Waipio to Waimanu Valley

Saturday Day 1
Bill invited us to celebrate his birthday bash on the Big Island during the Labor Day weekend. We all flew to Kona at staggered arrivals, ate breakfast and stocked up on fuel and food before driving out to the Hamakua Coast. Photo by Chris Bautista.

Ready to start our three day weekend! Photo by Ferlino Carinio.

Bill checked in and found out the unfortunate news of a missing hiker that failed to return yesterday.

We mingled with the other tourists at the overlook before taking our group photo, left to right: Chris, Yoly, myself, Ferlino, Maria, Liezl, Mia, Shirley and Bill.

Walking down the steepest road of its length, 3/4 mile, in the country. Bad knees or brakes need not apply.

No mingling at this spot and the views were completely unobstructed.

“Learn how to drive” is the standard pleasantry, mildly speaking, exchanged on this narrow and steep road. I’m pretty sure it’s one sided as well.

We shed roughly 800′ in elevation and an unknown amount of calories dropping down to the valley floor.

Stepping foot in the aftermath from the collision of hot lava and cold sea water.

To shoe or not to shoe? Photo by Yoly Bedford.

I should have kept my shoes on, as I was stumbling and slipping worse than a teething toddler trying to walk for the first time. Photo by Ferlino Carinio.

Passing a lot of tequila waiting to be bottled.

Looking more than five miles deep into what was once known as the “Valley of the Kings” due to the many early chiefs that called this place home.

I can deal with wild pigs, meandering menehunes and strong currents. But no stores! What is the world coming to? Photo by Yoly Bedford.

Starting our way up roughly a mile of steep switchbacks carved into the side of the mountains.

Leaving the fertile valley for another fertile valley. Photo by Chris Bautista.

The hot and humid climb up the trail was thankfully interrupted by patches of shady tree spots. Photo by Ferlino Carinio.

Crossing paths with two firefighters searching for the lost hiker.

Chris looking back into Waipio Valley. Photo by Mia Garrison.

We finished the short and steep scramble up the side of the mountain to regain some sort of level composure.

Crossing one of 13 stream crossings. Who’s counting? Photo by Yoly Bedford

The humidity resulted in a sweaty sheen that either baited mosquitoes or repelled them.

Switch backing our way up through the pine tree section of the forest.

Filling up our water bladders and bottles at this watering hole, properly filtered of course. Photo by Yoly Bedford

Climbing our way out of the gulch.

Going in and out one of 12 gulches. Who’s counting?

We spent almost an hour here and some fell into a slumber as the shelter started to look more of an attractive place to call the night. It was worse than a kanak attack.

Making our way over the last stream crossing.

Some of the group found a pink backpack behind the sign. No relation to the lost hiker.

Our first peek at the multi-tiered thousand foot Wai’ilikahi Falls. Photo by Mia Garrison.

Looking down at the black sand beach curving around the steep sea cliffs.

Dropping down in a hurry to the valley floor which was assisted by the slippery hau leaves and rocks.

Stepping foot into the valley that civilization has forsaken. No cell service nor hot pizza delivery was available.

We forded the stream at the narrowest crossing that was closest to the ocean. Photo by Chris Bautista.

Somehow we crammed six tents in a space that we thought could only fit four. Photo by Yoly Bedford.

Sunday Day 2
We all woke up to varying degrees of feeling refreshed due to a combination of crashing waves, rain and snoring. Not necessarily in that order.

Enjoying the breaking sun slowly illuminating the rolling surf and pebbled black sand beach.

The tranquility was soon interrupted by a red chopper that unloaded a fire fighter and took off into the morning sky.

Have you seen this lost hiker, Kyle Brittain? Photo by Yoly Bedford.

Bill and Shirley went to the shady side of the river to set their prawn trap. Photo by Shirley Gloriani.

The campsites came with composting outhouses. Much better than a hole in the ground. It also came with abandoned gas, propane not intestinal. Photo by Chris Bautista.

When the neighbors appropriate my tent for their personal clothesline. Photo by Shirley Gloriani.

I don’t always drink Patron, but when I do it’s because of peer pressure or somebody’s birthday.

Let’s see what happens when you try to put a floatie around your waist meant for children under three and you do it from the top down. Photo by Liezl.

The trap coughed up a slippery catfish and juvenile prawns. Guess we’re not eating seafood tonight. Photo by Shirley Gloriani.

Lazy floating Sunday. Photo by Chris Bautista.

Ferlino checking out the beached boat. Photo by Chris Bautista

Bill had taken care of the camping permits for #2 and #7, or so he thought. So, we were puzzled when the rather large group at campsite #2 showed no signs of budging or breaking down their tents. Bill ambled over and struck up a conversation. It turned out that Bill’s permit was actually for campsites #3 and #9. After the awkward exchange, we took pictures from where we thought we were going to be camping for the night.

We passed what was supposed to have been one of our campsites.

Crossing paths with other hikers returning from the waterfall. Photo by Chris Bautista.

We soon caught a glimpse of the waterfall through the forest.

The staggering volume of water falling created its own “rain showers” that saturated the base of the falls. It was quite refreshing.

Yoly plunged into the pool to cool off. Photo by Yoly Bedford.

We all took turns at standing, squatting, jumping and leisurely lounging against the waterfall backdrop.

Chris and Ferlino explored a bit downstream …

… where the photos came out better due to the absence of the “local rain showers.” Photo by Ferlino Carinio.

Biodegradable shampooing for those of the long haired persuasion. Plans of exploring Kaka’auki Falls, the second waterfall around the corner evaporated as we decided to return back to the black sand beach.

Some of us checked out the nearby spring fed stream that had a built in pipe for dispensing liquid refreshment.

Chris, Ferlino and Yoly decided to grab some water from here, instead of from the stream near our campsite. I guess the fact that people bathed and swam in the stream didn’t sit well with them. Photo by Yoly Bedford.

Walking back to the beach under the sun spackled canopied forest.

What was supposed to have been synchronized cartwheeling due to drone meets tree down time, turned into a fun wreck of dysfunctional cartwheeling and running into the surf. Photo by Yoly Bedford.

Thanks to Chris and Ferlino for collecting, smashing and cutting a bunch of coconuts open, as we were all treated to fresh coconut meat and water. Dinner ranged from assorted Mountain House to Century tuna over hot rice, the latter now being my personal favorite.

When a spam musubi or cupcake will simply not do, it’s better to say happy birthday with rice krispie treats and a paper crown from Burger King. Happy Birthday Bill. Photo by Yoly Bedford.

It took the oldest man in the group to show everybody how to properly climb a coconut tree.

Bill and Shirley had campsite #4 all to themselves, while we crammed ourselves into our ghetto campsite #1.

Looking into the “river of birds.”

Our neighbor at campsite #2 caught a tasty fish. Better luck than us at catching prawns. Perhaps we should’ve used the same bait they were using. Photo by Ferlino Carinio.

Well, at least our arms were synchronized this time around. Photo by Ferlino Carinio.

Lights out or on from Waimanu Valley. Photo by Chris Bautista.

Monday Day 3
We all woke up early, broke down camp and prepared to beat the sun during our climb out of the valley.

Thanks for the hospitality. It was a fun weekend. Photo by Ferlino Carinio.

Leaving the valley as we made our way back up the trail.

Looking back at the waterfalls flowing down the side of the mountains. Photo by Chris Bautista

Don’t stop. Keep going. We can rest at the top. Words of encouragement or harassment, depending on ones point of view.

Leaving the exhausting climb behind us as the trail leveled off a bit.

Winding our way through one of multiple gulches.

Somehow I had missed this sign going in. My observation skills are sorely lacking.

Nobody needed water. Let’s just make like the red sea and split.

Mia ended up rolling her ankle going down the trail. Luckily I was prepared with my second hand ankle support.

Running across the search team, whose dog seemed to take a special interest off trail.

Arrived at the top of the Z trail, where the missing hiker’s family and friends were coordinating the search rescue effort.

Going down the switch backs was infinitely preferably than going up them. Photo by Yoly Bedford.

Leaving the sprawling forest reserve.

Yoly walking on the black sand beach. Photo by Chris Bautista

This time coming back, there was no indecision to shoe or not to shoe. We just plunged in and forded the stream.

When talking to locals snags you a bottle of water and a can of cola. Should have stopped to socialize as well. Photo by Chris Bautista

Tree hugger spotted. Photo by Chris Bautista

One of the many wild horses roaming the valley. Not sure which one of the five bands this particular odd-toed ungulate mammal came from. Photo by Chris Bautista.

We snagged a ride going up the road by bumping some kids off a pickup turned flatbed and the fact we had a walking wounded with us.

Our three day camping hike covered 22.4 miles through steep trails, black sand beaches, gulches, valleys and waterfalls. Fun times with great company. Post hike meal at Paniolo Country Inn at Waimea. The meal was botched by bambi caught in the headlights and mediocre food. But the company made up for the shortcomings.

Side trip
Our weekend adventure was not completely over as Bill took us to a lava tube filled with water to wash off the three day grime and stink. Photo by Ferlino Carinio.

We had beaten the aunty and rush hour as there was only another couple enjoying the watering hole. Photo by Ferlino Carinio.

I took a more cautious approach to entering the watery conduit. Photo by Ferlino Carinio.

Yoly decided to make a splash instead. Photo by Ferlino Carinio.

The cold water was a welcome relief from the stifling heat and humidity that hung in the air.

Trying to leave the slippery bucket. Photo by Yoly Bedford.

You can’t take Ferlino anywhere without him hanging upside down from something. Photo by Yoly Bedford.

Ferlino leaving the light transmitting hole as he swims underneath the cave. Photo by Ferlino Carinio.

Yoly holding her breath for five seconds underwater. Next time, we have to bring scuba gear. Photo by Yoly Bedford.

We left the water filled lava tube to find a growing crowd waiting to dip their toes into the cold waters. We toweled off and drove to the airport to board our return flight back to Honolulu. Bill, Maria and Shirley stayed back to continue their adventure on the Big Island. Mahalo to everybody for the unforgettable memories.

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: kohala forest reserve, muliwai trail, wailoa stream, waimanu stream, waimanu valley, waipio valley, Wai’ilikahi Falls, waterfalls, z trail