We all met up at the Kualoa Beach Park to start our perimeter walk this morning.

Kualoa Beach Park

A certain furry four legged hiker joined the group of Aida, Akira, Alexis, Chico, Cristy, Mari, Tessa and myself on the sprawling 153 acres.

Kualoa Beach Park

Big shadows and small shadow.

Kualoa Beach Park

Going over the wall. Legally.

Kualoa Beach Park

Walking on the beach with the islet of Mokoli’i in the background. The island used to be part of Kualoa Ranch as it was purchased in 1850 from King Kamehameha III for $1,300.00 ($53,996.00 today). It was purchased by the City in the 1970s.

Kualoa Beach Park

Stumping for Groot. Represent.

Secret Island

Arriving at the NOT secret and NOT island. It’s just a beach with certain amenities that you can only use if you’re part of a tour package.

Secret Island

Group photo at one of the docks with Kualoa Mountain in the background.

Secret Island

Walking over to the next dock.

Secret Island

Disappointed the sign doesn’t say “Secret Island.” Marketing 101.

Secret Island

Brah, you get license to drive boat? Nevamine!

Secret Island

Survey says … WOOF!

Kualoa Beach Park

On our return trip back, we were approached by these two braddahs who asked who owns the Black Honda? One guess and one guess only. Thanks to Charlie and Elijah for their aloha!

Kualoa Beach Park

Talking story with Elijah, turns out his dream is to hike from Pupukea to Waiahole.

Kualoa Beach Park

Seeing is believing. I have been saying for years that chickens live and sleep in trees. Nobody believed me until today.

Kamehameha Highway

Groot piggybacking on Chico.

Kamehameha Highway

Some of us wanted free coffee, so we had to recall Alexis who had zoned in on her music and was far ahead of the group.

The Macadamia Nut Outlet

Group photo with the obliging statues.

The Macadamia Nut Outlet

Sampling the free coffee and macadamia nuts.

Kamehameha Highway

Back on the road. And he’s got a dog too. Double threat.

Coral Kingdom

Stopping at the tourist trap, I mean spot on the way. The huli-huli chicken sure smelled good.

Coral Kingdom

You need smoke in order to follow it.

Coral Kingdom

Browsing and puffing and drinking.

Kamehameha Highway

It sure is hot today.

Waikane

We turned off the highway to do a short and easy hike. Those words will come back to haunt me. Saw a hapai (pregnant) pig with her own guard dog. Nobody is messing with this pua’a (pig).

Waikane

The group going up the trail. Somebody was saying we don’t have hiking shoes, only walking shoes. Hiking is a form of walking.

Waikane

Chico helping Mari across a slippery section. Who said this hike is easy?

Waikane

Moli’i Fishpond in the background, which is one of only four original Hawaiian fishponds on the island.

Waikane

Scrambling up the Southeast Ridge of Pu’u Ohulehule, most hikers know it as Pride Rock as an obvious reference to the Disney movie, “The Lion King.”

Waikane

Aida on her approach to the top, walking shoes and all.

Waikane

The “classic” Pride Rock photograph.

Waikane

The “new” Tree Monkey photograph.

Waikane

The group relaxing and being chilled by the refreshing trade winds.

Waikane

Overlooking Kualoa Ranch and its domain.

Waikane

Can you spot Akira below the rock shelf?

Waikane

Time to head back down.

Waikane

Where’s my hiking stick?

Waikane

Two ropes are better than one.

Waikane

Where’s that second rope when you need it?

Waikane

Group photo with the Hawaiian flag that was adopted in 1845 and now represents the 50th state in the Union.

Waikane

Sliding our way down to the exit.

Kamehameha Highway

Sign me up.

Kamehameha Highway

Groot channeling his inner Musk.

Kamehameha Highway

The girls checking out the roadside refreshment stand. Tourist prices.

Kamehameha Highway

Fail. Go back to rapelling.

Kamehameha Highway

$10 Coconut. Cristy was thirsty.

Kamehameha Highway

Everybody needs shade from the hot sun. Where is that portable AC?

Kamehameha Highway

There’s gold in them thar tilipia filled waters.

Kamehameha Highway

Chico went to get shave ice. The rest of us went to get lunch. Hangry.

Waiahole Poi Factory

Lunch at the establishment that started as a poi factory in 1905 and then became the current restaurant in 2009.

All pau

Taking the air-conditioned bus back to our cars at Kualoa Ranch.

GPS Tracks

Our #13 perimeter walk covered 7.5 miles that also included two short hike detours that everybody did even with walking shoes. Awesome day with fun friends.

Photos taken by Aida Gordon, Akira Suzuki, Alexis Catarina, Chico Cantu, Cristy CM, Mari Saito, 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.

Started at the crack of dawn with Chris, Lee, Mia and Yoly to hike a loop that I have been wanting to do for quite some time in Kahana Valley.

Trailhead

We all piled into Chris’s van to drive to the dead end road and kept a low profile to avoid disturbing the neighbors.

Waikane Valley

The trail was surprisingly obvious, a marked departure from my last visit.

Waikane Valley

Approaching a homeless shelter?

Pride Rock

Bucket loads of hikers and tourists make the short hike up to this rock, to gaze upon … Photo by Chris Bautista.

Pride Rock

… the stunning scenery of lush valleys, topped by rugged peaks and shimmering glassy waters.

Pride Rock

Group photo left to right: Chris, Lee, myself, Mia and Yoly.

Southeast Ridge

Proceeding past the tourist scenic spot. Photo by Chris Bautista.

Southeast Ridge

Approaching our second dike of the day.

Southeast Ridge

Hello there! Photo by Chris Bautista.

Southeast Ridge

Climbing up the dike that keeps the encroaching overgrowth at bay.

Southeast Ridge

Dangling legs above the treetops. Photo by Yoly Bedford.

Southeast Ridge

Lee coming down the dike. Photo by Chris Bautista.

Southeast Ridge

Looking out towards the three peaks of Ohulehule, Manamana and Kanehoalani.

Southeast Ridge

The exposed rock ridge served as a firebreak lane through the suffocating overgrowth.

Southeast Ridge

Churning the moss covered landscape.

Southeast Ridge

To climb or to contour the looming dike?

Southeast Ridge

How do I climb up this thing? Photo by Yoly Bedford.

Southeast Ridge

Hiker see, hiker do.

Southeast Ridge

Mia, Lee and Yoly; three monkeys on the dike. Photo by Chris Bautista.

Southeast Ridge

We contoured to the left of the dike as the pitch of the ridge became more pronounced.

Southeast Ridge

Capturing the views now in case we lost them at the top.

Southeast Ridge

Yoly following the rope through the thick overgrowth.

Southeast Ridge

Climbing on the more exposed Windward side of the ridge.

Southeast Ridge

We had to climb over, under and through the thicket of trees that populated the ridge.

Southeast Ridge

At last, free of the overgrowth!

Southeast Ridge

Spoke too soon.

Southeast Ridge

Using trees, roots, vegetation and the occasional rope to climb up.

Southeast Ridge

Barreling and brushing past through the overgrowth.

Southeast Ridge

Pushing up the last major climb to the summit.

Pu’u Ohulehule

When you’re hungry, two twigs will double as chopsticks.

Pu’u Ohulehule

Group photo at the 2,228′ summit.

Pu’u Ohulehule

Sweeping views from the top.

Northwest Ridge

Once the multiple photo shoots were done, we took our leave of the summit.

Northwest Ridge

Looking ahead to the saddle that will connect us to our final summit destination.

Northwest Ridge

Climbing down the steep descent.

Junction

Taking the trail less trampled as we detoured off the ridge.

Saddle

The overgrowth on the Southeast was tame compared to this section. It was uluhell quicksand.

Saddle

Exhausted and spent on the trail. Photo by Yoly Bedford.

Saddle

Treading carefully on the insane and unchecked overgrowth that masked the many false drops on the ridge.

Saddle

This ridge was sorely in need of a trail clearing.

Saddle

Threading our way through the brittle and decaying ohia trees.

Pu’u Koile

Looking back at Pu’u Ohulehule from the 1,613′ summit. Photo by Yoly Bedford.

Saddle

Chris looking out to Pu’u O Kila. Photo by Lee Shreve.

Saddle

The saddle has become demonstrably more eroded from our last visit. Dirt and rocks became dislodged with each step that we took on certain sections. It was like playing Jenga on the mountains.

Saddle

Yoly making her way down the crumbling and shifting pile of dirt and rocks. Photo by Chris Bautista.

Saddle

Looking out towards the peaks of Piei and Manamana overlooking Kahana Valley. Photo by Chris Bautista.

Saddle

The sound of music was singing in the mountains. The earth was moving below us, and it wasn’t from that kind of satisfaction. Photo by Chris Bautista.

Pu’u O Kila

We scribbled today’s date and our names on the log in the jar and plopped down for a well deserved rest. Photo by Lee Shreve.

Pu’u O Kila

Group photo at the tree trimmed 1,520′ summit.

Kahana Valley

Dropping down from the studio sized summit.

Kahana Valley

Enjoying the views of Pu’u Manamana and True Manamana on our way down.

Kahana Valley

Following the river of uluhell downstream.

Kahana Valley

Double Rainbow.

Kahana Valley

The group walking out the valley.

Kahana Valley

This is not the trail exit. Photo by Mia Garrison.

Kahana Valley

That’s the dam exit.

Kahana Valley

One of many trails that crisscrosses the wettest valley on Earth. Photo by Lee Shreve.

Kahana Valley

Damming the water for our group photo. Playing in the shallow end.

All pau

Group photo at the end of our bone crushing, exhausting but soul lifting hike.

GPS Tracks

Our hardscrabble hike registered only six miles of punishing overgrowth and crumbly ridges. Is the GPS tracking working? Really, that’s all? Great hike with a fun crew. Texting instructions for Pizza Hut. Post hike meal at Zippy’s. This is becoming a habit. Local habit.

Note: I have been made aware the 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.

Stuart Ball called Ohulehule southeast ridge “the most dangerous hike on the island.” While I wouldn’t necessarily agree with that statement, I would say it’s one of the more physically taxing hikes.

Haupoa Street

Aaron, Darren, J, Marvin, Matt, Troy and myself joined Will on his hike today. Matt staged his truck in Kahana Valley and we all met up in Waiahole.

Where do we start?

Right off the bat, there was some confusion as to where the trailhead started.

Found the trail

After finding a passable trail through the forest, we started following this heavily eroded section to the ridge.

Are we on the ridge?

No views yet.

Looking back

Will and Marvin scrambling out of the forest.

Scenic point

The exposed ridge offered views of Hakipu’u Valley, Pu’u Kanehoalani, Mokoli’i and the Moli’i Fishpond (which is one of four original Hawaiian fishponds left extant on Oahu).

Rock climbing

Our first dike on the ridge. One of many to come.

Hanging out

Darren enjoying the views. Pu’u Manamana and True Manamana are visible beyond Pu’u Kanehoalani.

Southeast ridge

The dikes offered a respite from the heavy overgrowth on the ridge.

Not too steep

We just had to watch our step, as there were drops to our right. No drops to our left.

Ridge hiking

The surrounding views made it all worthwhile.

Where’s a weed whacker when you need one?

We had to plunge into heavy ridge overgrowth which plucked my GoPro from my backpack. Lucky for me, that Darren found it hanging on a tree. I still owe him a soda. Yes, I’m cheap.

Panoramic view

The views from this valley have few rivals on this island. Just an opinion. Click here for the larger image.

Rocks are preferable

J climbing down a dike. Much easier than battling the annoying and cloying overgrowth. Shortly after this section, Will and Marvin turned around, as Will was not feeling well. It’s always good to know your limits, I have cut a hike short before due to not feeling well. Better than ending up on the six o’clock news. The mountains will always be there.

Pu’u Ohulehule

The summit was still cloud free. How long would that last?

Clouds moving in

The cloud deck was capping Pu’u Manamana.

Use the tree

This particular dike was a little tricky to get up, a nearby tree served as a stepping stone. Aaron opted for the “pincer” hold.

Getting steeper

The ridge started to get steeper as we approached the summit. As we contoured on the Leeward side, the old adage about not trusting ropes, rang false. Matt was holding onto a tree when it gave way and the only thing that kept Matt from plunging down was the rope in his other hand.

Panoramic view

The valleys of Ka’a’awa and Hakipu’u split by Pu’u Kanehoalani. Click here for the larger image.

Windward view

Looking back at the ridge we had come from. This route used to be on the HTMC schedule, until legal access became an issue. Stricken from the hike list.

Boulder fun

We contoured to the right of a large boulder that was blocking the trail. Photo by Aaron Toma.

Pushing up

Now the fun part. Not really. The rest of the climb was at a steep pitch that involved pulling yourself up. Ropes helped. Considerably.

Almost there

More uphill climbing.

Summit view

J was the first to summit Pu’u Ohulehule and was rewarded with a clear view of the valleys. Click here for the larger image. Photo by Francis Joy.

Cloudy summit

This is the view that the rest of us got. Group photo left to right: Matt, Darren, Troy, Aaron, myself and J.

Going down

Going down northwest ridge, the traditional route to Pu’u Ohulehule. The initial descent was somewhat steep, but soon slackened off.

Dangerous trail

Hmm, I’m glad we’re going the other way. Maybe this was the section that the two Danish girls got stuck back in 1999. They spent an amazing eight days on this ridge before HTMC members found them.

Cloudy peak

Looking back at the 2,265′ summit wrapped in clouds.

Panoramic view

Looking left to right: Pu’u Piei, Pu’u Manamana and Pu’u Kanehoalani. Click here for the larger image.

Can you smell what the rocks are cooking?

Close up view of True Manamana and Two Apes Talking rock formation.

Kahana Valley

As we made our way down to the valley, the rain started.

Say Ahhh!

Troy ran out of water, so Mother Nature helped him out.

Fern country

Uluhe ferns seem to have colonized most of the trails.

Stream crossing

The group taking a break at the first stream crossing. Troy helped himself to free water.

Where’s the dragon?

Awhile back, this area was burnt by fire. It left behind a blackened tree that looks like a dragon. Can’t see the dragon for the trees.

Follow the ribbons

Troy about to cross the second stream. Still only ankle high.

Stroll in the forest

The thick canopy of trees filtered much of the sunlight that reached the valley floor.

Shrinkage

Water level was waist high at the third stream crossing. Ice cold.

Nakoa Trail

Left? Right? Straight!

Dam crossing

There was a rope hanging near the dam. Matt was the only swinger today.

Road out

Marvin and Will met us at the end and ferried us to our cars. What? No ice cold drinks waiting for us?

GPS Tracks

The hike was only 5.52 miles, but as Aaron put it “You earned every inch of it.” Great hike with familiar faces that I haven’t seen in awhile. Post hike meal was at El Mariachi in Kaneohe. BYOB.