Anamolo

In search of a short hike to replace the aborted perimeter walk, I settled on what is commonly called Anamolo or Reverse Olomana.

Thanks to Lilia for dropping us off deep in Bumpy Kanahele’s Pu’uhonua o Waimanalo neighborhood.

Walking the trail that parallels the old Kailua Ditch that was built in the 1920s to carry water from Kawainui Swamp to the canefields of Waimanalo Sugar Company. No motorcycles are allowed, but horses are permitted on this trail.

Why are we climbing up this rooted hill when there is a perfectly good trail just a stone’s throw away? Character building.

Scrambling up the eroded hill.

Doing my part to keep the ‘aina clean. Hold the applause.

I think I may have been unwittingly sucked into this bizarre finger pointing cult. Where is Scientology when you need them?

One person on the rope at a time. Hold your horses.

We arrived at the base of the backdoor to Three Peaks to begin our ascent.

Chico climbing his way up between a rock and a tree. At least, it’s not a hard place.

Amber threading her way through the profusion of ropes and webbing that draped this cliff section.

Climbing my way up with the fluted ridges of the KST in the background.

Aileen making her way up.

Mona climbing up the cracked rocks.

Rose used her freakishly long arms to her climbing advantage.

Contouring our way around the gap in the rocks.

Climbing queue.

Chico left his heart in Olomana. OMG. The cult thing.

Eye in the sky.

Amber going up the notorious pipe ladder that unfortunately claimed a life back in April 2022. We met two kids at the top who had second thoughts about going down the ladder and wisely decided to turn around.

Ladders? I don’t need no stinkin’ ladders! Especially when I have these freakishly long arms.

Group picture at the top where one needs to keep their arms close to their sides and don’t be chasing after ball caps.

Leaving the third peak for the other two peaks. One can see why the Hawaiians called these three peaks “divided hill.”

I briefly entertained the foolish notion of scrambling down the side of the cliff to check out a puka, but retreated. Otherwise, I would have probably ended up with a puka in my head.

Dropping down to the iconic rock formation.

That’s one way of going through the hole.

Are we taking the scenic or climbing route? Rhetorical question.

Hey, this rock moves!

This other rock moves too!

Let’s make like a rock and roll!

Drone down! We scrambled down a bit in a futile attempt to recover Chico’s Skydio drone that crashed into the woods below us. We soon gave up just as how the company gave up on their consumer production line. Update: Chico was able to find and recover his drone several weeks later.

Climbing our way up to the second peak.

The knife edge view of the third peak behind us.

We ran into Andre and his friend coming from the opposite direction.

No hammock. No problem. Webbing is like duct tape in the hiking world. Flossing the cracks.

The rest of the group making their way down the sheeted and stepped rocks.

We ran into Aida and her friends also coming from the opposite direction. Small world.

Decided to check out a side “trail.” Fools rush in where other hikers are smart not to tread. A paraphrase of a popular saying.

Pushing myself up.

I bet somebody was glad that I didn’t leave my webbing hammock behind.

Mona with the background view of the second and third peaks.

Group photo at the top of Olomana, the peak with the all around scenic views. Not to mention, crowds of people wanting to share that view with you.

Mingling with other hikers as we dropped off the first peak.

Everybody chose their own path down the rocks.

Dealing with these pesky ropes as they could be potential tripping hazards. It would help if I had freakishly long arms.

Mona climbing her way down the last rockface and then the group either walked, ran or got lost on the trail. Depends who you talked to.

If Rose falls, does it count? Or does it have to be capitalized? Thanks to Lilia for picking us up. Fun hike up and over the erosional remnant from within the caldera of the Ko’olau Shield Volcano.

Post hike meal at Genki Sushi, where the table talk was extra loud, extra spicy and extra special.

Photos taken by Aileen Agustin, Amber Fonte, Chico Cantu, Monaliza Guillermo, Rose Mathis 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.

Tagged as: ahiki, keyhole, maunawili ditch trail, olomana, pakui, three peaks, waimanalo