Picking up from where I left off a couple weeks ago. Aida joined me today to help finish off the Southern section of the KST. Photo by Aida Gordon.
Thanks to Quan for dropping us off deep in Palolo Valley.
We scrambled down the boulders, followed the streambed and then the water pipe as we made our way on the trail. Photo by Aida Gordon.
Aida walking in between the new and old water pipes.
All wet already. And we didn’t even get to the first waterfall yet. Photo by Aida Gordon.
Water on tap.
Aida had the first waterfall all to herself before approaching hikers descended down to the base. Photo by Aida Gordon.
Climbing our way up to the left to get to the top.
Looking down at the first waterfall.
Aida at the second waterfall with the other group right behind us. This place is a popular watering hole.
Climbing up to the right and contouring above the second waterfall.
Looking down at the group taking their pictures. Not getting too close, as a woman slid off the top four years ago and luckily survived her fall to the bottom. Photo by Aida Gordon.
Aida going up the multi-tiered waterfall that had somewhat decent flow.
Making my way up the slippery rocks. Photo by Aida Gordon.
We left the waterfalls and started counter-clockwise on the crater rim to the top. Photo by Aida Gordon.
Aida climbing up through the heavily rutted trail.
Looking down into the marshy caldera that was created when the demigod Maui’s giant hook landed in the valley resulting in the crater we see today. Photo by Aida Gordon.
I decided to do a thing at the top. I proposed to myself. I said yes. Bill and Shirley have nothing on me. Photo by Aida Gordon.
We trailed behind a group as we followed the trail around the crater.
Group photo, left to right: Aida and myself.
Took a photo with the group (Bree, Brit, myself and Kim) that we were following since Aida instigated the picture. Found out that Kim used to hike with the KOMPT (Kronic Oahu Mixed Plate Trekkers). Small world.
Looking ahead to the 2,486′ peak that was our next stop. Too bad there isn’t a Zippy’s outlet up there.
Crossing over between the summits. Photo by Aida Gordon.
Aida climbing up the steep hill towards the summit of Awaawaloa.
Olomana in the background as I climbed my way up to Olympus. Photo by Aida Gordon.
Aida going down the rutted trail with the cloud soaked ridge line in the distance.
Ducking underneath the rainbow. Photo by Aida Gordon.
Sitting underneath the rainbow.
Descending down into the thick and vast valley that is Manoa.
Climbing down the near vertical section before dropping down to the valley floor. Photo by Aida Gordon.
Washing off the accumulated mud from our hike. Giving back. Photo by Aida Gordon.
Aida going up the muddy hillside where we met other two legged and four legged hikers coming down.
Going down the trail knotted with roots and padded with rocks. Photo by Aida Gordon.
We finished our fun little hike with daylight to spare. Quan met up with us for lunch at Serge’s. We ate in the shadow of Safeway.
Our crater to valley hike covered 5.8 miles through muddy and scenic views. Thanks to Aida for joining me on today’s 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.
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
Thank you for another adventure, Kenji! You are a wealth of knowledge. Didn’t know about Maui creating the crater with his hook nor the Hawaiian name for Olympus – Awaawaloa. Also, thanks for showing me the contour trail. I’ve never been that way! And most especially, thanks for your patience with me and my scraped knee!
Aloha Aida,
Thanks for keeping me company. Always fun times.
Mahalo
Isn’t the Kaau trail private property, aren’t there multiple signs saying “Do not trespass”
Not that I’m aware of. If you look at the photo in the beginning of the blog, it states the trail is unmaintained and proceed at your own risk. No signs of no trespassing.