Met up with some friends to hike a trail that I last did over seven years ago. Decided to eschew going up the front side as it was too pedestrian and clogged with other hikers. Back side it is. Photo by Cisco Quintanilla.

Waimanalo

Shout out to Jasmin and Matt for shuttling our rather large group to the trailhead that was within spitting distance of Bumpy Kanahele’s, Pu‘uhonua o Waimanalo. Group photo left to right: Ferlino, Lilyn, Chris, Sally, Aida, Edgar, Analyn, myself, Tesssa, Cisco, Anne, Jasmin, Matt, Janell and Art.

Maunawili Demo Trail

Left or right? Choose wisely. Or just check the GPS tracks.

Maunawili Demo Trail

We were startled by Casper, the exotic pinay on the trail.

Maunawili Demo Trail

Walking in the foothills of the Ko’olau Mountains. Photo by Matt Vidaurri.

Maunawili Demo Trail

Staying on the twisted trail.

Maunawili Demo Trail

Passing through a semi-gated section of the trail.

Cheeky

One was more phat than the other.

Woody

The making of Groot. Baby shower in 12 weeks. Photo by Janell Tuttle.

Yellow Heleconia

What? Take a picture. It’ll last longer. After admiring the local flora, we found out that we overshot the trail and had to double back to the gate.

Maunawili Demo Trail

Climbing our way to the ridge line. Photo by Matt Vidaurri.

Waimanalo

Passing the barbed wire fence that possibly harked back to the days that cattle roamed the valley. Photo by Matt Vidaurri.

Skeleton Leaf

The group passing by the exposed leaf. Somebody once said it was like finding a four leaf clover or seeing a double rainbow. Photo by Matt Vidaurri.

Waimanalo

Lilyn climbing up the short and steep hill. Photo by Matt Vidaurri.

Waimanalo

We broke out of the tree line to panoramic views of the land of potable water. Photo by Sally Chow.

Waimanalo

Plunging back into the tree line where Chris and Ferlino took to the trees. I took to the trail. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Ahiki

Approaching the backside of Ahiki.

Ahiki

Janell’s climbing concentration was interrupted by a cacophony of laughter and loudness emanating from the forest. Even the birds were complaining about the “competition.”

3 yawyaw pinays

The source of the laughter and loudness. Captured in a rare moment of silence. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

Ahiki

Matt climbing up against the background of Aniani Nui ridge that connected to the Ko’olau Mountains. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Ahiki

Cisco in the climbing queue as we put down webbing in some spots for those that desired the additional assurance. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Ahiki

Edgar and Lilyn thinking this is a piece of cake. With icing on top. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Ahiki

Janell climbing up the steepest section of the rock face as Cisco spots her from below. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Ahiki

It’s always Flag Day in the mountains with Ferlino. Photo by Lilyn Avendano.

Ahiki

Waiting my turn so I don’t get pelted by rocks from above. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Ahiki

Cisco making his way up. I felt sorry for the couple that was stuck behind our 14 person group, but I heard they took advantage of our webbing. So win-win for everybody involved. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Ahiki

Janell waiting for her turn to go up. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Ahiki

Aida living life on the edge. Not taking up too much space. Photo by Lilyn Avendano.

How high?

If it’s not a jump shot in the mountains, it’s a butt grab. Must be a girl thing.

Ahiki Anchor

Holding the ladder steady as the group climbed their way to the top. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Ahiki

Art wearing the latest fashion climbing accessory around his neck – yellow webbing.

Ahiki

Tessa near the top of the summit.

Ahiki

Panoramic photo of Waimanalo and Kailua by Sally Chow.

Ahiki

How many hikers can fit on the postage stamp sized summit of Ahiki? Apparently 14 with a little room to spare. Group photo by Matt Vidaurri.

Ahiki

Leaving the summit after our lunch break. Photo by Art Young.

Ahiki

The group descending from the summit of Ahiki.

Ahiki

Making my way down the somewhat narrow trail. Photo by Cisco Quintanilla.

Ahiki

Somebody was not using three points of contact. Photo by Tesssa Bugay.

Keyhole

Lilyn climbing her way down to the keyhole. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Ahiki

Chris spotting Aida as she comes down.

Keyhole

The chunk of real estate that required a lot of photo shoots. Thankfully drizzling rain cut it short.

Ahiki

Climbing down from the third peak. Photo by Edgar Gamiao.

Paku’i

Anne and Sally climbing up the rocky hill.

Paku’i

Sally with the razor thin peak in the background.

Paku’i

Chris carefully climbing up the section that probably accounts for most of the accidents on this trail.

Paku’i

Janell coming up the most photographed tree framed approach. Photo by Lilyn Avendano.

Paku’i

Cisco relaxing while he waits for the rest of the group to catch up from their photo shoots.

Paku’i

Leaving the keeper of the ponds summit. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

Olomana

The rest of the group approaching the first peak of the divided hill. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Olomana

Thanks to everybody for another rousing rendition of getting older. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

Olomana

Matt droning us at the 1,643′ summit.

Olomana

Leaving the top as it was getting inundated with other hikers wishing to experience the three peaks or at least one of them. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Olomana

Ascending hikers yielding to descending hikers. Photo by Art Young.

Olomana

Cisco making his way down the last main rock face.

Maunawili

The group coming down the rooted and rutted trail under thick tree canopy.

Tarzan

Matt testing out the load capacity on the aerial roots. I guess he doesn’t need to go on a diet. Photo by Aida Gordon.

All pau

Thanks to Jasmin for picking up our large group from the Royal Hawaiian Golf Club grounds.

Post hike meal

We all had front row seats to the Hawaii audition for Dancing with the Hikers. Chris Chun and Somphet also joined us with plates of Spicy Pork and Oxtail Soup. Thanks to everybody for contributing to the potluck spread that was our post hike meal.

GPS Tracks

Our short jaunt on the erosional remnant from the Ko’olau Mountains covered roughly 3.3 miles through panoramic scenery with fun company and good times.

Video by Matt Vidaurri of our Anamolo hike.

Video by Edgar Gamiao of our Anamolo hike.

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.

Not a fan of hiking the same trail twice, Olomana to be specific. I asked Chris to show us the backdoor way to Anamolo or reverse Olomana, as he knows the route quite well.

Trailhead

We staged cars at the traditional start of Olomana on Auloa Road in Kailua. Then we drove into Waimanalo and parked on Waikupanaha Street, where further down the street Bumpy Kanahele and his Nation of Hawaii community lives on the 45 acres they got after their 1993 occupation of Makapu’u Beach. Group photo by Matt Vidaurri. Standing left to right: Bob, Chris, myself, Jasmin, Hiram and Matt. Sitting left to right: Rey and Brian.

Junction

Instead of taking the traditional Maunawili Demonstration Trail, we took the right at the junction to continue our hike.

Exposed roots

One can either run very fast over this section or gingerly pick their way across the eroded and exposed roots.

Makai view

Brian enjoying the makai (ocean) view after we broke out of the forest and onto the ridgeline.

Mauka view

Bob checking out what’s for breakfast at the Nation of Hawaii’s community, as we saw smoke going up into the sky. Could have been burning trash or smoking a pig.

Hello there!

The rest of the crew making their way up.

Ahiki

Looking at the backside of Ahiki, the third peak. Olomana is actually the name of the first peak, with Paku’i being the name of the second peak.

Let the fun begin

Arriving at the base of Ahiki. It was a couple of weeks since I’ve done any rock climbing, so it was fun scheduled all day.

To rope or not to rope?

There are ropes on some sections of all three peaks. Depending on your skill level and confidence, use them sparingly or none at all. What matters is being safe as you should test out all ropes before using them and even then, don’t rely on them 100% if possible. Because you never know when these ropes will give on you. It’s not a matter of if, just when.

You’re almost there!

The buzzing bees kept us company as we waited for the rest of the crew.

That pesky ladder

I chose not to use the ladder as we made the final push to the top of Ahiki.

Top of Ahiki

We all signed the guest book at the top. Time to get a new book as people are writing on top of other people’s comments.

Guess what we are supposed to be?

Give up? It was Matt’s idea to mimic Shiva, the Hindu deity that has four arms. We had, umm, 16 arms.

That rock looks fun

Coming down from Ahiki, I noticed a rock pillar. What could that possibly be used for?

Giving it the old college try

Who needs VRG (Volcanic Rock Gym) when you have the great outdoors? However, no soft mats to break your fall, unless trees count. Photos by Brian Leano.

Small rock, good view

Photo by Brian Leano.

How do I get down?

The hardest part of rock climbing is going back down. As Brian asked me, “Why do you put yourself in these situations?” I still don’t have the answer. Photo by Bob Tyson.

Climbing down to the keyhole

Bob climbing down to the keyhole rock formation. Another one to climb! I still don’t have the answer.

Top of the keyhole

I wasn’t about to do any yoga poses on top of the keyhole. Photo by Matt Vidaurri.

The keyhole is now open

The rest of the crew making their way down to the keyhole. Now we were seeing more hikers coming and going. Olomana actually sees a lot of traffic, most go to the first peak and turn around. Not many go further to the third and final peak.

Leaving Ahiki behind

Bob climbing up to the second peak, Paku’i.

Steps to Olomana

Brian walking over the natural rock steps that leads from Paku’i to Olomana.

Butterfly Bob

As we waited for the rest of the crew at Olomana, I decided to photograph the fluttering butterflies that were around us. None would sit still for me. Bob then called me over as one landed on his hand and stayed there for several solid minutes! Bob has good sweat and odor or something!

Top of Olomana

The highest of the three peaks at 1,644′ elevation and the best in terms of sightseeing conditions.

Cover yourself! Have you no shame?

Chris had ripped his shorts earlier in the hike and luckily was not commando today. I know the feeling as I’ve ripped my pants in larger fashion and still continue to hike in them. I have no shame!

Pine needle break

Waiting for the rest of the crew to catch up.

All pau!

Last group photo at the traditional start of Olomana.

GPS Tracks

The 3.88 mile hike was a nice fun day with good company.