Met up with Gen, Glenn, Jose, Khym and Marvin to tackle one of Troy’s unfinished project hikes. We all piled into Glenn’s truck and drove to Alewa Heights.

Na Pu’eo Park

Troy promised loads of bushwhacking and a miserable time. How could anybody pass up such a hike? Not us. Photo by Khym Ansagay.

Mack’s chair

The best seat on the trail. It was taken.

Na Pu’eo Bypass Trail

The trail took us down and around the homes perched at the top of Alewa Drive.

Kapalama trail

We soon found ourselves on the Kapalama Loop Trail.

Kapalama Camp

Do the sit lie laws apply here?

Aromatherapy

Walking up through the haze of eucalyptus trees hanging in the morning air.

Down

It seemed for every hill that we climbed, there was an opposite reaction.

Tree hugger

If she’s not doing yoga, she’s hugging trees. Photo by Khym Ansagay.

Tick tock

We took a short break at the gnarled and twisted koa tree where time stands still and marks the beginning of the Lanihuli trail.

Connector ridge

Troy approaching the connector ridge that would take us to Kamanaiki ridge and fall short of the summit of Lanihuli.

Kamanaiki Ridge

Looking at the ridge that would take us down into Kalihi Valley.

Turn around

Group photo left to right: Khym, Marvin, Troy, Gen, myself, Glenn and Jose. No summit for us today. After our picture taking time was over, we backed down the trail to beat the bushes to find the connector ridge.

Rabbit hole

Plunging into the overgrowth. Miserable times ahead.

Hiking on the edge

Tangled and thick overgrowth forced us to keep to the right of the ridge.

Hurry

I don’t know how much longer Khym can hold this dead branch back. Ninja powers rapidly fading.

Looking back

Troy looking back at the 2,700′ crowned summit of Lanihuli.

Jackson chameleon

Invasive critter. Live another day. Photo by Marvin Chandra.

Catch me

The uluhe ferns were so deep and dense in some parts that we got swallowed up, from head to toe. Backstroking didn’t help.

Strawberry hills forever

We burrowed through more ferns and climbed down a roped section before going down the strawberry guava tree lined ridge.

More overgrowth

Uluhe ferns – The gift that just keeps on giving.

Tree junction

Pausing at the ohia tree that marks the end of the regular trail from the bottom. HTMC had just cleared the trail today. Lucky us.

Tree monkeys

Trying to shake one off the fallen koa tree. Photo by Marvin Chandra.

HTMC trail clearing

Freshly cut ferns littered the trail down.

Shroom

Magic or indigestion times. Pick and choose wisely.

Scenic point

Kalihi Valley and Saddle behind us. We didn’t find or see any wallabies today.

Civilization

The ridge started to level out and began dropping us down into the valley.

Trail clearers

Mahalo to the unsung heroes of HTMC that keep our hiking trails alive.

Mountain yoga

There she goes again. Lift that leg higher.

Water tank

The three wise monkeys, err, men of hiking.

Kalihi stairs

The lava steps took us down to the streets of Kalihi. Photo by Khym Ansagay.

Urban hiking

1.3 miles as the mynah bird flies. Photo by Khym Ansagay.

GPS Tracks

The bushwhacking and miserably fun hike lasted 5.77 miles. Post hike meal at Kenny’s. Hawaiian food for lunch. No chili pepper water? No can.