Waiahole Tunnels

Back for more waterfalls. Of a sort. There was water flowing. Does that count? Photo by Analyn Baliscao.

Aida, Analyn, Art, Dale, Ed, Edgar, Janell, Jennifer, Katie, Quan, Sally and myself carpooled into Lilyn and Matt’s vehicles and drove to the trailhead before the chickens woke up to start our tubing exploration and hike with Janell one last time before she moves to the mainland.

We had a brief discussion as Matt was going to take us on the longer approach that would involve more tubing time, but we all decided on the shorter route. Besides, nobody brought their wet suits except Matt and nobody was dying to catch a case of hypothermia. Photo by Art Young.

Our first stream crossing of the day. Photo by Matt Vidaurri.

We soon connected to the main trail in the valley. Photo by Art Young.

Shake on top. Shaka on bottom. Photo by Janell Tuttle.

Single filing on the trail. No passing. Photo by Jennifer LaRochelle.

There’s only room for one guy on this tree. And a woman apparently. Photo by Lilyn Avendano.

How many hikers can this tree support? Apparently 13. Lucky 13. Photo by Edgar Gamiao.

Paparazzi swarming the haku lei’d Janell. Photo by Matt Vidaurri.

My selfie stick gets bigger! Learn something new every day! Group photo by Sally Chow.

Look who arrived fashionably late. Somebody was not a morning person. Photo by Ed Valdez.

Everybody was here for the party. Group photo by Analyn Baliscao.

Some kept dry and some got wet for another stream crossing. Photo by Quan Haberstroh.

Laredo showed us this off the beaten trail gem of a tree. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Silky waterfall shot. Smooth as segregation. Photo by Matt Vidaurri.

Rock stackers repping a group from the Paleolithic era.

Preparing to cross over another stream crossing. Photo by Art Young.

Art was thinking of taking the easy way out of the valley. Photo by Janell Tuttle.

Everybody wanted to practice their silky shots, once the settings became known. Photo by Quan Haberstroh.

Analyn climbing her way through one of the major blowdowns in the valley. Photo by Dale Yoshizu.

Building a junction marker that we never came back to use. Photo by Ed Valdez.

Listening to the back and forth discussion if we are coming back or not coming back here. Photo by Ed Valdez.

The closest we would come to seeing the waterfall. Photo by Allison Banks.

We finally decided that we were not coming back here, so we all gathered our stuff and headed into the tunnel. Photo by Art Young.

Looking back as the rest of the group streamed into the tunnel. Photo by Ed Valdez.

Exploring one of 27 known tunnels on this side of the island. Photo by Dale Yoshizu.

Making our way up the “step” as the water churned underneath our feet. Photo by Art Young.

Some of us climbed out of the freezing water and explored another tunnel above us. Photo by Dale Yoshizu.

I thought Halloween was yesterday? Photo by Lilyn Avendano.

Laredo going through the semi-gated tunnel. Photo by Ed Valdez.

Matt on the other side of the gate. Photo by Ed Valdez.

Hello from the other side. Photo by Ed Valdez.

Ed taking the direct route to get back to us. Pays to be on the slender side. Photo by Sally Chow

Wading through just part of the network of irrigation tunnels that is the sugar industry’s legacy to Hawaii as it channels water trapped in the basaltic dikes to the arid central plain.

It was time to release everybody’s hot air. Some had to master the technique of pinch and blow. Some never could. Photo by Matt Vidaurri.

Testing out the water slide. Katie lost her floatie and Sally got stuck. But everybody had fun. Manmade water park.

There was another debate as to how far we should go upstream. Eventually Jennifer, Quan and myself followed Allison further up the pitch black tunnel while everybody else went with the flow.

Follow me guys, we don’t need another extra 20 minutes. Photo by Art Young.

Passing a side tunnel as Dale, Ed and Edgar headed back topside.

Look what Ed found floating out of the tunnel. Photo by Dale Yoshizu.

Dale put the found floatie to immediate use. Photo by Edgar Gamiao.

We didn’t find the promised waterfalls, so we hopped in our floaties and enjoyed the ride down the tunnel.

The rest of the group daisy chained together as they floated downstream. The group that floats together, stays together. Literally. Photo by Art Young.

Floating down at different speeds based on body weight and position.

End of the ride for us, as the drainage grate impeded further progress.

We could literally see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Janell getting ready to submerge and slide out. Photo by Art Young.

Matt helping with the assist and recovery on the other side. Somebody didn’t need the help.

Top side view of the water flowing out of the tunnel.

The group in various stages of shivering. Photo by Art Young.

Matt and Sally coming down the steps after checking out a memorial perhaps dedicated to the Chinese workers that helped build these irrigation tunnels?

I guess Janell will have to find other booty to squeeze on the mainland.

Walking out the verdant valley.

Somebody was not amused at Matt crying wolf repeatedly, or was that crying scooba? Photo by Matt Vidaurri.

Trying to play Tarzan on the vines, very unsuccessfully I might add.

Coming down the road back to our cars.

Some forgetful hiker left her wallet on the road and luckily discovered it coming back. Naturally, suspicion fell on me for some reason. When sorry doesn’t mean sorry. Photo by Matt Vidaurri.

This picture begs the question; which is faster, a hiker or a tortoise? We also found out that posed mannequins can easily fool some people more than others. Allison, Analyn and Laredo had to leave as they had hot dates waiting for them. Photo by Analyn Baliscao.

The rest of us grabbed Hawaiian food from where else, Waiahole Poi Factory and headed across the street to Kualoa Beach, where Narissa also joined us to eat our lunch in social distancing peace.

Fun on the beach with a borrowed children’s toy, couples snuggling and posing.

Halloween was still alive on the beach. Who did the wicked witch of the Windward best?

Fun at the docks. One last booty squeeze, shoulder squeezing, kung fu fighting and cartwheeling.

Video by Edgar Gamiao of our Waiahole Tunnels Exploration Hike.

Video by Matt Vidaurri of our Waiahole Tunnels Exploration Hike.

It was a fun filled day with good friends and company. Saying goodbye is always bittersweet. Everybody will miss your infectious laugh and smile Janell. A hui hou.

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.

Tagged as: irrigation tunnels, tubing, waiahole valley