Met up with Jasmin and Jose to do a short ridge loop trail in Hawaii Kai.
Small climb
Climbed up a small cliff thick with bougainvillea bushes. Nothing like a poke in the morning to get the juices flowing.
Watch your step
Small mountain ball cacti.
Follow the poles
Jasmin and Jose following the electric poles to the top of the ridge.
Fact or fallacy
Glad to know that. I can sleep better at night now.
Mauna o Ahi Ridge
Looking back towards Maunalua Bay.
Which way does the wind blow?
Let me lick my finger and find out.
Exposed ridge
We were buffeted with blustery winds and blessed with overcast skies.
Not in season
Trail snacks not ready for plucking.
Canopy cover
Towering trees started to dominate and cover the ridge.
Make yourselves at home
Taking a short break.
Going up
Short cardio climb to the top, as the ridge took on a steeper slant.
Timber
Uprooted tree.
Mauna o Ahi summit
Group photo at the 1,735′ summit left to right: Jasmin, Jose and myself.
Mauna o Ahi Windward
Looking back at another steep Windward Ridge.
KSRT
We turned right on the Ko’olaus to continue the trail that weaved between the Windward and Leeward sides of the mountains.
Scenic view
Windward views of Waimanalo, Mokulua Islands and Kaneohe Bay.
Power lines
Providing power since 1891.
Ko’olau Mountains
It was a nice day on the mountains. Photo by Jose Luis Delaki.
Detour
Flower power. Wilted orchid.
Pyramid Rock
We contoured on the Windward side to stay on the KSRT.
Flip side
Jasmin looking back at the Pyramid Rock from the Leeward side.
Rocky area
Looking out towards Hahione Valley and Koko Head.
Crumbly rock
Jasmin coming up the hard way.
Mariner’s Ridge Summit
Jose headed towards the lonely 1,361′ summit.
To the right
Your other right.
Panoramic view
Click here for the larger image.
Kaluanui Ridge Summit
The original plan was to hike to Makapu’u, but due to time restrictions, we had to bail out at Mariner’s Ridge. A trail that is now closed to the general public. Several hiking clubs are granted limited access.
La, la, la
Jasmin be limbo. Jasmin be quick. Jasmin go unda limbo stick.
No traffic
The once bustling trail was now eerily empty going back down.
Petroglyph?
Signs of modern man.
Going back to nature
The trail is slowly being reclaimed by Mother Nature.
All pau
The trailhead is now blocked by a wrap around gate. Greased from top to bottom. Left to right. Jiffy Lube?
GPS Tracks
The breezy ridge loop hike covered 4.97 miles. Post hike meal at Aina Haina Chop Suey. Family Style. Pass the rice. Post hike run to Kaimuki Laundromat. Got quarters?
{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
Instead of going down Mariner’s, go down the backside of the Pyramid Rock into Haiahaione. Gotta love water tanks. I know you’re pretty good with topo maps and Google maps. LOL
Depends on the people that I’m hiking with, not all of them want to go down a Windward Ridge. LOL. But they are a bunch more that I want to hit up.
The route off of the Pyramid going into Haihaione is on the leeward side of the KST. Not on the windward side. It’s a very easy one.
Disregard my last comment as I went back and saw that you did the Haihaione loop going up the water. LOL tank ridge. LOL
Haha okay. I thought you meant Hahaione Windward, which we may do this weekend. Or not. So many trails to explore and hike.
so just jump over the fence in the end?:)
Aloha Frank,
Yes we had to climb up and down the slippery greased gate. The trail is now closed and I would not recommend anybody climbing up that gate. It’s just an accident waiting to happen.
Mahalo