I was still all wet from the soaking we had just had on the Ko’olau Mountains last weekend, so we headed off to the West side to enjoy a dry spell for a change. Thanks to Jasmin for dropping Aida, Analyn, Dale, Ferlino, Sally, Tessa and myself out to the valley.

Waianae Valley

Walking up the much deserved maligned service road. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Waianae Valley

Trading in the blistering paved road for Mother Earth. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Bittermelon patch

We saw Aunty picking dahon ng ampalaya for her mungo beans. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Waianae Valley

Tessa crossing the flowing dam.

Waianae Valley

Going up the wide firebreak, which made it much easier to gain the spur ridge. Photo by Sally Chow.

Waianae Valley

Cardio puff up the short and steep hill. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

Waianae Valley

The girls resting at the top of the firebreak. Photo by Dale Yoshizu.

Kawiwi Ridge

Tessa contouring to gain the ridge line. Ranch workers down below were yelling at us but their words were lost in the elevation.

Kawiwi Ridge

Starting our rocky climb up the ridge. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

Kawiwi Ridge

Analyn making her way up. I think we lost Dale around this point as he was feeling fatigued and went back down.

Kawiwi Ridge

Tessa scampering up the rocks. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Kawiwi Ridge

Analyn pulling herself up.

Kawiwi Ridge

Going up the angled rocks. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

Kawiwi Ridge

Aida’s turn to go up. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

Kawiwi Ridge

Single file shuffling on the narrow ridge line. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Kawiwi Ridge

Stepping stones that kept us out of the brush. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

Kawiwi Ridge

Aida hugging the steep rock face as she climbs her way up. Photo by Sally Chow.

Kawiwi Ridge

Tessa climbing her way up. Photo by Sally Chow.

Kawiwi Ridge

Sally coming up the progressively steep climb. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Kawiwi Ridge

Tessa contouring around the rockface before climbing up. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Kawiwi Ridge

Aida against the backdrop of Waianae and Lualualei Valleys. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

Kawiwi Ridge

Tessa working her way to the tricky crack. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Kawiwi Ridge

Somebody take my picture! Ate! Kuya!

Kawiwi Summit

Group photo left to right: Analyn, Tessa, myself, Aida, Sally and Ferlino. When you don’t have a mask to cover your face, a t-shirt or banana will do.

Kamaileunu Ridge

Somebody was quite limber today.

Kamaileunu Ridge

Sally coming down from the 2,957′ summit.

Kamaileunu Ridge

Traversing the narrow spine of the rocky ridge line. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

Kamaileunu Ridge

Spotting and safety go hand in hand. Photo by Sally Chow.

Kamaileunu Ridge

Sally taking the low road. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Kamaileunu Ridge

Just do it. Double reinforcement.

Kamaileunu Ridge

Our first contact with the fence line meant to keep out pigs and goats from chewing up the native plants. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Kamaileunu Ridge

Leaving the fence behind us as we traded it for more rock climbing. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

Puki Rock

The girls breaking down the language barrier by visual illustration.

Broken Teeth

Making our way over and around the boulders seemingly thrown at random on the ridge line.

Ohikilolo

Looking yonder at the pyramidal peak framed by the drifting clouds.

Broken Teeth

Go big or go home. Photo by Ferlino Carinio.

Kamaileunu Ridge

Analyn passing through a patch of pine trees.

Kamaileunu Ridge

The group making the slow climb to the top. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

No Name Peak Summit

The girls taking a break from their derrieres.

Kamaileunu Ridge

Making our way down from the 2,950′ summit.

Kamaileunu Ridge

Heading down the ridge line that buffered the rolling clouds. Photo by Analyn Baliscao.

Kamaileunu Ridge

Climbing down the fence line. Photo by Sally Chow.

Tiki Summit

Posers amongst the towering rocks that interrupted the ridge line.

Tiki Ridge

Going down the old hunter trail that Waianae Steve found and cleared.

Tiki Ridge

Contact with the first tiki.

Tiki Ridge

Two heads are better than one. Photo by Sally Chow.

Tiki Ridge

Going down one of several rock climbs. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

Tiki Ridge

Tessa practicing for the upcoming pole dancing competition as we followed the red/white bottle caps on our way down. Photo by Sally Chow.

Waianae Valley

Analyn passing through Hawaii’s version of Middle Earth.

Waianae Valley

Trail meets the road. Analyn and Tessa hurried down the road to finish the job of picking bitter melon leaves.

All pau

Thanks to Jasmin for picking us up from the valley of the howling dogs.

GPS Tracks

Our 5.23 mile loop hike started and ended in Waianae Valley that were filled with rock climbs, narrow ridge crossings and great company. Post hike meal consisted of carbonated colas and melting ice cream. Times are tough when you can’t eat in.

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.