We hiked a ridge that may be under threat from urban development. Hike today. Gone tomorrow. Photo by Matt Vidaurri.
No peeping
Glenn, Matt, Ryan, Thessa, and Tom joined me today. A friendly owner let us through his property to gain access to the ridge.
Good Morning Hawaii Kai
Henry Kaiser’s swamp to suburban vision. Build it and they will live here.
Kuli’ou’ou Ridge
Most people take the State ridge trail to get to the summit, we took the ridge trail.
Baby cacti
Passed a bunch of budding cacti.
Selfie rock
The moai of Kuli’ou’ou. Rain showers passed over the valley. We dug out our raingear. Rain showers stopped.
Loose rocks
We soon left the exposed ridge to head into a grove of ironwood pine trees.
Pine needle slide
Let your butts do the walking.
Kuli’ou’ou shortcut
Thessa pointing to the trail that bypasses the switchbacks from the bottom.
Hat junction
Passing the lost and found trail.
Selfie tree
A tree with multiple branches favored itself to our collective photo. Photo by Matt Vidaurri.
State trail
The ridge soon connected to the bustling State trail.
Outdoor gym
Pull up versus chin up contest.
Who’s next?
Push. Oh. Pull.
Looking back
Tom coming up the trail.
Kuli’ou’ou summit
Group photo at the windy 2,028′ summit left to right: Tom, Glenn, myself, Thessa, Ryan and Matt. Photo by Tom Engle.
Panoramic view
Click here for the larger image.
Solitary view
Matt wishing he had a parachute.
Passing the sign
Leaving the crowded summit.
KSRT
We left the ridge for a short crossover on the Ko’olau Summit Ridge Trail.
Dirt scramble
One step forward. Two steps back. Nobody gets too far like that. This kind of hike can never last.
Bear claw ridge
The right claw needs to come out of hibernation.
Lunch break
We dropped down below the ridgeline to get a little relief from the winds. Like trade lunch? Photo by Ryan Meyer.
Back on the trail
Resuming our windy hike to Pu’u o Kona.
Eroded section
Carefully making our way across. Photo by Tom Engle.
Scenic lookout
Views of Waimanalo and a particular Windward ridge of interest. Photo by Ryan Meyer.
Puu o Kona
Group photo at the 2,200′ summit. Photo by Matt Vidaurri.
Going down
It’s all downhill from here.
Looking back
Leaving the summit behind.
Crumbly rocks
Tom making his way down with the help of a *gasp* rope.
Ridging
Up a ridge. Down a ridge.
Uluhe slide
Letting gravity do all the work. Photo by Matt Vidaurri.
Kalapa o maua ridge
Bushwhacking ahead.
Shoelace tying lesson
Double slip knot. It really works. No, I’m not buying dinner.
Sea of uluhe
A month earlier, Ryan and I had bushwhacked up from the bottom of the ridge to just shy of the summit. Never start late, never fight gravity and never underestimate Mother Nature.
Break time
Checking out the views of Kuli’ou’ou Valley.
Contouring
We skirted the pockets of thick trees that blocked our forward progress.
Moku boundary wall
Old Hawaiian property line that once ran from the Ko’olau summit to the edge of the reef in the ocean.
Bailout trail
Anybody see a black Sony camera? Anybody?
Rock chair
Sometimes you have to just sit down and enjoy the view.
Winding down
The group following the ridge down. Photo by Tom Engle.
See anything?
The lower part of the ridge was particularly thick with loose rocks and small hardy trees that forced us to stay to the left of the rock wall.
Future development?
Looking at the possible future site of another high-end luxury gated community. Another affordable housing project that Hawaii so desperately needs.
Paiko lagoon
A breach in the rock wall allowed us passage to the other side of the ridge.
Water tank
The end of our hot journey was in sight. It felt like we were hiking in Waianae.
Got water?
Fun hike with a fun crew. Photo by Matt Vidaurri.
All pau
The crew walking out the paved road.
GPS Tracks
The windy, hot and rocky hike covered 6.92 miles. Post hike meal at Outback. Same booth. Sniff?
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