I had gotten invites to hike Bear Claw Right Fork and Lanihuli on this Labor Day. Hmmm. Feeling in the mood for something different, I was fortunate to hook up with Lita and her crew of Jasmin, Michael and Rey for the hike up to Pu’u Keahi a Kahoe.

Moanalua Valley Park

A Korean Hiking Club member was nice enough to take our group photo. Left to right: Michael, myself, Reynante, Lita and Jasmin.

Bridge crossing

One of seven arched stone bridges that crosses Moanalua stream.

Pohakukaluahine

The petroglyph rock that stopped the H-3 from coming through this valley.

Marker 12

We left the old carriage road and turned right at Marker 12 to start our climb up towards Tripler Ridge. Photo by Lita McGovern.

Uluhe fern country

Long pants highly recommended!

Rock climbing

Taking a short break from the vegetation. Photo by Lita McGovern.

Strawberry guava country

Continuing the steep climb. Good cardio workout.

Tripler ridge

We took a short break at the Tripler Ridge junction. The trail actually starts back at Tripler Hospital. We were taking a “shortcut.”

Town view

The low cloud deck and breezy trade winds helped to make the hike a little more comfortable.

Moanalua Middle Ridge

Looking at our way back down.

Splash of color

‘Ie’ie in bloom, a endemic and woody climber of the screwpalm family.

Moanalua Valley

The H-3 would have definitely changed the character of this valley.

Landslide

We still have the other side to hike on!

Bamboo orchid

A beautiful but invasive orchid.

zzZzz

The group was nice enough to let me catch a quick nap. Photo by Jasmin Nepomuceno.

HECO trail marker

We followed the bottle capped stakes to the summit.

Looking back into the valley

Can you find the group?

Summit view of the Eastern Koolau’s

We arrived at the top to be greeted by 360 degrees of blissful views of the island.

Summit view of Windward Oahu

I never get tired of these unrestricted views.

Summit view of Southwest Oahu

Mother Nature was very nice to us today. Just outstanding views all around.

Panoramic view of Windward Oahu

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Panoramic view of Southwest Oahu

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Coming down the powerline ridge

Making our way down the Bowman trail of the ridge.

Checking out the views

Lita looking out towards the Windward side of the island.

Relay station

Rey and myself couldn’t resist climbing on the WW2 relay station. Still solid after all these years. Photo by Lita McGovern.

Leaving the jungle gym behind

Pushing up the last big hill.

Pu’u Keahi a Kahoe

The clear 2,850′ summit.

CCL Building

We climbed up the ladder to the top of the CCL building. Yes, a ladder. Before there was a rope. Before that was nothing. Now it’s a lot easier to get on the top. Photo by Jasmin Nepomuceno.

Stairway to Heaven

Not another soul in sight. We had the place all to ourselves. Photo by Lita McGovern.

Middle ridge junction

We followed the ridge back to the middle junction to head back into the valley.

Going down Moanalua Middle Ridge

I have been up this ridge a couple times, my first time going down.

Getting late

The daylight was drawing shorter as we got closer to the valley floor.

To poop or be pooped

Rey had torn his shorts earlier on the hike, putting him and others in an awkward situation. Glad he wasn’t commando on that day.

Back on the road

The rest of the group coming out of the middle ridge trailhead. They look happy. One more so than the others.

GPS Tracks

The 10.14 mile hike lived up to it’s reputation as a long trail but the payoff was views that can’t be matched and making new hiking friends.