I joined Will and Chris on a slightly different route up Koholepelepe or Koko Crater Rim today.
Free admission
Instead of starting from the end of the rim, we were going to take a “shortcut” and go up from the spur ridge that was inside the crater.
Spur ridge
The spur ridge is quite noticeable once you look for it past the stripped tree tops. The waning moon was still visible as well.
Nature call
Not often that you find one of these on a hiking trail. Luckily we were in the middle of a botanical garden.
Equipment shed
We soon passed a equipment shed on our left, indicating that we were on the right trail. Thanks to Baron for the directions and idea.
Balls of cacti
If you see this, you have gone too far. Turn around.
Bushwhack time
The base of the ridge is just a stones throw from the equipment shed. Not really bushwhacking, but watch out for the sharp as steel cacti lurking in the tall grass. It hurts like a bee and then some.
Out of the bushes
Now we can see where we are going.
Time to go up
There was nothing tricky or technical with this ridge.
Still going up
Basic scrambling up a nicely inclined ridge.
Slab section
I took a shine to this spur ridge and will use this route when traversing the crater rim in the future.
Made it to the rim
Gusty winds greeted us at the top of the rim.
Watch your step
Dragon Fruit Cacti are in abundance on this section of the rim. Fruiting season occurs June to December.
Climbing up
Chris trying out his climbing skills. For those less inclined, the rim can be contoured on the left on fairly level ground. Photo by Will Lee.
Traffic jam
As we neared the summit, we met another group coming down. Who yields? The one that seizes the opportunity to pass the gap.
Photo bombed
The winds were making for a bad hair day.
Waiting our turn
Great town views at 1,208 feet high. Group photo left to right: Chris, myself, and Will.
Traffic jam
Going down the makai or ocean side of the rim, we ran into a couple that had come up from the arch. The crater rim seems to be getting a lot more traffic lately.
Elusive puka
Looking across the crater floor to see that puka or hole in the rim that I have yet to see up close.
Halona blowhole
The Halona Blowhole parking lot was surprisingly open, considering that this was the weekend.
Easy climbing
The last rock to climb on the rim. After this, it was all downhill.
Going down
We took the left trail down, which sits opposite the spur ridge that we had taken up.
Koko Crater Stables
I don’t think many people realize that there is a horse stable tucked away here.
Now you tell us
Looking back at the trail that we had just descended, we noticed this sign. Oops.
GPS Tracks
By most accounts, Koholepelepe means “traveling vagina” in Hawaiian. The route we had taken today, resembles something that visits said passage. Or is it just my imagination? I think I had too much sun today.
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