Waimanalo to Ahiki

by kenji SAITO on September 27, 2026

Hiking Waimanalo to Ahiki

Our hike today was over ten years in the making for a certain individual. Today his dream came true. Semper Fi. Thankfully, Hurricane Nolo was a bust this weekend.

Waimanalo

Waimanalo

Thanks to Allison for dropping us off in the back woods of Waimanalo. We met another hiking group that were waiting to be assembled to go tramping in the foothills and one of them was kind enough to take our group photo.

Waimanalo

Waimanalo

Somebody stepped on dog shit. The smell was in the air. Shoe checking.

Waimanalo

Waimanalo

Jeremy bear hugging his way to the top.

Waimanalo

Waimanalo

Wasaaaaabi! Just missing the sushi.

Waimanalo

Waimanalo

Group photo with the backdrop of the knife edged peak named after the overseer who was tasked with managing the wetlands of Kawainui.

Waimanalo

Waimanalo

Cristy climbing and crawling her way through one of the fallen trees that blocked the trail.

Ahiki

Ahiki

Making our way up the base of the third peak.

Ahiki

Ahiki

Aileen waiting in the climbing queue.

Ahiki

Ahiki

Jeremy and Cristy approaching the next near vertical climb.

Ahiki

Ahiki

Are we there yet?

Ahiki

Ahiki

Just pull up. You’re in my way, Kenji!

Ahiki

Ahiki

Scary! Ririi? It was also Akira’s first time ascending the backside of Olomana.

Ahiki

Ahiki

Did you even look this side? I see what you mean. When expectations tries to trump experience.

Ahiki

Ahiki

The best seat in the house.

Ahiki

Ahiki

When the eyes speak volumes.

Ahiki

Ahiki

Aileen contouring and climbing this treed section.

Ahiki

Ahiki

Cristy climbing to the best seat in the house.

Ahiki

Ahiki

Approaching the shakiest section of the trail. Literally.

Ahiki

Ahiki

Missing the PVC pipe ladder.

Ahiki

Ahiki

Group photo at the lowest of the three peaks at 1,480′ elevation.

Three Peaks

Three Peaks

Climbing our way down from what is considered the most “technical” of the three peaks.

Ahiki

Ahiki

Making our way to the two remaining peaks.

Three Peaks

Three Peaks

Can you see me for the hole? The Olomana Puka.

Three Peaks

Three Peaks

Descending our way down the crumbly rocks.

Keyhole

Keyhole

Who’s climbing to the top? Crickets. Not even chirping.

Keyhole

Keyhole

Trying to cram five hikers in our group photo frame.

Keyhole

Keyhole

Contouring around the fractured dike that will surely crumble under its own weight one day.

Three Peaks

Three Peaks

Approaching the base of the middle peak as we entered the canopied area that provided shade and shelter from the sun.

Paku'i

Paku’i

Climbing up one of the steeper sections of the trail.

Paku'i

Paku’i

Aileen looking back at the rest of the group making their way up.

Paku'i

Paku’i

Jeremy striking a pose that many hikers imitate with the background of the third peak.

Paku'i

Paku’i

Relaxing in the ultra light hammocks on the 1,520′ peak, that was named after the overseer of the Ka’elepulu fishponds. One of us even got spoon fed. Talk about service.

Paku'i

Paku’i

Traversing our way to the last and highest peak.

Olomana

Olomana

Blowing Chef’s Kiss at the 1,643′ peak named after the giant and imposing warrior that once ruled the land between Makapu’u and Kualoa.

Olomana

Olomana

Taking our leave of the highest peak as we descended towards the foothills of Maunawili.

Olomana

Olomana

Scrambling down the big rock, where Jeremy descended down the difficult route. Once a Marine, always a Marine.

Olomana

Olomana

Climbing our way down the still steep section of the trail.

Olomana

Olomana

Treading softly on the carpet of pine needles.

Olomana

Olomana

Checking out a traditional ahupua’a land division marker on the shortcut trail out.

Olomana

Olomana

Dropping down to the exit point which spits us out close to the guard house for the Royal Hawaiian Golf Club.

All pau

All pau

Walking back to our cars as we ended our 3.55 mile hike across the divided or forked hill with fun company and good friends. Post hike meal at Don Goyo’s Mexican Food. Delicioso!

Photos/Crew taken by Aileen Agustin, Akira Suzuki, Cristy CM, Jeremy Cannone, 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.

{ 0 comments }

Pali Lookout to Ho’omaluhia Botanical Garden

September 20, 2026
Thumbnail image for Pali Lookout to Ho’omaluhia Botanical Garden

We all gathered at the Pali Lookout to ride the ridges but we found ourselves hiking in the shadows of the ridges instead. Called up Edgar to join us and some of us fed the feral chickens to kill time until he could join us. Mindful of falling rocks, we set foot on the road […]

Read the full article →

Hiking in Izu Peninsula

September 10, 2026
Thumbnail image for Hiking in Izu Peninsula

I had an unplanned couple free days to spend in Japan rather than Yellowknife in Canada. Long story. Thanks to Val for letting me tag along with her planned adventures. Riding the third of four transfer trains that took me from Shinjuku Station to Shuzenji Station in roughly 3 1/2 hours, where Val picked me […]

Read the full article →

Commando Trail to Bowman Trail

August 30, 2026
Thumbnail image for Commando Trail to Bowman Trail

It was time for that once a month club or something to that effect. Somebody had an itch to hike the saddle and that itch would be scratched, but not in the manner she thought it would be scratched. Thanks to Kenny and Lilia for dropping us off as we plunged into the forest looking […]

Read the full article →

Hoaniani Falls (Chico’s Birthday Hike)

August 23, 2026
Thumbnail image for Hoaniani Falls (Chico’s Birthday Hike)

We gathered to hike to a place known to locals as Kalihi Ice Ponds or Tin Roof, but historically referred to as Moaniani or Hoaniani Falls. Some people stretch before a hike, others hydrate and one particular individual had his eyebrows trimmed. Grooming matters. One has to look good and be able to see unobstructed […]

Read the full article →

Kahekili to Crouching Lion Loop Trail (Val’s Birthday Hike)

August 9, 2026
Thumbnail image for Kahekili to Crouching Lion Loop Trail (Val’s Birthday Hike)

Time to shake the jet lag off in the mountains this weekend with friends to celebrate a friend’s birthday. We parked and met at the nearby beach park that was donated to the City and County in the 1920s from one of the Judd descendants to be used as a public gathering place. Let’s see […]

Read the full article →

Mount Kintoki (Mount Ashigara)

July 30, 2026
Thumbnail image for Mount Kintoki (Mount Ashigara)

In search of a new and relatively short hike near Shinjuku, I settled on hiking a mountain that was named for a real life samurai who lived during the Heian period and whose later life became mythologized into the golden boy of folklore who possessed extraordinary strength and wrestled bears. I walked to the bus […]

Read the full article →

Pali Notches to Chimney

July 19, 2026
Thumbnail image for Pali Notches to Chimney

We all gathered to check off a list, not necessarily on everybody’s checklist, but a list nevertheless. Thanks to Lilia and Tessa for dropping us off at the historic vista that was witness to the 1795 Battle of Nu’uanu and was strangely devoid of the usual gawkers but not the whipping winds that caressed and […]

Read the full article →

Mokuleia Trail to Kaena Point

July 12, 2026
Thumbnail image for Mokuleia Trail to Kaena Point

We all gathered to help somebody reintegrate into the hiking world due to a tweaked back and did a sandy stroll at the end of the world, or island in this case. Shadows in the heat, time to slather on that sun protection. It was nice to see Tessa back on the trails after a […]

Read the full article →

Three Peaks (Akira’s Birthday Hike)

July 5, 2026
Thumbnail image for Three Peaks (Akira’s Birthday Hike)

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. 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 […]

Read the full article →