Moanalua Valley to Tripler

We picked up from almost two months ago when inclement weather forced us to prematurely shorten our destination. Met up with Aida, Akira, Chico, Ferlino and Roger in Moanalua Valley.

The park is now open for business!

Prior to starting our hike, Akira found a perhaps long distant cousin of his and we informed a couple hikers that it would be best to park outside, contrary to law enforcement advice.

Walking on the old carriage road that once belonged to the Damon Estate, a storied family that was intertwined in Hawaii’s political and economic history from the 1880s.

Stopping at the seventh and final bridge on the trail and also the spot where the Pohakukaluahine sits, the stone of the old woman that stopped the construction of the H3 through this valley.

Chico showing us the best way to drink water from a bottle. Now you know. CB also showed up fashionably late.

Politely following directions.

How many stream crossings are on the trail and what constitutes a stream crossing? Let’s apply our interpretation and find out. 19 so far.

Checking out the wreckage from a P-47 Thunderbolt plane that crashed in the late 1940s. The pilot survived the crash.

Up to 23 now.

Rock detour.

Tree climbing. Somebody was probably thinking if we are even going to do the saddle today.

Right or wrong. 28 is the final count.

Starting the climb up the short but steep spur ridge.

We could see that Moanalua Falls was trickling today.

Pushing our way to the top. Almost there.

Group photo where soon after CB and Chico took their leave of us and descended back down towards the valley for ambulatory and anxiety reasons.

Our group now reduced to five set foot on the crumbly ridge line known as the “easiest” of the three saddles. Depends who you ask.

The group electing to climb on the Windward side and forsake the webbing on the Leeward side.

Scrambling up the chossy rocks as it constantly changes the “character” of the ridge line.

Contouring our way on the Windward side as the rolling clouds blurred the views.

Roger and Aida working their way back to the ridge line.

Somebody was enjoying their first outing on this saddle.

Making our way towards the most famous obstacle on the saddle, the “Dirt Triangle” for obvious reasons.

Ferlino flying the flag as we contoured our way around the triangle where we saw CB and Chico making their way down the spur ridge.

Oh, I get by with a little help from my friends
Mmm, I get high with a little help from my friends
Ooh, I’m gonna try with a little help from my friends

Aida climbing to the top.

Scrambling our way over the assorted boulders, lucky the wind exposure was not gusting at its normal tempo.

Akira looking back as the rest of the group were making their way up.

Climbing our way up what is arguably the “hardest” section of the trail due to the exposure factor especially if the winds are gusting and the rope has been blown off. Subjective.

Aida approaching the top and relatively safety and peace of mind. All the scrambling parts were done for the day.

What happened to the twine and twig? More of a hindrance than help.

That was fun! Let’s do it again! Something that nobody said.

The erosion part was not over yet. Not by a long shot.

It would’ve looked better if the clouds had cleared in the background. Can’t have everything in life.

Where does this ladder lead to?

Greener pastures. The stairs are no more. Stripped by The Nakoa Companies sometime last year or as somebody else eloquently put it, a Brazilian wax that removed the metal from the mountains. It was actually easier to walk on the ridge line without the decaying steps on it.

It still takes time getting used to the au naturel look.

Approaching the CCL building that by all accounts will remain after the stairs have long since gone.

Aida on the last landing overlooking Haiku Valley which served as a natural amphitheater when the US Navy strung antenna cables across the valley in order to transmit radio signals to ships and submarines in the Pacific in 1942.

Group photo in front of the bombproof block house that used to house backup UHF communications to communicate between Kaneohe and Wahiawa. I believe the microwave antenna on the top of the bunker was installed later in the 1950s.

Looking out at the 3,922 steps that constitute the storied and iconic Stairway to Heaven. The City had awarded the contract in April 2024 to Nakoa Companies to finally tear down the stairs after decades of debates and it looked like the fate of the stairs was sealed. Friends of Haiku Stairs successfully obtained an injunction to halt the dismantling in July 2024 and it has remained there in legal limbo. Either way it will cost taxpayers a lot of money if it stands or gets torn down.

Synchronized straddling of the fence line.

Going down the rutted trail with Kalihi Saddle in the background.

The group descending from the summit of Pu’u Keahi a Kahoe.

Akira climbing down towards the defunct radar station.

Passing another set of electric power line towers on the ridge line.

Thanks to Akira for making a pot of hot ramen noodles. Hit the spot especially when the weather had turned a corner for the worse.

Group photo on our last summit.

Leaving the 2,760′ peak.

This trail has been described by Stuart Ball as a “classic leeward Ko’olau ridge hike.” The only part I agree with is “It’s long, hard, and somewhat tedious.”

Reaching the junction that will take us off the ridge …

… to go down a somewhat steep trail …

… and down to the valley floor. The rain showers also came back to cool us off.

Finishing at the park before the next shift arrives.

Our 10.3 mile hike covered a crumbly saddle, new scenery and a long ridge hike down with a fun group. Post hike meal at Alley Restaurant. Done with the oxtail soup, too much fat and overpriced.

Photos taken by Aida Gordon, Akira Suzuki, Chris Bautista, Chico Cantu, Ferlino Carinio, Roger Schiffman, 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: kamananui valley trail, koolau summit ridge trail, ksrt, kulana'ahane trail, moanalua saddle, tripler ridge