Back to back Kona Lows meant another waterfall hike. Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in.

Pali Lookout

We all met up at the natural wind tunnel that was out of service today.

Pali Lookout

Everybody chose their ingress to the Old Pali Road based on body type.

Old Pali Road

We didn’t start this stack of stones, but we are going to finish it.

Old Pali Road

It’s hard to believe this road used to accommodate two lanes of traffic before it was closed down in 1961, in favor of the current Pali Highway.

Old Pali Road

The water draining from the road that was blasted out of the Pali in 1897.

Old Pali Road

Some struggled more than others in attempting to execute this common callisthenic exercise.

Old Pali Road

Aerial view of Twin Falls. The flow was not as voluminous as it was during the storms.

Old Pali Road

Mother Nature is slowly reclaiming the road through landslides and overgrowth.

Pali Trail

Paralleling the bustling highway as we walked through the corridor of uluhe ferns.

Pali Trail

Drones are like dogs, they don’t always follow you.

Pali Trail

Accident prone hikers need to exercise extreme caution crossing this foot bridge. Said hiker was not in this photograph.

Maunawili Demo Trail

Look but don’t touch. I think we got it backwards. Or twisted.

Maunawili Demo Trail

We decided to explore our first stream crossing to our first waterfall.

Maunawili Demo Trail

Marilyn next to a side waterfall.

Maunawili Smalls

If you are gullible enough, people will believe your made up name.

Maunawili Demo Trail

Walking over the slippery bridge as we passed by a trickling waterfall. Accident prone hikers beware.

Maunawili Demo Trail

Coming across a historic landmark on the trail that dates back to the 1930s, an old rainwater collection tank that is connected to the Saint Stephen Diocesan Center located below the hill.

Maunawili Demo Trail

Crossing over one of multiple streams flowing down from the mountains.

Maunawili Demo Trail

Pausing at the junction to Piliwale Ridge, a steep Windward trail that touches the KST.

Maunawili Demo Trail

Edgar working his way around one of multiple blowdowns on the trail.

Maunawili Bigs

Our group photo at the turning point on the trail as we saw our destination through the low hanging clouds and trees.

Maunawili Bigs

Another view of the four waterfall chutes flowing down from the mountains.

Maunawili Bigs

Working our way upstream under the giant ferns.

Maunawili Bigs

Blonde Buddha at the first waterfall.

Maunawili Bigs

Waterfall point of view.

Maunawili Bigs

Climbing our way up the second waterfall.

Maunawili Bigs

Not much flow for the effort.

Maunawili Bigs

Ani joining the spectators down below.

Maunawili Bigs

Running into the Katz family on the trail.

Maunawili Bigs

Short hike up to the third waterfall.

Maunawili Bigs

More flow, less effort.

Maunawili Bigs

Look up in the sky, it’s a i’iwi bird, it’s a tour helicopter, it’s a upper tier waterfall!

Maunawili Bigs

Slipping, sliding and falling on our way to the last waterfall.

Maunawili Bigs

Akira on top of the lower tier. Come and join us. Our invite fell on water clogged ears.

Maunawili Bigs

Scrambling our way over loose rocks and blowdowns to the upper tier.

Maunawili Bigs

Photo with the raging 600′ gusher of a falls. Dramatic exaggeration for those that missed it.

Maunawili Bigs

Making our way back down loose rocks and trees. One tree gave way which resulted in Akira sliding down the hill before being stopped by a not so loose tree.

Maunawili Demo Trail

Chico checking to make sure the fellow hiker from Beijing is properly attired for the trail.

Maunawili Demo Trail

Heading back to the Pali Lookout just as rain showers started to sweep the area.

All pau

Kenny met us at the end and took our final group photo. Quite the artist.

GPS Tracks

Our waterfall hike covered 6.10 or 7.5 miles, depending on whom is tracking. Mad respect to everybody that came out for today’s adventure. Post hike meal at Kam Bowl, hyped as “Home of The Best Oxtail Soup Since 1965,” but the jury is still out, as some would argue Kapiolani Coffee Shop has the best oxtail soup.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ueMt-d-2uGU

Video by Edgar Gamiao of our irresponsible hike.

Photos/Crew taken by Akira Suzuki, Allison Banks, Ani Lagpacan, Chico Cantu, Edgar Gamiao, Marilyn Bermudez, 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.

We decided to explore one of the islands last (un)touched waterfall. This was actually two visits combined into one story, as redundancy has its limits. Photo by Chris Bautista.

Trailhead

Met up with Analyn, Anne, Chris, Daryl, Ferlino, Jasmin, Lopaka, Sean and Tina at the parking lot that is only hospitable to church (body of collective Christians) and golfers.

H20 Tank

We swung a collective left at the water tank to remain on the muddy trail.

Pali Puka

Can you see the hole for the mountain?

Hau Trail

Ducking our way underneath the tangled thicket of hau trees.

Kalo

Passing the world’s oldest cultivated crop.

Likeke Falls

Surprisingly, we had the popular watering hole all to ourselves. Photo by Jasmin Nepomuceno.

Likeke Falls

We came back with umbrella props on our second visit.

Likeke Falls

Group photo left to right: Ferlino, myself, Analyn, Chris and Rocky.

Trail

Following the stream down hill.

Trail

The well-defined trail took us through several gullies and stream beds gouged from rain cascading off the Ko’olau Mountains.

Vanity Fair?

Can it really be any easier than this?

Trail

Making our way up the stream bed that was strewn with trees and assorted boulders washed down from the mountain.

Lanihuli Bigs

The twin falls teased us with her trickling water. No gusher today. Group photo left to right: Sean, Ferlino, Lopaka, Tina, Analyn, Anne, Jasmin, myself, Chris and Daryl.

V Chute

What happened to the forecasted rain showers?

Aquarium

Pssst. Call Lopaka over here as there is a certain amphibian friend that wants to meet him.

Virgin Mary Falls

A little more trickle on our second visit. Still no gusher.

V Falls

Aspiring umbrella models posing at the waterfall. Photo by Chris Bautista.

V Chute

Ferlino getting up close and personal.

Exit

Time to leave as a few scattered rocks dropped in on our party. Photo by Chris Bautista.

Trail

Going down the timber mountain log ride. Photo by Ferlino Carinio.

Windward view

Clear and sunny. Good conditions for a ridge hike, not so much for a waterfall hike.

Hau jungle

Back down in the hau jungle gym.

Uluhe trail

Group photo against the vegetation blocked backdrop of the Ko’olau Mountains.

Trail

We decided to see where this trail would take us. It has to come out somewhere, right?

Junk yard

Somebody ran their car into the ground.

Bridge crossing

Some had a high center of gravity …

Underpass

… others had a low center of gravity.

H3

Passing the most expensive interstate highway built, at a cost of $80 million per mile. I’m sure the rail will surpass that cost by leaps and bounds.

Fence line

We couldn’t find the gate.

Ho’omaluhia Botanical Garden

Who will make it into the 2019 Hiking Models calendar? I should have showed more skin.

Ho’omaluhia Botanical Garden

Group photo with Kalihi Saddle in the background. Mahalo to Jasmin for picking us up.

Fiddleneck galore

Anne and Analyn plundering, I mean harvesting the tender tips of the Warabi or Pako ferns.

Kitchen

From the farm to the table. Just add kamaboko, tomato, onions, fish sauce and a vegan appetite.

Water tank

Chris found a comfortable seat amidst the tree branch tangled top.

Water tank

Can you see me now? Photo by Rocky Abad.

Water tank

Coming up. Photo by Chris Bautista.

Water tank

Going down.

Ko’olau Golf Course

Free range bacon …

Ko’olau Golf Course

… fresh eggs …

Ko’olau Golf Course

… and a tree loving hen. We had all the fixings of a post hike meal! Fun little hike with friends to see a flowing and trickling waterfalls tucked away at the base of the mountains.

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.

Every time I travel over the Pali Highway and get a clear view of the Pali Notches and Konahuanui, I sometimes develop an urge to hike that trail again. I scratched that itch today along with Glenn, Chance and David. But this time, we were going up the Pali Notches and down Piliwale Ridge. We had originally planned to do it this past Sunday, but the tsunami warning canceled those plans.

Wake up cardio

We pushed off a little bit before 7:00am and right off the bat, the going up was a steep and somewhat muddy climb interrupted by a thicket of hau trees.

First clearing

A brisk ten minutes later, we were already at the first clearing, strangely devoid of the powerful gusts that the Pali is famous for. However, vog conditions from the Big Island produced a hazy filter on our scenic viewing.

Coming down the second notch

We made our way to the first notch, where we found that somebody had installed rope, which was not really necessary. Coming down the second notch was also aided by rope, which did come in handy. Photo by David Theriot.

Going up the Nipple

As we made our way up the rock formation known as the “Nipple”, we had already decided to climb up the Chimney with our backpacks on and using our regular hiking shoes. Our last hike up the Chimney, we tried it without backpacks and wearing rock climbing shoes, as that was the going advice on the best way to get up the Chimney. But we found that it wasn’t necessary, as far as our hiking group went. Photo by Chance Viloria.

Climbing up the Chimney

Going up the Chimney was relatively easy going, as ropes anchored by several pitons, provided necessary assistance when needed. However, the bottom piton was noticeably looser from our last visit, I’m afraid it will eventually come loose from it’s anchored point. Photo by David Theriot.

Climbing down the Nipple to the Chimney

Chance, Glenn and David climbing down the Nipple to go up the Chimney. It’s always good to have eyes on each other, especially when climbing rockfaces and tricky parts.

Top of the Chimney

We all made it to the top of the Chimney at 8:00am.

Tricky section

The only real difficult or tricky section that we came across, was a section of rockface that we had to contour around on the Leeward side. The handholds were minimal and our feet had precious little purchase on the narrow ledge. I believe this is the spot where a fellow hiker fell over 300 feet back in September. Thankfully, she survived and I heard is doing quite well.

Looking back

Looking back towards Lanihuli and the Koolau Mountains. It was a gorgeous day to hike the Koolau’s, spectacular views to soak in all day.

Coming up the ridge

Picking our way through the heavily vegetated trail was a somewhat welcome change from the rockfaces that we had just passed.

Wall of Mud

The only difficult part going up the approximately 25′ wall of mud is the initial part. Once you pull yourself up with the installed rope and the low hanging tree, it’s just a little more scrambling using tree roots and vegetation to get past the muddier part and to less muddy parts. 

Panoramic view from the summit of Konahuanui or K1

Click here for the larger image. Photo by David Theriot.

Piliwale ridge

We had our lunch at the junction that goes down Piliwale Ridge. Best lunch spot on the island! The junction is a clump of trees and are marked with two ribbons, or what’s left of them. After eating our lunch, we headed down Piliwale around 11:30am. We also ran into three hikers that were coming up the ridge and going down to Lulumahu falls.

It’s all downhill

The initial part of the ridge was heavily vegetated, which helped us going down. Photo by David Theriot.

Rope and Rocks

There are several steep and crumbly sections going down the ridge, but they are for the most part, roped for assistance.

Looking back on how we came down

Eventually the ridge ran into Maunawili Demonstration Trail, where we then took a left to head back to the Pali Lookout.

Ice cold water, mountain apples and lilikoi’s

Walking along the trail, we were treated to ripe mountain apples and lilikoi’s courtesy of Chance and David who knocked and plucked them from where there were hanging. Leptospirosis was not even on Chance’s dehydrated mind when he refilled his empty water bottle with ice cold water flowing from a water catchment tank.

Piliwale Ridge

Nice view of the ridge we had just come down.

Nuuanu Pali Lookout

We got back to the lookout around 3:30pm, where we had cold Gatorade’s waiting for us, thanks to Chance’s girl. The entire hike was a little shy of four miles and it was an awesome hike with an awesome crew. Photo by Kaimana Augustiro.

What was supposed to have been a crisp hike from Pali Notches to Manoa Middle turned into an abbreviated hike due to lack of time. We decided to just do the Pali Notches and check out the Old Pali Highway.

True Pali Lookout

After scrambling up the steep slope through the forest and hau trees, we quickly gained elevation and saw a great view of the Windward side and the Koolau mountains.

First Notch

We made short work of the first notch as it’s relatively easy to climb down and out going to the second notch.

Second Notch

We got to the second notch and discovered that the rope we had used the last time was now gone. My friend went down first basically going from left to right. I decided it would be easier and safer climbing down without my backpack, so I threw it down to him and missed and it hit the ground and bounced off the mountain, where it joined my friend’s cap that he lost the last time we did this hike. Oh well, better the backpack than me.

The Chimney

I climbed up the bump in the ridge right before the Chimney to get a better perspective of what we had to climb the next time we tackled this hike. The wind was howling and the tops of the mountain was covered in clouds, giving a surreal appearance to the whole thing. Not wanting to press our luck and running out of time, we turned around and climbed back down towards the Pali Lookout.

Old Pali Highway

From the Pali Lookout, we turned right to head down the Old Pali Highway. We followed the heavily overgrown road that hugged the sides of the mountain all the way down to the current Pali Highway and turned around. As we were walking back towards our car, we ran into Masi Oka, the actor from Heroes and Hawaii Five-O. Since today was such a short hike, we ended up having breakfast at Andy’s Sandwiches & Smoothies in Manoa, quite the tasty place.