Jasmin dropped Ferlino and myself off on the North Shore side for our Sunday exercise. Photo by Art Young.

Trailhead

We were surprised when we saw Aida, Art, Chris and Tessa at the trail. I guess hiking minds think alike.

Crouching Lion Trail

Going up the eroded trail partly shaded by the hala trees.

Crouching Lion Trail

Memorial with a stunning view of Kahana Bay. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Crouching Lion Trail

Panoramic view of the trail as it splits into two destinations. We were going for the farther one.

Pu’u Manamana Trail

Starting our stiff climb up the ridge. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Pu’u Manamana Trail

Tessa climbing up with the backdrop of the Crouching Lion rock formation. Can’t see the feline for the rocks.

Pu’u Manamana Trail

Ferlino perched on a knob with a sweeping view of the remote bay and valley.

Pu’u Manamana Trail

Patiently waiting for the photo shoots to run their course. Photo by Ferlino Carinio.

Pu’u Manamana Trail

The group resuming the hike under scattered cloudy skies. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Pu’u Manamana Trail

Chris traversing the narrow ridge.

Pu’u Manamana Trail

Aida basking on the rocks.

Pu’u Manamana Trail

Waiting for another photo shoot to run its course. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Pu’u Manamana Trail

Ferlino spotting Art as he climbs down a steep rock face. I think we lost the trail runner at this point that was drafting us from the bottom. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Pu’u Manamana Trail

Its always hump day somewhere in the mountains.

Pu’u Manamana Trail

Aida contouring her way through some protruding rock formations. Photo by Art Young.

Pu’u Manamana Trail

Art pushing up the last hill towards the first summit. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Turnover

Group photo left to right: Art, Chris, myself, Ferlino, Tessa and Aida.

True Manamana Trail

Dropping from the 2,027′ summit to hit the uluhe infested trail. Photo by Ferlino Carinio.

True Manamana Trail

Pulling myself out of a uluhe hole. Photo by Aida Gordon.

True Manamana Trail

Looking for the trail as I tried to clear my nasal cavities from the constant infiltration of pollen and dust. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

True Manamana Trail

It pays to have a face mask on this trail. Coronavirus and social distancing notwithstanding. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

True Manamana Trail

The group slogging through the tangled thicket of green and dry uluhe ferns. Quite the nasty combination to encounter on trails. Photo by Art Young.

True Manamana Trail

Is this the trail?

True Manamana Trail

Aida on a relatively cleared spot of the trail with Pu’u Kanehoalani ahead of her in Ka’a’awa Valley. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

True Manamana Trail

Tessa dropping down to the 1900 Lookout. Photo by Aida Gordon.

True Manamana Trail

To go or not to go? Photo by Tessa Bugay.

True Manamana Trail

Art is going. Photo by Aida Gordon.

True Manamana Trail

Climbing and contouring our way around the assorted boulders that interrupted the narrow ridge. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

True Manamana Trail

Tessa and the rest of the group on the “edge.” Photo by Art Young.

True Manamana Trail

Taking a Captain Morgan break. Photo by Art Young.

True Manamana Trail

Dipping down into one of the numerous saddles on the ridge. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

True Manamana Trail

Some like to be on top. Photo by Ferlino Carinio.

True Manamana Trail

Others like to be in the hole, teeth enamel erosion notwithstanding.

True Manamana Trail

Looking back at the group about to contour a large spade shaped rock on the ridge. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

True Manamana Trail

Almost there. Photo by Ferlino Carinio.

True Manamana Trail

Let’s pick up the pace!

True Manamana

The summit space has shrunk considerably due to overgrowth which forced us to be closer than we socially wanted to be on the cramped summit.

True Manamana Trail

Time was ticking, so we took our leave of the postage stamp sized summit. Photo by Ferlino Carinio.

True Manamana Trail

Some lingered for further photo shoots.

True Manamana Trail

Going down the rock face without webbing was much easier than trying to go back up without it. Photo by Ferlino Carinio.

True Manamana Trail

The rest of the group wading through the uluhe trail previously trampled. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Turnover

The tent was looking very tempting but it was occupied by a snoring hiker. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

Cemetery Ridge

We put on our headlamps as we were not going to beat the sun going down. Photo by Aida Gordon.

All pau

I was so over the hike as we went down the steep and moss blanketed ridge line. Somebody else was over the hike as well. As in head over heels over. Cap, glasses and flashlight were left as souvenirs to the mountain.

GPS Tracks

Our 5.4 mile hike was paid for with blood, sweat and tons of scratches and cuts. Misery loves great company. Thanks to Jasmin for picking us up at the bus stop since OTS wasn’t stopping for us. Post hike meal at Casa Carinio’s house where we ate Filipino leftovers washed down with ice cold Coke from McDonald’s.

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.