Met up with Chico, Ferlino, Jason, and Matt to rappel some waterfalls in a Nu’uanu Valley.

Pali Highway

We dodged cars traveling on the highway, crossed over the shallow drainage ditch and entered the forest through an unlocked gate.

Mo’ole Valley

Stepping foot in a valley that I haven’t visited in over seven years.

Mo’ole Valley

The trail and terrain have changed significantly.

Mo’ole Valley

Finding our way through the valley also known as Hillebrand Glen.

Mo’ole Valley

Climbing our way up as we approached our waterfall destination.

Mo’ole Valley

Chico squeezing through one of the blowdowns that littered the valley.

Mo’ole Falls

We soon dropped down to the top of the first falls and began gearing up.

Mo’ole Falls

Jason throwing out the rope as he set up the equipment for us to rappel.

Mo’ole Falls

Chico was the first to drop down the 20′ waterfall.

Mo’ole Falls

Matt wishing for more flow.

Mo’ole Falls

Am I doing this right? It’s been over seven years since I was a dope on a rope.

Mo’ole Falls

On belay.

Mo’ole Falls

Easy peasy.

Mo’ole Falls

Jason and Matt, another prolific rappeler, setting up the anchors for two ropes.

Mo’ole Falls

Just before I was set to go down, Jason and Matt decided to add a safety brake called VT Prusik to my harness. Turned out to be a lifesaver. Literally.

Mo’ole Falls

Going down the 120′ waterfall after my unexpected fall with the VT Prusik arresting my fall. Look Ma, no hands!

Mo’ole Falls

Chico rappelling down with his GoPro ornament on his helmet.

Mo’ole Falls

Is that a GoPro stick in your hand or are you just glad to see me?

Mo’ole Falls

Jason bouncing down the wall.

Mo’ole Falls

Matt climbing back up the waterfall with his ascenders. Practice makes perfect.

Mo’ole Valley

The group climbing up the steep hill to get back to the waterfalls.

Mo’ole Falls

The guys checking out Chico’s Prusik Knot to make sure it was tied correctly.

Mo’ole Falls

Lean more back. Drop that ass. Like you gonna make dodo on the waterfall. Words of wisdom to rappel by.

Mo’ole Falls

Trying my hand using the ascenders on the shorter wall.

Mo’ole Falls

Squat. Stand up. Pull up. Repeat. Not easy on your first time around.

Mo’ole Falls

Jason and Matt keeping an eye on us novices.

Mo’ole Falls

Going down a different rope. Have VT Prusik. Will rappel.

Mo’ole Falls

Ferlino and myself going down the wall.

Mo’ole Falls

Chico coming down. Is my GoPro on? I have it on my helmet.

Mo’ole Falls

Matt making his way down. He didn’t want to make waves this time around.

Mo’ole Falls

Splish.

Mo’ole Falls

Splash. No wetsuit needed.

Mo’ole Falls

Ferlino coiling the climbing rope.

Mo’ole Falls

Group photo at the base of the second waterfall, left to right: Ferlino, myself, Jason, Chico and Matt.

Mo’ole Valley

Man down. Should’ve been locked in.

Mo’ole Valley

Going back through the valley.

Mo’ole Valley

The irrigation tunnel that nobody wanted to enter.

Mo’ole Valley

Man in a tree. Surprised it wasn’t Ferlino.

All pau

Many thanks again to Jason for taking us rappelling and Matt for his assistance. Fun day. Post hike meal at Alejandro’s. The food did not live up to the hype. Should have gone to El Mariachi instead.

Photos taken by Chico Cantu, Matt Vidaurri, 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.

Met up with Glenn, Jose and Ryan in the dark shadows of Pu’u Keahiakahoe. Our planned hike was from Pali Puka to Haiku Stairs. The best laid schemes of weather and hikers often go awry.

Pali Lookout

Shout out to Chris who woke up early and ferried us from Kaneohe to Nuuanu. It’s going to be a beautiful day. Right guys? Group photo left to right: Ryan, Glenn, myself and Jose. Photo by Chris Bautista.

Where’s the puka?

Jose making his way over the Pali Puka.

Have helmet, will climb

Ryan contemplating climbing the towering rock spire.

Contour climb

Jose making his way up the steep and rocky climb to regain the ridge. Ryan started to feel nauseous, so he wisely decided to turn around. It all worked out in the end as Glenn had forgotten his camelbak hose, so he ended up borrowing Ryan’s. Let’s all drink and be merry.

Hikers in the mist

I guess no sunrise show for us.

Waiting

Glenn catching up to us on the ridge.

Scrambling

Jose making his way up the crumbly rock face.

Puu Suicido

The rocks were a little slick from the moisture laden clouds.

Cloudy

We contoured on the Windward side of the shaky boulder and scrambled straight up.

Rollercoaster

Going up another rock face. Up and down. Just another day on the saddle.

Webbing

There were more ropes on the saddle from the last time we were here. Can’t complain. Photo by Jose Luis Delaki.

Morning dew

Hope the spider was having a better day than us. Just sitting and waiting for a fat bug to land on his web.

The W

It could have been X, Y or Z as we were socked in on the saddle.

Say cheese

We contoured on the Leeward side around the first “tooth.” Then it was climbing up and down the remaining “teeth.”

Climbing down

Glenn coming down the last “tooth.” Don’t worry, it doesn’t bite.

Anvil rock

Jose getting ready to climb down the “Lost Puka.” Some have postulated that this area used to have a “puka,” and time eroded into what it is today.

Hang loose

Glenn climbing down and getting ready to swing. You had to have been there. Very eroded.

Climbing up

The trail turned into a mixture of wet rocks and muddy holds. Upper body strength required.

Going up the mountain

Hiking the remaining distance to the summit was a surreal experience filled with mud, overgrowth and zero views.

My precious

Glenn announced at the top that it was his wedding anniversary. He found a wooden ring to give to her. How romantic. In a hiker sort of way.

Puu Lanihuli

Group photo at the socked in 2,700′ summit.

Going down

We decided that the descent down into Kalihi Saddle was probably muddy and not safe. Time to bail out. Besides, Glenn had to take his wife out to dinner.

Clear

As we dropped below the cloud deck, conditions and views improved dramatically. Never fails.

Mo’ole junction

The fastest way down from Lanihuli.

Lanihuli summit

Looking back at the now cloud clear summit. The cruel irony.

Mo’ole Valley

Descending down into Nuuanu.

Mo’ole stream

The trail soon dropped us into Mo’ole stream and her eight waterfalls.

Climbing down

Jose making his way down the steep bank.

Tree climbing

Glenn using the tree branches and roots to make his way down.

Thirsty?

Got water. Photo by Jose Luis Delaki.

Rope climb

Glenn jumped into to the pool to cool off and after some encouragement, climbed up the falls.

Down stream

Sometimes it was easier just to follow the stream down than hiking on the stream banks.

Waterfall

Which one was this? I lost count going down.

Mountain apples

We spent a good chunk of time shaking trees and slinging rocks to knock down the tasty trail snacks.

Mo’ole #2

Group photo at the biggest waterfall.

Tunnel hike

Sloshing and slogging through the tunnel. Half dry and half wet.

All pau

The dejected crew at the gate. The most dangerous part of the hike was crossing the Pali Highway to buy a $5 bag of lychee.

GPS Tracks

Our saddle and waterfall hike covered 4.55 miles through clouds, running water and mountain apples. Ryan was nice enough to pick our ripe bodies up and we had our post hike meal at Brick Oven Pizza.