Taking a break from the KST, we headed out to the West side this weekend. Photo by Art Young.

Nanakuli Valley

We are not cattle. Maybe chattel. Thanks to Aida for dropping Art, Chris, CJ and myself off in her spotless car. Mahalo to Takashi for the beta on this trail.

Nanakuli Valley

Trying to avoid getting punctured as we walked through the Kiawe forest. Photo by Chris Bautista.

Nanakuli Valley

Escaping the oppressive humidity in the valley as we crested to the top of the first hump on the ridge.

Nanakuli Valley

Pushing off on the grassy ridge line where we exchanged the humidity for windy conditions. Photo by Art Young.

Nanakuli Valley

Looking back at the backdrop of Heleakala and Lualualei Valley.

Nanakuli Ridge

Making our way up the ridge where the clouds had frosted the tops of the mountain. Photo by Art Young.

Nanakuli Ridge

CJ taking a break from the climb to enjoy the panoramic views. Photo by Art Young.

Nanakuli Ridge

The overgrowth become thicker and taller as we approached the top of the ridge line. Photo by Art Young.

Nanakuli Ridge

The group scrambling their way up the eroded section.

Nanakuli Ridge

Following the rusted pipes and steps to civilization, or so we hoped. Photo by Art Young.

Palehua

It’s always amazing to me to find these government and military structures scattered throughout the island in seemingly remote places.

Palehua

Art tending to his medical needs.

Palehua

CJ observing the speed limit. Photo by Art Young.

Palehua

Our flock grew by one until the chicken crossed the road. The riddle that has been bothering mankind since 1847 was finally answered.

Palehua

Stepping foot in an area rich in Hawaiian history and folklore.

Palehua

The tree that people ask about and forget about.

Palehua

Chris pointing out the path to Kunia if one can find it for the overgrowth.

Palehua

Misty mountains ahead of us. Photo by Chris Bautista.

Palehua

Rain drops started falling on our heads as we entered the forest of pine trees.

Palehua

CJ going up the picturesque stairs in the forest. Photo by Chris Bautista.

Palikea

Decisions. Decisions. Decisions. Shall we press on in this inclement weather or bail at Heleakala?

Waianae Summit Trail (WST)

Pushing through the uluhe overgrowth as we continued our hike without any abortions or interruptions.

WST

The clouds leaving the mountains as we made our way down. Photo by Art Young.

WST

The group climbing down the steep fenced ridge line.

WST

CJ in the “Emerald Forest.”

Pohakea Pass

Art making his way down to “I don’t know what I’m getting myself into.”

Pohakea Pass

It was all our first time climbing down the roughly 80′ crumbly cliff during high winds to boot. It was a hoot for some and not so for others.

Pohakea Pass

Chris climbing his way down. Photo by CJ Mendiola.

Pohakea Pass

Making my way down to terra firma. Photo by Art Young.

Pohakea Pass

Leaving the imposing cliff behind us.

WST

Going up the crack in the mountains. Photo by

WST

Chris climbing his way back up to the ridge line.

WST

Playing in nature’s rock climbing gym.

WST

Covering the gap with the yoga stretch. Photo by Art Young.

WST

Art contouring his way around the rock obstacle.

WST

Climbing and contouring around one of many rock obstacles sprinkled on the ridge line. Photo by Art Young.

WST

Art pulling himself up.

WST

Are we having fun yet? Photo by Art Young.

WST

We caught up with the fence line again which took us straight to our last summit of the day.

Pu’u Kaua

Panoramic views of the central plains and the ridge where we had just came from.

Pu’u Kaua

Final group photo at the 3,127′ summit.

Kaua Trail

Leaving the third highest peak on the island for flatter elevation.

Kaua Trail

Art was on a mission to get down. Quickly.

Kaua Trail

Taking a break from the rapid descent from the mountain. Photo by Art Young.

Kaua Trail

Meandering through the valley on the kukui shells covered trail.

Kaua Trail

Why did the hiker cross the log? To get to the other side. Thank you very much.

All pau

Thanks to Bill and Shirley for picking us up despite the navigational hiccups. We also found out that somebody was born in a barn.

GPS Tracks

Our ten mile plus hike covered a lot of climbing through the rugged Waianae Mountains. Amazing adventure with good friends. Post hike meal at Restaurant Kunio, where the wait was longer than the time we spent in the eatery itself. The only saving grace was that the food was actually tasty.

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.

Rain kept me off the mountains. Again. Plan B. Despite assurances from a hunter at the Manana trailhead, that it only rains in the morning, we all piled into Jose’s car and drove to the West side looking for a dry trail to hike.

Westside Pavilion

We soon found ourselves roughly two miles deep on Lualualei Naval Road in Nanakuli, where we parked outside Westside Pavilion, a party venue. If one has the proper military clearances, the road goes all the way to Kolekole Pass and beyond. A somewhat suspicious caretaker swung by and quizzed us as to what we were doing and if we worked in the insurance or law enforcement fields. Hiking was our reply. His parting advice to us was “Lock your car as this is Waianae.” Sound advice anywhere.

Trailhead

The trailhead is across the street and easily gained by climbing up a concrete wall and squeezing in between a barbed wire fence.

Where is the trail?

We followed the faint foot trail in the dry grass and kiawe trees.

Heiau?

Going up the rocky slope, we skirted the remains of a rock wall. Perhaps it was once part of a heiau?

Scrambling

The trail going up the northern ridge is somewhat obvious, punctuated with faded ribbons that marks the path.

Two more humps

Going up the somewhat steep ridge provided a cardio wake up and several rock faces sprinkled along the way were easily climbed thanks to numerous handholds and footholds.

Can you see the rainbow?

Rain made a quick show in Lualualei Valley and a rainbow soon appeared over the coastline, washed out by the strong Waianae sun.

Maui!

Passing the second false peak, the triangular face of the adjacent ridge which bears a striking resemblance to a pyramid, popped into view. Heleakala means “where the sun is snared” as the Hawaiian demigod, Maui, caught the sun and slowed her down so that his mother’s bark cloth would have more time to dry.

One more hump to go

Thessa climbing towards the summit of Pu’u Heleakala.

Pink flowers

As we neared the summit, we left behind the dry shrub, which was replaced by greener vegetation and a profusion of these tiny pink flowers.

Lualualei Valley

Looking down into Lualualei Valley and the Navy’s VLF Antenna Farm that towers over the land at 1,503′.

Hawaiian Pyramid

Jose pointing to the ridge commonly called the “Hawaiian Pyramid” for obvious reasons. As one climbs higher, the perspective changes and it looks less like a pyramid and more of a ridge.

Pu’u Heleakala

Group photo at the 1,900′ summit left to right: Jose, Brian, Thessa and myself. I heard that a Buddha statue once marked the summit, Buddha was nowhere to be seen.

The trail to Palikea

Looking towards the 1,000′ drop to the saddle and the 1,200′ climb back up towards the pyramid ridge. The ridgeline continues to Palikea and Palehua if one so wishes. Today we had no such wish. Another hike for another day.

Going down

We decided to take the gradually sloped southern ridge, which splits Nanakuli and Lualualei Valleys, back down.

Baby mantis

Jose found this tiny critter, which was about the size of a grain of rice. Thank goodness for macro capability in cameras.

Raining in the ocean

Looking out towards the ocean, we saw several rainclouds. Recycling in action.

Looking back

The summit of Pu’u Heleakala is easily gained and easily lost. The hike seemed too easy to be true.

Henry Guevara, we meet again

Coming down the ridge, we ran across this base that had “Henry Guevara” tagged on it. Apparently, he had just died a week earlier as his ashes are hanging on a tree at the summit, perhaps this was his favorite trail. Luckily, Brian did not sit in the ashes, like the last time on Olomana. Inside joke.

Down to the pillbox

We started descending down from the ridge before the residential housing area and towards this white topped pillbox.

No vacancy

The pillbox was taken, in terms of occupancy, by homeless people as their camp was located nearby.

Trail out

Walking back towards the road with Puu o Hulu Kai and Uka in the background.

Following the tracks

Remnants of railroad tracks that once crisscrossed the island.

Emergency Access

The road to nowhere? Photo by Thessa Bugay.

Is the coast clear?

Thessa hamming it up. No palm trees were taken or harmed during the photographing of this event.

GPS Tracks

Our dry hike in Nanakuli was a short and sweet 3.9 miles, as compared to a wet and long muddy hike if we had stuck with the original plan on going from Manana to Waimalu.