.

KST

KST

Passing through the notch as we dropped into the grove of Japanese Sugi pine trees.

Camp Rusty

Camp Rusty

Three tents made the campsite more comfortable.

Camp Tessa

Camp Tessa

Meanwhile back at the cabin, Tessa and her group had somehow convinced the other group to camp outside. They partied the night away with my missing slipper that was recovered by Jenn. Happy Birthday YawYaw #3.

Camp Rusty

Camp Rusty

We woke up after a night of intermittent rain showers to stunning morning views. Chris had already left the cabin with the snoozing and snoring group in the dark to catch up with us.

KST

KST

Climbing out of our campsite as we approached our first of many hills for the day.

KST

KST

Looking back at the Windward valleys populated with ridges and peaks. Photo by Bill Yogi.

KST

KST

Climbing up the steep hill was our morning wake up call.

Kipapa Summit

Kipapa Summit

Where tomato becomes tomatoe.

Ko'olau Summit Ridge Trail (KSRT)

Ko’olau Summit Ridge Trail (KSRT)

The trail soon followed the summit crest rather than contouring and meandering in the mountains.

KSRT

KSRT

Bill traversing the summit trail with Windward and Leeward views on both sides.

KSRT

KSRT

Getting your head out of somebody’s else arse is a lot easier than your own. Photo by Shirley Gloriani.

KSRT

KSRT

Approaching the gap, which has seemingly lost its cardio bite over the repeated visits.

Waiawa Gap

Waiawa Gap

Dropping down the thickly vegetated saddle.

Waiawa Gap

Waiawa Gap

Approaching the middle of the gap, where we all buttoned up in anticipation of the onslaught of female honey bees with their barbed stingers.

Waiawa Gap

Waiawa Gap

We all survived the non-existent bee attack.

KSRT

KSRT

Shaka to the sky.

KSRT

KSRT

The random window openings were always a treat for our eyes. Photo by Shirley Gloriani.

KSRT

KSRT

The goat soon caught up with us. Somewhere around this spot, I found a free drone that I had to give back to its rightful owner at the end of the hike. Photo by Chris Bautista.

KSRT

KSRT

Everybody had their own opinion on this trail section, some more obscenely than others. Photo by Shirley Gloriani.

Never say Never

Never say Never

Team BASK on their last group photo on this section, as three vowed never to set foot on this route again. Photo by Chris Bautista.

Corner

Corner

Dropping off the ridge to look for much needed water. Photo by Shirley Gloriani.

Corner

Corner

The lower creek was running dry, so we followed the creek to its source where we found enough standing water to filter and fill our bottles and bladders.

Corner

Corner

Life in the creek, some were more active than others.

Corner

Corner

We left the cloud soaked meadow with our packs a little heavier from the mountain water.

KSRT

KSRT

There is always time for another photo. And another. And another. To be continued. Photo by Shirley Gloriani.

KSRT

KSRT

Chris making his way to the last summit of the day.

KSRT

KSRT

Are we there yet? Are we here?

Manana Summit

Manana Summit

The champagne got turned on myself as this hike marked my 11th completion of the KST.

Manana Summit

Manana Summit

Drone photo by Bill Yogi of our group at the 2,660′ knob.

Manana Trail

Manana Trail

Leaving the summit for the 5.5 mile ungraded trail or as Shirley calls it, the b*tch trail.

Manana Trail

Manana Trail

Analyn making her way down from the top.

Manana Trail

Manana Trail

Somewhere in the mountains, it was hump day. We were smack dab in the middle of it.

Manana Trail

Manana Trail

Approaching the helipad where Aida had hiked up to meet us. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Manana Trail

Manana Trail

Thanks to Aida for bringing me a frozen bottle of carbonated goodness. But first, Analyn didn’t let any of the overflow go to waste. Good until the last drop.

Manana Trail

Manana Trail

Group photo, left to right: Aida, Chris, myself, Shirley, Bill and Analyn. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Manana Trail

Manana Trail

Contact with the fence line. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Manana Trail

Manana Trail

Looking back as we closed the gate on hump day ad nauseam. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Manana Trail

Manana Trail

Analyn going down one of the steeper sections with the help of a rope.

Manana Trail

Manana Trail

Walking through the grassy fields as we approached the picnic shelter. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Nature Walk

Nature Walk

Taking pictures as it will last longer. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Manana Trail

Manana Trail

Analyn crossing over the eroded section of the trail. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Scared Stoopid

Scared Stoopid

Only one was scared, the others were either too tired or saw the terrifying group of Lilyn, Quan, and Tessa before they could spring their surprise scare.

Champagne Celebration

Champagne Celebration

Another bottle of perfectly good alcohol going to waste. Photo by Aida Gordon.

All pau

All pau

Walking out the road to our cars.

GPS Tracks

GPS Tracks

Our camping hike covered 18 miles through the Northern Ko’olau Mountains with good friends and fun company. Looking forward to the next Team BASK reunion, which will probably be in six months to a year. LOL. Post hike meal at Outback Steakhouse. Clam chowder was finally back on the menu. It’s the small things that counts. Thanks to Quan for dropping Analyn and myself off in Mililani where we had parked our cars.

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.

Leave a Comment

{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }

Aida Gordon January 6, 2021 at 1:07 pm

Great write-up as always! The views on that KST section are beautiful! First time for me to try hiking alone on Manana but it was a good experience. Thanks to Tessa for bringing refreshments! Until the next one!

Reply

kenji SAITO January 7, 2021 at 6:12 am

Aloha Aida,
Thanks and mahalo for meeting us up on the ridge with a coke in hand!
Mahalo

Reply

Wahinee01 January 9, 2021 at 11:20 am

Always looking forward to read the funny captions. Hahaha. Much mahalo for the bday cupcake. I kept the homemade bday card lol. At least we made some friends at the cabin, and the bday girl always get what she wants. ( the cabin, at least for that day, anyways lol ) See you on next adventures Kenji!
Aloha!!

Reply

kenji SAITO January 9, 2021 at 2:33 pm

Aloha Tessa,
Thanks. Friendships made with booze and organic substances. Lifelong connections. LOL. See you on the next one!
Mahalo

Reply

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