Met up with Chico, Jen, Laredo, Lilyn, Mari, Quan, Tessa, and William for our third leg of the perimeter walk today.

Waiahole Poi Factory

We took our group photo that we missed from the last walk after Chico and Lilia staged the truck at Kualoa Beach Park.

Kamehameha Highway

It was too early to get a treat of Sweet Lady of Waiahole, so we pushed off on our walk.

Kamehameha Highway

What’s that? I forgot something? My medication?

Kamehameha Highway

Tessa rubbing elbows with the legend.

Kamehameha Highway

Somebody’s on the wrong side of the bridge.

Waikane Store

Pop Quiz: What is Chico doing?
A) Panhandling from a passing car
B) Looking for free samples
C) Getting his truck keys

Kamehameha Highway

We saw these and other signs that loudly proclaimed “The People United Will Never Be Defeated” and “No Development Keep the Country Country” and “New City…What A Pity! No Development.” The problem dates back to the 1880s when Lincoln McCandles and brothers arrived in the islands and began drilling artesian wells to feed the sugar industry and in the process amassed considerable land holdings. Fast forward to 1974, when his daughter attempted to to urbanize 1,337 acres in Waiahole and Waikane Valleys with local developer, Joe Pao who promised affordable housing with his “New City” development. Sounds familiar? Massive protests erupted and was temporarily simmered when the State purchased 795 acres in Waiahole Valley to manage the land. Fast forward to 1987, when the Housing Finance and Development Corporation was created to promote affordable housing, the predecessor to today’s Hawaii Housing Finance & Development Corporation. The HHFDC claims they are running a deficit managing the water resources and below market rents for the approximately 100 valley residents and must raise rents to stay solvent. Both sides have retained lawyers and are slugging it out in court. Who will win? Most certainly, the side with deep and corrupt pockets will prevail against the residents.

Kualoa Ranch

Entering the cattle ranch and tourist attraction that sits on over 4,000 acres. This valley was considered sacred to ancient Hawaiians and was purchased by Dr. Judd from King Kamehameha III for the sum of $1,300 in 1850. That would be $50,560 in today’s money.

Kamehameha Highway

Passing through the often seen Coral Kingdom Shop & Restaurant but never visited.

Kamehameha Highway

When the traffic mirror doubles as the selfie mirror.

Kamehameha Highway

The public picking of parya (bittermelon) leaves.

Kualoa Ranch

Looking for the private tour.

Kualoa Ranch

Group photo in front of the 50′ artistic representation of Manaiakalani, Maui’s fish hook that was used to capture the sun.

Mokoli’i

Looking out towards the basaltic islet in Kaneohe Bay that was once owned by the Judd-Morgan family until the City & County of Honolulu purchased it back in the 1970s.

Chinaman’s Hat

Group photo in front of the conical shaped island. Advocates are pushing to erase the name of Chinaman’s Hat as it’s not culturally correct and politically offensive to some. But for most locals, it will always be called that.

Kualoa Sugar Mill

Wandering through the ruins of the first sugar mill built in the islands during 1863-1865. Due to lack of rainfall, the mill ceased operations in 1871 and was left exposed to the elements where it sits today.

Kamehameha Highway

Leaving the prominent Kualoa ridge behind us. I wonder if anybody has ever climbed that mountain?

Kamehameha Highway

The fish were biting today.

Kamehameha Highway

Bunker exploration. Where’s Scotty?

Kamehameha Highway

The color of death.

Kamehameha Highway

When there’s no sidewalk, one has to walk on the bridge.

Kamehameha Highway

Roadside summer snacks. Lychee was introduced to Hawaii in 1873 when Ching Chock brought the evergreen tree from China and planted it on the Afong property on the corner of Nu’uanu and School Streets.

Kamehameha Highway

Chico got his own summer snack. Free shave ice!

Ka’a’awa 7-Eleven

Motorists yielding to pedestrians. Refreshments at the convenience store that was originally named Tote’m Stores and later changed to reflect the operating hours. Time to change again?

Kamehameha Highway

No touch the girl or the golf cart?

Crouching Lion Inn

Trying to see the resemblance of the rock formation above the shuttered eatery. Originally built as the Larsen residence in 1927, it was converted to a restaurant in 1952 and closed in 2008 due to cesspool violations.

Crouching Lion Hike

Where is the trailhead?

Kamehameha Highway

Clucking like a chicken.

Kamehameha Highway

Bridge crossing.

Kahana State Park

I still haven’t found a working pay phone yet.

Kamehameha Highway

Words to live by.

Kamehameha Highway

View of Kahana Bay.

Kamehameha Highway

Swinger.

Kamehameha Highway

Walking on the road next to traffic. The Handi-vans were especially too close for comfort. I think they were looking for future customers.

Punalu’u

Group photo at the beach park. The town name means “coral dived for” or “spring dived for.”

Punalu’u

We may have walked on the wrong side of the bridges, but never jumped from them.

Punalu’u

End of the road for us. Food outside.

Punalu’u

Drinks inside. Pay inside too.

Punalu’u

Eating on the beach. Laredo preferred to sun on the beach.

Punalu’u

Quan trying to burn off her caloric intake.

Route 60

Everybody have exact change? Three dollars.

Route 60

Time to get off the bus and give the riders some relief.

Kualoa Beach Park

Happy Birthday Mari!

Kualoa Beach Park

Pinay Hat.

McDonald’s Temple Valley

Thanks Chico for the soft serve ice cream cones!

Chico’s Bar

One shot for the road.

GPS Tracks

Our fun walk covered 10.4 miles through the Windward coastline.

Photos taken by Chico Cantu, Jen Odence, Lilyn Avendano, Mari Saito, Quan Haberstroh, Tessa Bugay, and yours truly. Not necessarily in order.

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. One should also always let somebody know of your hiking plans in case something doesn’t go as planned, better safe than sorry.

It was time to raise the bar or at least get the juices flowing on today’s hike. Or as somebody put it “get back in the windward ridge game.”

Trailhead

We all met up in Kahana Valley where Matt surprised us with 808 Random Hikers T-shirts that he had made in Korea. Group photo left to right: John, Cisco, myself, Aida, Allison, Ryan, Quan, Enrique, Marilyn, Narissa, Lilyn, Matt and Tessa. Lucky 13.

Kahana Valley

Passing through Hawaii’s only public ahupua’a or subdivision of land.

Trail

Enjoying the wide open and dry trail while it lasted.

Dam

Some of the group took their shoes and socks off so as not to get wet. You guys know there are a couple more stream crossings? Photo by Matt Vidaurri.

Dam

All swing and no splash.

Trail

Welcome to the jungle.

Trail

Soak, rinse, repeat. Photo by Matt Vidaurri.

Trail

Matt gave an impromptu speech on the importance of promptness and then Chris showed up. The definition of irony.

Trail

Allison looking at True Manana and Two Apes Talking. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Trail

Last stream crossing for some of us. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

Trail

Somebody was feeling good about themselves. It would not last for long.

Trail

Pushing our way through the patch of uluhe ferns that dominated the trail. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

Trail

The group climbing up the first of many hills.

Trail

Verdant valley views behind us. Photo by Allison Banks.

Trail

We could see the saddle for the mountains. Photo by Allison Banks.

Trail

You guys don’t take 5 or 10 minute breaks? Who’s in charge of this hike? Oh, the death marcher. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

Kahana Saddle

Group photo, left to right: John, Aida, Narissa, Chris, Marilyn, Matt, Cisco, Allison, Quan, Lilyn, myself, Enrique, Tessa and Ryan.

Kahana Saddle

Tessa belting out another rendition of Ms. Lonely.

Trail

Enrique scrambling up the steep hill towards the summit.

Trail

Gaining elevation with each step that we took. Photo by Lilyn Avendano.

Trail

Lilyn pulling herself up. All those hours in the gym were finally paying off.

Trail

Allison climbing her way to the summit. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Pu’u Ohulehule Summit

What’s going on here? A) Matt is slaking his thirst by drinking the water pooling in Ryan’s poncho. or B) Matt is administering a mountain massage with a happy ending.

Pu’u Ohulehule Summit

Photo bombers in the rain. Kahana was living up to its reputation as one of the wettest valleys on the island.

Pu’u Ohulehule Summit

Group photo at the rained out summit. Zero visibility. We sat out the summit as rain saturated the area around us. Ideal conditions for climbing an unknown ridge. Whose ideas was this?

Trail

We waited until the rain clouds blew over and then we separated into the hardy and the foolhardy groups.

Northeast Ridge

Somebody in blue said this ridge is not that bad. Famous last words. Photo by Chris Bautista.

Northeast Ridge

Time to break out the webbing. Photo by Matt Vidaurri.

Northeast Ridge

Pushing through the woody climbers as we made our way down the ridge. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

Northeast Ridge

Descending from the clouds as we had to be mindful of the abundant dead trees and branches that broke off under our grasp. Instead of braking our descent, they could have easily accelerated our descent. Not a good thing.

Northeast Ridge

The ridge became narrower as the views got better with each drop we did. Photo by Lilyn Avendano.

Northeast Ridge

Matt climbing as rocks got dislodged with each step. Luckily no rocks were dislodged during my climb down. Photo by Lilyn Avendano.

Northeast Ridge

Chris hugging the sliver of a ridge as he climbed his way down.

Northeast Ridge

Somewhere in the mountains, there is elevator service. We also saw the hardy group going down the Northwest ridge from our precarious perch. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

Northeast Ridge

Just call me Otis. Photo by Matt Vidaurri.

Northeast Ridge

The rest of the group waiting their turn to climb down the webbing secured with an existing anchor. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

Northeast Ridge

The rolling rocks had rolling rocks on this ridge. They definitely gather no moss here. Photo by Matt Vidaurri.

Northeast Ridge

Matt checking out the next drop. Photo by Lilyn Avendano.

Northeast Ridge

Going down. Photo by Lilyn Avendano.

Northeast Ridge

Keeping my distance from the spiked shoes.

Northeast Ridge

Drop after drop. Do we have enough webbing? Photo by Lilyn Avendano.

Northeast Ridge

Bye bye. For reference’s sake, I was talking to an inanimate object and not a living person. Photo by Lilyn Avendano.

Northeast Ridge

Straddling the skinny ridge. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

Northeast Ridge

The rest of us scooted down on our bellies, whereas Chris let his feet do the walking. Perhaps it had something to do with the beer belly. Perhaps not.

Northeast Ridge

Matt lowering himself down using the lip of the rock as an anchor.

Northeast Ridge

It was just a hop, skip and slide for Lilyn. Photo by Matt Vidaurri.

Northeast Ridge

Contouring and climbing my way up for what passes as a pile of crumbly rocks topped with skinny trees and dry grass.

Northeast Ridge

Tessa making herself comfortable as she hunkers down for the oncoming inclement weather. Photo by Lilyn Avendano.

Northeast Ridge

We temporarily suspended all climbing as we watched …

Northeast Ridge

… the rain showers slowly march in from the ocean and saturate the ridge and us with its watery cargo.

All clear

Tessa ready to start hiking again after the brief burst of H20. Photo by Chris Bautista.

Northeast Ridge

Matt climbing down the last drop for the day.

Northeast Ridge

Traversing the moss carpeted ridge line punctuated with trees of varying density and depth. Photo by Chris Bautista.

Northeast Ridge

Approaching the Kualoa ridge dominated by the peak of Kanehoalani.

Northeast Ridge

What’s going on here? A) I was so happy to find out that Matt’s test came back negative. Not saying what kind of test it was. or B) We were bucking the stereotypical roles while re-enacting the 2005 movie helmed by Ang Lee.

3 Corners

We took our individual and collective photos at the intersecting spot with sweeping views of the mountains, valleys and ocean.

Trail

Is this the way to the gardens?

Ka’a’awa Valley

Bench with a view. What a view. Photo by Matt Vidaurri.

Hakipu’u Valley

Bye bye. Inanimate object. I think I can speak for the group when I say that the Northeast ridge is one of the hardest trails we have done in recent memory. Photo by Lilyn Avendano.

Cow Patty

When you got to go, you got to go. Photo by Matt Vidaurri.

Jurassic Park

Watching out for droppings from the winged reptile. Who let the animal out? Oh, what long nails you have!

All pau

Where’s the beef? Thanks to Aida, John and Quan for picking us up on the side of the highway. Photo by Matt Vidaurri.

GPS Tracks

Our adrenaline adventure that took us over old and new grounds clocked in under six miles. Glad to have done it with this bunch of friends. Thankful that everybody made it down safe, albeit the minor mishap of the out of towner that tumbled down and landed on the skinniest person. Post hike meal at Kenko-ya as the other choices were closed or did not offer dine in service.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LqR5vE96oOE&t=337s

Video by Matt Vidaurri of our ridge 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.

Mahalo to Cisco for inviting and picking up the admission for Analyn and myself to a semi-guided tour of the backlot of Hawaii. Paradise is not free anymore.

Kualoa Ranch

We joined the teeming crowd of over a hundred hikers from the Hawaii Hiking Group as we headed into the ranch land that are home to three valleys.

Kualoa Ranch

Analyn standing next to a row of four tiki statues.

Kualoa Ranch

Passing the pua’a in ahupua’a.

Kualoa Ranch

Our first narrative of the day overlooked the 125 acres of Moli’i Fishpond where fish and oysters are being farmed for commercial sales to sustain the ranch as part of their business model. Also described was the tale of how the island commonly known as Chinaman’s Hat came into being as part of the tail of a giant lizard that was ripped asunder by the Hawaiian goddess Hi’iaka and thrown into the waters where it rests to this day.

Kualoa Ranch

Rounding the bend in the trail as the pyramidal peak of Pu’u Ohulehule loomed ahead of us.

Talk Story

Our last narrative for the day where it was explained to us that there are only four paniolo (cowboys) that tend to the 3,825 acres of undeveloped land that are owned by the Morgan family. We soon left to hike up to the top of the ridge before the next wave of tour buses deluged the area.

Ka’a’awa Valley

Trying to fit in our group photo with everybody else at the scenic point, left to right: Cisco, Analyn and myself.

Kanehoalani

Property pass you say?

Kualoa Ranch

Going down the muddy trail, where the kids were faster than their parents.

Zipline

Thrill seekers being pushed by gravity against the backdrop of True Manamana. Photo by Cisco Quintanilla.

Kualoa Ranch

We couldn’t find the Kong bones, so we settled for location movie signs.

Kualoa Ranch

Some folks just don’t like getting wet.

Kualoa Ranch

At least we found these dinosaur eggs nestled in the grass next to a termite hill. I don’t know which one was more scarier. Photo by Cisco Quintanilla.

Battery Cooper

Entering the coastal defense revetment that burrows over 150′ deep into the mountain. Photo by Cisco Quintanilla.

Jurassic World

The bunker rooms are now used to house props and artifacts from the multiple movies that have filmed on the ranch.

Galaga

Apparently Locke did not blow up the submarine, but moved it to drydock.

Battery Cooper

Passing through the gate whose electric bills have not been paid in a long time. Photo by Cisco Quintanilla.

Battery Cooper

Giving birth.

Battery Cooper

Giving birth by C-section. Photo by Cisco Quintanilla.

Battery Cooper

I must be stronger than I thought or Kong had osteoporosis. Photo by Analyn Baliscao.

Battery Cooper

Analyn and Cisco checking to see if they’re real or fake. The jury is still out.

Battery Cooper

What happens when somebody takes too long on their photo shoots. Photo by Analyn Baliscao.

Battery Cooper

Leaving the bunker as we straggled back onto the trail as the group had long gone ahead of us.

Pua’a

When all that separates you from a couple of interested pigs is an electric fence, something that a hiker found out the hard way. Photo by Cisco Quintanilla.

Happy Birthday

A couple days late but nothing a sloppy Reese’s Peanut Butter Ultimate Doughnut can’t fix.

All pau

Relaxing day spent on our fun exploratory hike that meandered its way through picturesque valleys and a WW2 bunker chock filled with more movie props than you can say lights, camera and action. Post hike meal at Waiahole Poi Factory. Thanks to Analyn for treating us to an ono Hawaiian lunch.

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.

I was looking for a parade on this Veteran’s Day Holiday. Waterfall parade. Dale showed Cathy, Chris B, James, Jennifer, Justin, Mae, Menchie, Thessa and myself the trail today.

Trailhead

We all met up at Laie Shopping Center and carpooled to the trailhead.

Farms

Justin felt right at home passing through the farmland. Fire up that tractor!

Dip

The road dipped as the stream ran through a semi-broken culvert.

Trail

We soon left the farmland and headed deeper into the gulch on a defined trail.

Stream crossing

Water was clear and trickling. No flash flood conditions today. Photo by Dale Yoshizu.

Rock hopping

Slippery when wet.

Tree hopping

The group going over a tree to make their way across the stream.

Stream crossing

How many crossings did we do?

Boulder hopping

There were some pretty large sized boulders scattered in the stream.

Wailele Falls

Group photo left to right: Cathy, Thessa, Mae, Jennifer, Menchie, myself, James, Chris B, Justin and Dale.

Top of Wailele Falls

Took us only one hour to make it to the waterfalls. Photo by James Agas.

Wailele Stream

Rumor has it that there are bigger waterfalls upstream. Another hike for another day.

Water fun

Splish splash.

All pau

The short and sweet waterfall hike covered 4.4 miles. Glad to have met new and old faces on the hike. Post hike meal at the bustling Seven Brothers. Gives Teddy’s Bigger Burgers a run for their money.

Secret Island

Four of us stopped at Kualoa Regional Park since the day was still long. Group photo looking out over Moli’i Pond to the rugged mountain of Kanehoalani. Photo by Justin Hirako.

Panoramic view

One can dream. Click here for the larger image. Photo by Chris Bautista.

SS Moku Kalama

Four hikers set sail that day. Now where’s the key? I guess we’re not setting sail. Photo by Justin Hirako.

All pau

Fun on the swings. No hammocks swinging in the breeze. Walking in the sand. It was a good day. Photos by Justin Hirako.

It was time to get muddy again. That’s why I found myself on the road headed to Kualoa Ranch to participate in the Makahiki Challenge, which is a mud run/obstacle course. Just coming off the Warrior Dash two weeks ago, I decided to check out this race on the Windward side of the island.

10:20am heat

$10 to park again, this time no option to park free on the outside road. There are no check-ins or timing chips to put on your shoes, just show up and go!

Obstacle #1 – Nothing but Net

The obstacles seemed to be evenly spaced out on this course, as compared to the Warrior Dash. Coming up a hill, we stooped and staggered underneath a net, best bet was to draft somebody from behind. My GoPro kept on getting stuck in the net and almost got ripped off my head a couple of times.

Obstacle #2 – Suicide Slide

This was the best obstacle in terms of fun value. Sliding down headfirst on 100′ of water lubricated plastic. Until my face met somebody’s feet at the bottom and then a couple of folks slammed into me from behind. It was still fun.

Obstacle #3 – Monkey Business

All upper body strength as you climbed the monkey bars going up and then going down. Probably the hardest obstacle on the course, in  terms of people actually completing it.

Obstacle #4 – Hawaiian Ice Bath

A nice icy cold dunk to wake up your lower extremities. It’s over before you know it.

Obstacle #5 – Tangled

Oh, what a tangled bungee web we weave.

Obstacle #6 – Mud Crawl

The planks got lower as you crawled into this one, forcing you to kiss the mud at the end.

Moo-ve it on

As we hit the middle of the course, we saw choke cows grazing and mooing at us. Choke is a relative term and comes from a city boy like myself.

Lights, Camera, Action!

Some runners stopped to get their picture taken with this left-over film set from the movie “Journey to the Center of the Earth.” Didn’t see no Jurassic Park paw prints.

Looping back

We soon found ourselves looping back and making our way towards the ocean.

Flooding

This had to be lamest of the obstacles, as it was just a couple trails flooded with muddy water. Fail.

Obstacle #7 – Da Pig Pen

Today’s entertainment was provided by this character as he was flinging mud at us as we entered this mud filled pit to hear him yell “My grandmother is faster than you” and “My grandmother’s dog is faster than you.” I guess the classics never die.

Obstacle #8 – Balls to the Walls

This was probably the second hardest obstacle on the course. Grabbing a muddy rope with muddy hands and trying to climb up a muddy wall.

Obstacle #9 – Balance Beams

The hardest part of this obstacle was trying to get your muddy feet on these beams. Some runners used the staff as support as they made their way on the zig zag beams.

Obstacle #10 – Mastah Blastah

Rolling to the finish line through these hanging tires.

Don’t forget your cup holder!

No medals at this race, just a cup holder. T-Shirts will be in the mail. Huh?

Panoramic view of the grounds

Click here for the larger image. Would I do this race again? It was fun, but not $80 worth of fun.