Waimanalo to Olomana

Met up with some friends to hike a trail that I last did over seven years ago. Decided to eschew going up the front side as it was too pedestrian and clogged with other hikers. Back side it is. Photo by Cisco Quintanilla.

Shout out to Jasmin and Matt for shuttling our rather large group to the trailhead that was within spitting distance of Bumpy Kanahele’s, Pu‘uhonua o Waimanalo. Group photo left to right: Ferlino, Lilyn, Chris, Sally, Aida, Edgar, Analyn, myself, Tesssa, Cisco, Anne, Jasmin, Matt, Janell and Art.

Left or right? Choose wisely. Or just check the GPS tracks.

We were startled by Casper, the exotic pinay on the trail.

Walking in the foothills of the Ko’olau Mountains. Photo by Matt Vidaurri.

Staying on the twisted trail.

Passing through a semi-gated section of the trail.

One was more phat than the other.

The making of Groot. Baby shower in 12 weeks. Photo by Janell Tuttle.

What? Take a picture. It’ll last longer. After admiring the local flora, we found out that we overshot the trail and had to double back to the gate.

Climbing our way to the ridge line. Photo by Matt Vidaurri.

Passing the barbed wire fence that possibly harked back to the days that cattle roamed the valley. Photo by Matt Vidaurri.

The group passing by the exposed leaf. Somebody once said it was like finding a four leaf clover or seeing a double rainbow. Photo by Matt Vidaurri.

Lilyn climbing up the short and steep hill. Photo by Matt Vidaurri.

We broke out of the tree line to panoramic views of the land of potable water. Photo by Sally Chow.

Plunging back into the tree line where Chris and Ferlino took to the trees. I took to the trail. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Approaching the backside of Ahiki.

Janell’s climbing concentration was interrupted by a cacophony of laughter and loudness emanating from the forest. Even the birds were complaining about the “competition.”

The source of the laughter and loudness. Captured in a rare moment of silence. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

Matt climbing up against the background of Aniani Nui ridge that connected to the Ko’olau Mountains. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Cisco in the climbing queue as we put down webbing in some spots for those that desired the additional assurance. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Edgar and Lilyn thinking this is a piece of cake. With icing on top. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Janell climbing up the steepest section of the rock face as Cisco spots her from below. Photo by Aida Gordon.

It’s always Flag Day in the mountains with Ferlino. Photo by Lilyn Avendano.

Waiting my turn so I don’t get pelted by rocks from above. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Cisco making his way up. I felt sorry for the couple that was stuck behind our 14 person group, but I heard they took advantage of our webbing. So win-win for everybody involved. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Janell waiting for her turn to go up. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Aida living life on the edge. Not taking up too much space. Photo by Lilyn Avendano.

If it’s not a jump shot in the mountains, it’s a butt grab. Must be a girl thing.

Holding the ladder steady as the group climbed their way to the top. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Art wearing the latest fashion climbing accessory around his neck – yellow webbing.

Tessa near the top of the summit.

Panoramic photo of Waimanalo and Kailua by Sally Chow.

How many hikers can fit on the postage stamp sized summit of Ahiki? Apparently 14 with a little room to spare. Group photo by Matt Vidaurri.

Leaving the summit after our lunch break. Photo by Art Young.

The group descending from the summit of Ahiki.

Making my way down the somewhat narrow trail. Photo by Cisco Quintanilla.

Somebody was not using three points of contact. Photo by Tesssa Bugay.

Lilyn climbing her way down to the keyhole. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Chris spotting Aida as she comes down.

The chunk of real estate that required a lot of photo shoots. Thankfully drizzling rain cut it short.

Climbing down from the third peak. Photo by Edgar Gamiao.

Anne and Sally climbing up the rocky hill.

Sally with the razor thin peak in the background.

Chris carefully climbing up the section that probably accounts for most of the accidents on this trail.

Janell coming up the most photographed tree framed approach. Photo by Lilyn Avendano.

Cisco relaxing while he waits for the rest of the group to catch up from their photo shoots.

Leaving the keeper of the ponds summit. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

The rest of the group approaching the first peak of the divided hill. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Thanks to everybody for another rousing rendition of getting older. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

Matt droning us at the 1,643′ summit.

Leaving the top as it was getting inundated with other hikers wishing to experience the three peaks or at least one of them. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Ascending hikers yielding to descending hikers. Photo by Art Young.

Cisco making his way down the last main rock face.

The group coming down the rooted and rutted trail under thick tree canopy.

Matt testing out the load capacity on the aerial roots. I guess he doesn’t need to go on a diet. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Thanks to Jasmin for picking up our large group from the Royal Hawaiian Golf Club grounds.

We all had front row seats to the Hawaii audition for Dancing with the Hikers. Chris Chun and Somphet also joined us with plates of Spicy Pork and Oxtail Soup. Thanks to everybody for contributing to the potluck spread that was our post hike meal.

Our short jaunt on the erosional remnant from the Ko’olau Mountains covered roughly 3.3 miles through panoramic scenery with fun company and good times.

Video by Matt Vidaurri of our Anamolo hike.

Video by Edgar Gamiao of our Anamolo hike.

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: ahiki, anamolo, maunawili demo trail, olomana, pakui, waimanalo