Met up with Ben, Ethan, Nandor, Scott, Serene and Shirley at one of the wettest spots on the island. Luckily, today was an exception to the rule. Photo by Scott Bowling.

Trailhead

Where the paved road soon meets the trail.

DAM XNG

Group photo. Can you see us in the distance?

Nakoa Trail

Left for the trail. Right for the urinals.

Stream crossing

Ankle deep.

Kahana Valley

Hala trees along the trail, with their distinctive aerial roots.

Stream crossing

Barely wet.

Kahana Valley

Going off the beaten path.

Kahana Valley

Land of lost signals. Hannah, I’ve a feeling we’re not in Virginia anymore.

Kahana Valley

Walking through waist high uluhe ferns as we saw our destination ahead.

Kahana Valley

Trail clearing in progress. Ultra light saws just don’t cut it. Get a home depot saw or Bear Grylls machete.

Kahana Valley

B&W Bamboo break. Photo by Nandor Szotak.

Kahana Narrows

The trail eventually became defined by high, narrow rock walls.

Kahana Narrows

I guess these stones haven’t been rolling for quite some time. Photo by Nandor Szotak.

Chock stone #1

Why do you call it chock stone? Ask the English teacher.

Chock stone #1

Shirley killing it. The plant life that is.

Chock stone #2

A booming voice from Kauai erupted and yelled ” I told you not to touch the tree! ” Sanitized for family consumption. Color me embarrassed. Photo by Ben Hinders.

Kahana Valley

Scott’s group took a different path to Two Apes Talking. We were left with cliff notes for the unknown trail ahead of us. Go straight and up the ridge. Okie dokie.

Kahana Valley

The “trail” was eventually swallowed by the dense forest.

Kahana Valley

Making our way up the steep flank of the ridge, swinging by trees to get to the top of the saddle.

True Manamana

Thoughts of climbing it went out the window, it lingered awhile, but died a slow death.

Kahana Valley

Meanwhile, a couple ridges over, Serene was having fun with the uluhe ferns. Photo by Nandor Szotak.

Spire

Doesn’t look that bad. Famous last words. Photo by Shirley.

Spire

The booster team.

Spire

So crumbly close and yet so fawking far.

Two Apes Talking

As close as we were going to get to it today.

Spire

Spreading my cheeks. Oh, did I get it wrong? Was it turn the other cheek? Photo by Ethan Clavecillas.

Ka’a’awa Valley

A refreshing view of Kanehoalani after Ben had his head up my you know what. Photo by Shirley.

Spire

The man train coming down. Photo by Shirley.

Spire

Shirley being of the wrong gender and not wanting to be the caboose, making her way back down to join the rest of the group. Photo by Nandor Szotak.

True Manamana

Taller than it looks.

Kahana Saddle

Group photo back to front: myself, Serene, Scott, Nandor, Ben, Ethan and Shirley.

Kahana Valley

Scott taking the steep shortcut down. Watch the poop.

Kahana Valley

Looking out towards Pu’u Piei.

Kahana Valley

After three tiered webbing descents, the grade of the ridge transitioned from steep to walkable.

Kahana Valley

The group making their way down the rock strewn “trail.”

Chock stone #2

When I first heard Nandor talking aboout these rock obstacles, I heard ” chalk stone. ” I guess that’s why it had to be explained by an English teacher.

Chock stone #2

Ethan finding his footing as he made his way down.

Chock stone #1

Scott looking for the tree to grab as he made his way down. Oh, it was killed.

Chock stone #1

Ben swinging around the boulder to land himself.

Kahana Narrows

Going down the constricted moss covered walls.

DAM XNG

Playing in the shallow end.

All pau

Fun times with a great crew, thanks to Scott for setting it up. Mahalo to Ben’s friend, Will for dropping off the IPA beer and my imaginary soda. Cheers. Post hike meal at Brick Oven Pizza. Thanks for the soda Ben. Better late than never. Just kidding. Double check your bill for extra charges as well.

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.