The goal of the hike was to get a close shave on the mountains today as Jasmin dropped Ferlino and myself off in the valley of screaming peacocks. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Makaha Valley

We were pleasantly surprised to see Aida, Analyn, Anne and Art chasing the preening peacocks for their photographs and not their feathers. Photo by Anne Fai.

Makaha Valley

Crossing the bone dry stream bed.

Mohala I Ka Wai

We saw taro. Laulau poke. We saw papayas. Now all we needed were chickens.

Kane’aki Heiau

No walking tours today.

OCCC

This is what happens when you have an early release of inmates due to unfounded fears of COVID19. Photo by Ferlino Carinio.

Makaha Valley

Following the bottlecap breadcrumbs through the forest as we picked up the trail.

Makaha Valley

Going up the steep hill. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Knife Edge

Taking a shaded break before heading out onto the exposed ridge. Photo by Anne Fai.

Knife Edge

Hope everybody slathered sunscreen on their exposed epidermis. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Knife Edge

Ferlino holding up the side of the rocks so that we could safely pass through. Photo by Art Young.

Knife Edge

Panoramic view of Makaha Valley.

Knife Edge

A hole in her heart. Photo by Ferlino Carinio.

Knife Edge

Aida climbing up one of many rock faces. Photo by Art Young.

Knife Edge

Contouring and climbing over the rocks. Photo by Analyn Baliscao.

Knife Edge

The group climbing up against the backdrop of the fluted flanks flowing down from Ohikilolo Ridge.

Knife Edge

Gaining elevation as we climbed up the rocky ridge line. Photo by Analyn Baliscao.

Knife Edge

The group climbing over the serrated rock section. Photo by Analyn Baliscao.

Knife Edge

More climbing and contouring on the ridge line.

Knife Edge

Taking a well deserved break. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Knife Edge

Burrowing our way through the tree line. Photo by Analyn Baliscao.

Knife Edge

Anne sitting on her “chair.” It was much more comfortable sitting on a pile of rocks than a thorny cacti. Photo by Ferlino Carinio.

Knife Edge

Scrambling up the ridge line.

Knife Edge

Giving a helping hand. Photo by Art Young.

Knife Edge

Analyn lending a helping foot? Photo by Art Young.

Knife Edge

Short scramble up to the terminus. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Knife Edge

Analyn pushing her way through the clump of pine trees.

The Pause that Refreshes

It would help if you take off the bottle cap. Photo by Anne Fai.

Kamaile’unu Ridge

Group photo left to right: Ferlino, Anne, Analyn, Aida, Art and myself.

Kamaile’unu Ridge

The scenic views were too much to pass up for the group. Let’s take a bazillion photos.

Kamaile’unu Ridge

Leaving the photo shoot behind us as we left the terminus.

Kamaile’unu Ridge

Working our way through the overgrowth. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Kamaile’unu Ridge

Looking up at another scenic spot. Translation to mean more photo shoots.

Kamaile’unu Ridge

Art perched on the spot overlooking the giant notch we had to climb down and up. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Kamaile’unu Ridge

Scrambling down to our lunch spot. Photo by Ferlino Carinio.

Kamaile’unu Ridge

Let’s take a break. Any objections?

Kamaile’unu Ridge

Settling down amongst the rocks for lunch and a free show. Photo by Ferlino Carinio.

Kamaile’unu Ridge

The free show was over. Got a buck?

Kamaile’unu Ridge

The group contouring their way carefully around the boulders perched on the edge.

Kamaile’unu Ridge

Scrambling our way towards the big climb of the day. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Kamaile’unu Ridge

Everybody did a great job of climbing up the notch, but nobody collected ten points today.

Kamaile’unu Ridge

Top down view of the group clustered at the notch.

Kamaile’unu Ridge

Contouring around the awkward rock. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Kamaile’unu Ridge

Shaka on the rocks.

Kamaile’unu Ridge

Art and Ferlino giving Aida two pairs of helping hands. Photo by Ferlino Carinio.

Kamaile’unu Ridge

Traversing the boulder capped ridge. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Kamaile’unu Ridge

The ridge was liberally sprinkled with just enough annoying overgrowth mixed in with odd sized rocks. Photo by Ferlino Carinio.

Kamaile’unu Ridge

Art and Aida climbing over the smaller rocks to get to the bigger rocks. Photo by Ferlino Carinio.

Kamaile’unu Ridge

Last climb. Going up. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Kamaile’unu Ridge

Shaka in the mountains. Photo by Analyn Baliscao.

Kamaile’unu Ridge

Aida threading her way through the tangled thicket of tree branches.

Kawiwi Summit

Meaningful and meaningless conversations over lunch. Are you paying attention Art?

Kawiwi Ridge

Leaving the summit behind us as it was all downhill from here.

Kawiwi Ridge

Art climbing his way down against the backdrop of the wide spread of the Waianae Mountains. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Kawiwi Ridge

Analyn climbing her way down from the tricky crack.

Kawiwi Ridge

Touch, but don’t look. Oh wait, was it the other way around? Photo by Art Young.

Kawiwi Ridge

Are you sure this is the right way down? Photo by Aida Gordon.

Kawiwi Ridge

Descending down the rocky dike of a ridge. Photo by Art Young.

Kawiwi Ridge

Ferlino against the backdrop of the largest coastal valley on the island.

Kawiwi Ridge

Art wanted a piece of the action as well.

Kawiwi Ridge

It’s easier going up than coming down. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Kawiwi Ridge

The group climbing down the ridge, one foothold and handhold at a time. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Kawiwi Ridge

Anne emerging from the bushes.

Kawiwi Ridge

The group contouring around the ridge line as we dropped back down into the valley. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Waianae Valley

Coming down the firebreak.

Farm to Table

What are you waiting for? An invitation? Hurry up and help us pick the parya leaves. Photo by Art Young.

All pau

Thanks to Jasmin for picking up our group with their freshly picked bitter melon leaves.

GPS Tracks

Our ridge to ridge hike covered 5.6 miles through sessions of rock climbing, scrambling and stunning valley views. Post hike meal at Jollibee where too many customers in the car made for a confused drive thru cashier. Thanks to the fun group that provided loud laughter outside and inside.

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.

Happy Father’s Day! I joined Marcus and his crew of Tom, J, and Susan for a hike in the Waianae Mountains that I’ve done before, but we were doing it in reverse today. We staged a car in Waianae Valley and parked at Makaha Towers.

Where will this road take us?

The hike started off on a paved road that got steeper as we walked all the way to the end of the road. Bonus cardio. We had to walk back down a little bit until we found the junction that was marked “CY POND.”

Passing Kane’aki Heiau

A dirt trail connected to another paved road that took us by Kane’aki Heiau, which is the best preserved Hawaiian temple on the island. We took a break, as Susan explored the ancient grounds.

The trail begins

After the break, we swung around the fence and continued on the road until we came across the next junction that is marked with the number “38” and coffee trees. J parted company with us at this point as he was not feeling well and decided to wait for some friends to do a scaled back hike.

Bushwhacking

Early on, we followed ribbons, bottle caps and paint as we picked our way through the valley. The incessant peacock calls and fleeting views of them flitting from tree to tree kept us company in the valley, as we bushwhacked our way up to Knife Edge.

Knife Edge Ridge

We finally popped out of the valley and onto Knife Edge Ridge. It was a nice day to be on the Waianae Mountain Range!

Makaha Valley

Looking into Makaha Valley and the deep blue ocean waters offshore. Photo by Tom Engle.

Rock climbing up close

We climbed up the ridge, scrambling over small rock faces. Just enough to get our blood flowing.

Rock climbing far away

The rock faces soon started to get bigger and higher. More fun. There was only one section of rope that we saw, the rock face that is above the one Susan is climbing. We didn’t use it, but it’s there for assistance if needed.

Rock climbing a little too close

Marcus going up a “knife edge” rock face.

Coming up Knife Edge Ridge

Nice top down view coming up Knife Edge Ridge. Around this section, the trade winds started to kick in and help cool us down. That felt better than an ice cold Coke. Photo by Susan Beebee.

Cresting the top of Kamaileunu Ridge

We soon made the summit of Kamaileunu Ridge, which at 3,200’+ is the third highest point on the island. Not even skipping a beat to stop and take photos, we quickly gave up that elevation as we made our way down to the crossover.

The Big Notch

The main reason we came to climb this hike, the big notch, soon popped into view. Artillery fire from nearby Schofield Barracks also started popping.

Pretty high up

Looking down into the mountain pass that breaks out into KoleKole Pass and Lualualei Valley.

The fun will begin shortly

Another shot of the big notch.

Ropes? We don’t need ropes where we are going…

Marcus spotting Susan as she makes her way up the notch. There are 2-3 ropes that somebody left here, it’s there for help if needed.

Jigsaw rocks

Looking back at all the fun rock scrambling we had coming down.

Next!

Tom free climbing up the notch.

Where is the next handhold?

My turn going up.

Boulders everywhere

Susan coming around this boulder section where you had to pull yourself up to make it over.

Keiki notch

Susan easily tackling the smaller notch.

Top of Kawiwi

Top of Kawiwi Ridge at 2,975′, with Mount Ka’ala in the background. 

Leeward views

We had company at the top, hundreds of small flies and moths and they were biting!

Griego Wall

Maybe one day I can have a relationship with a Swedish bikini model, break up and have a wall named after me. Maybe not.

Heading down Kawiwi Ridge

There were some questions as to which trail we were going to take down. It was between Tiki Ridge, Polka Dot Trail and Kawiwi Ridge. Guess which one we took?

Downclimbing

The last two times I’ve been up this ridge, it’s always been up. Going down was a nice change of pace.

Tricky crack

No downclimbing this rock face today.

More downclimbing

Susan climbing down one of the numerous rock faces that make up the ridge. It is definitely harder going down than up.

Almost off the ridge…

Tom posing at one of the scenic view points. Who we kidding? The whole ridge is a scenic view point!

..and into the bushes

Leaving the rocky ridge and into thick grass with loose rocks rolling underneath our feet. We then followed the rock strewn dirt trail and paralleled the barbed wire fence until we emerged onto the paved road.

Walking backwards

Going down the road that I love to hate.

Until we meet again

We said goodbye to the peacocks and artillery fire as we finished our fun hike that was filled with rock climbing galore.

GPS tracks

The 5.82 mile hike took us 8 1/4 hours to finish. Not record breaking, but I’ll take it for today.

I got the invite from Marcus to join his crew of Russell, Tess, Ted and KiLei to hike Kawiwi to Kamaileunu Knife Edge, the hard way. Is there any other way with the caveman? I called up Glenn and he picked me up and off we went to travel all the way to Makaha Towers and their strutting peacocks. We met the rest of the crew around 7:30am and then carpooled to the end of Waianae Valley Road.

Hot and dry

The parking lot was already near capacity with cars and trucks from what looked like a mixture of hikers and hunters. We pushed off around 8:20am walking up the paved road and eventually going into the bushes past the water tank. It started off as a typical Waianae hike, hot and dry as we followed the fenceline up to the ridge. Photo by Ted Calvero.

Showers in the valley

Mother Nature gave us a welcome relief from the blazing sun by misting us with a passing rain shower. That’s the kind of rain I don’t mind getting on hot hikes, a refreshing mist instead of being miserably soaked.

The ridge up is filled with rockfaces

Marcus promised this hike would have a lot of rockfaces and scrambling. He wasn’t exaggerating at all. Fun, fun, fun.

Looking back

Looking back towards Waianae and Lualualei Vallies.

Tricky crack

We ran into another group that was climbing the last major obstacle before gaining the summit, which was a near vertical rock face.

Looking down

It was fortunate that we ran into this other group as they helped by hauling up our backpacks which made it easier to climb up the tricky section. We also had good spotters at the bottom and at the top, which helped out tremendously. The black webbing in the photo is for the backpacks and not the hikers.

Top of Pu’u Kawiwi

We made it to the top of Kawiwi around 10:30am. Our hiking group had swelled from 7 to 12 hikers. Bottom row left to right: Kinky, Katie, Yoshi, Jay, Ted, Glenn and myself. Top row left to right: Tom, Tess, Russell, Marcus and KiLei.

Lunch spot

Nothing beats having lunch at the top of a mountain. Well, almost nothing. Marcus also regaled us with what breaking up with a Swedish bikini model will do to you, such as free climbing up an insane rock wall on the Waianae range now known as Griego Wall. Photo by Ted Calvero.

Approaching the first notch

After lunch, our ranks swelled by two as Jay and Tom joined our group that turned left towards Kamaileunu. Kinky, Yoshi and Katie turned right towards Tiki Ridge that would lead them back down into Waianae Valley. As we all waited our turn to climb down the first notch, the trade winds started to pick up and I actually felt chilly, on a Waianae hike!

Coming down the first notch

Coming down the first notch was just a prelude to what was coming next, a much bigger notch that made our Pali Notches hike that we did last weekend, look relatively tame. Photo by Ted Calvero.

Rock scrambling

Scrambling on huge chunks of rocks all seemingly thrown together at random, made for an interesting puzzle as you have to figure out where are the best places to put your hands and feet.

Going down the second notch

Glenn free climbing down the second notch. The ropes that were tied around the boulder at the top looked like they could slip off at any moment, so we all decided not to use them. Luckily, under the watchful eyes of AFLAC, we were safely spotted coming down.

As Marcus would say, that’s one seXXXy rock!

Coming down the first half of the second notch with it’s initial near vertical rock faces and limited sight was the hardest part. Once past that hump, it was relatively smooth climbing down.

More rock scrambling

After we all made it safely down the monster notch, there were more rock scrambling in store, to get out of the notch and up towards Kamaileunu ridge.  

Top of Kamaileunu Ridge

We made it to the top of Kamaileunu ridge around 1:15pm and took a second break. As we sat perched on the rocks, Glenn and I remembered this is the spot where we had ended our Kamaileunu hike last year, before heading back down the ridge. Click here for a larger image.

Down the knife edge

About 15 minutes later, we headed down the narrow rocky ridge from the summit. There were a couple rockfaces that we had to climb down from, but it was all downhill, albeit a rocky one.

Going into Makaha Valley

As we got closer down to Makaha Valley, the rocky ridge gave way to dry, grassy terrain. Eventually the grassy ridge ran into a dirt trail, where we turned right and then walked a bit until we turned left onto a paved road.

Kaneaki Heiau

The paved road led us to an old Hawaiian rock temple otherwise known as Kaneaki Heiau, the best preserved heiau on the island of Oahu.

Makaha Towers

After some of us respectfully walked around the heiau, we hit the back trails that returned us to the Makaha Towers around 4:30pm. Some folks split and went home and the rest of us had dinner at Tacos & More in Waianae.