We found ourselves back at the same place we had just hiked two days ago. But, we were going through the front door this time.

Manoa

Rewind several hours earlier to our earlier scheduled hike, and we found that the spirit was willing but the flesh was weak for some, or was it the other way around? Apologies to Ferlino and Lilia that woke up early to be our shuttle drivers for naught. Time to climb trees and find a place that was open for breakfast at this early morning. Thanks to Lilia for cooking us breakfast on the fly as we waited for others to flesh out the birthday group.

Olomana Trail

We cobbled together a more sizeable group and headed off to Chico’s “parking spot” where we met up with Cinja. Let’s not be another statistic this morning.

Olomana Trail

Some of us checked out the abandoned military pumping station that was built during WW2 to manage the water resources of Maunawili Valley.

Olomana Trail

Padding our way through the pine needle carpeted grove of ironwood trees.

Olomana Trail

To paraphrase Casey Kasem, “Keep your feet on the ground and keep reaching for the rocks.”

Olomana Trail

Always stretch on a hike, or was that before the hike. I was never a good student.

Olomana Trail

It was Kenny and Rogers first time on “Oahu’s Matterhorn.” The climb is worth the views at the end, provided you actually enjoy the views.

Olomana Trail

Looking down at the “traffic jam” below me. It pays to take the trail less traveled.

Olomana Trail

A peak too far.

Olomana

The winds were blowing a pretty good clip at the 1,643′ peak, so why not fly my drone? What could go wrong? The winds caught my drone and cast it involuntary upward (again) and luckily the return function worked (again). Some people never learn. Always the one raising my hand.

Olomana

Group photo at the first, tallest and for some the final peak today.

Olomana

Cinja was nice enough to keep Kenny company on the trail back down.

Olomana

The rest of the group continued our traverse on the aptly named divided hill.

Olomana

We’ll be coming ’round the mountain when we comes. We’ll be hiking in five pairs of Merrells, Salomons and La Sportivas. Oh, we’ll all go out to climb all three peaks when we comes. Oh, we’ll all have American diner food when we’re done. We’ll be yelling “Cheehoo” when we’re pau!

Paku’i

Roger scrambling his way to the summit named after the caretaker of the nearby Ka’elepulu fishponds in Kailua that was dredged and developed into the Enchanted Lakes subdivision.

Paku’i

Akira leaving the peak that sits at 1,581′ elevation.

Paku’i

Roger climbing down the steepest section of the trail. No slip. No fall.

Paku’i

Scrambling our way to the iconic dike formation.

Keyhole

Hanging out until the two Chinese influencers have had their 15 minutes of fame and then some.

Keyhole

Our 15 seconds of fame.

Ahiki

Climbing our way up towards the final peak named after Olomana’s favorite headman that oversaw the resources of the ahupua’a.

Ahiki

Roger and Cristy contouring their way towards the 1,440′ peak.

Ahiki

We skipped the sparse summit views and descended down the very unstable ladder and had lunch at the base.

Ahiki

Climbing down the backside of the lowest peak and this was Cristy’s first descent as well.

Ahiki

Take my picture before a gust of wind blows me off this spit of a rock.

Ahiki

Cristy living life on the edge. Literally.

Ahiki

Top down view.

Ahiki

Far away view.

Ahiki

Bottom up view.

Ahiki

Cristy descending with some random hiker in tow. He had popped up by the ladder and was wondering if there was a trail that went down the backside. Follow the breadcrumbs.

Ahiki

Rope point of view.

Ahiki

Roger’s point of view.

Ahiki

This rope is now available for use.

Ahiki

Climbing our way down to the base of the peak.

Aniani Nui Ridge

When you hit your head not once, but twice on the low hanging branches. Some people just are not too bright.

Aniani Nui Ridge

Take out the hamburger patty and add a pick axe, and you just get the Spanish meaning.

All pau

Akira getting his birthday cupcake in the back of a pickup truck, what every guy wants. Thanks to Kenny for picking us up. Our birthday hike covered 3.82 miles over the divided hill with fun friends.

Ruby Tuesday

Post hike meal at the casual dining chain where Aida, Dale, Edgar and Cat, Ferlino and Jasmin joined us for good company and birthday song for dessert.

Photos/Crew taken by Akira Suzuki, Chico Cantu, Cinja Ribeiro, Cristy Meador, Kenny Lui, Roger Schiffman, and yours truly. Not necessarily in order.

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. One should also always let somebody know of your hiking plans in case something doesn’t go as planned, better safe than sorry.

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