Chris, Justin, Ryan and myself piggybacked on HTMC’s planned hike up to Waiau Ridge today.

Trailhead

We met ahead of the club at the top of Ka’ahumanau Street to begin our long day. The plan was to break away from the club at the summit and continue to Waimalu Middle Ridge to see the “mythical” meadows if the weather held.

Scenic point

Enjoying the breaking sun over Pearl Harbor.

The road

The crew walking up the paved road to the water tank.

Trail

Time to separate the trail from the road.

Country

Six miles of ungraded ridge separated the summit from us.

Trail

Mahalos to HTMC for clearing the lower portion of the trail.

Power lines

Chris passing underneath the power lines on the still wide open trail. Photo by Ryan Leano.

Junction

Justin looking at the Halapepe Nui trail that comes up from Hapaki Street. Go straight young man!

Trail

Chris going up the somewhat steep but still cleared trail.

Waianae Mountains

Looking out towards the West side. Photo by Justin Hirako.

Trail

Justin ducking under an arched koa tree.

Uluhell

The cleared path soon disappeared as Mother Nature reclaimed the trail with a vengeance.

Sunshine

Sunbeams poked through the heavy cloud cover down to Waimalu Valley.

Geocache

Plastic bottle marks the spot. A small group from the club soon powered past us. What the heck? One eventually turned back, saying the overgrowth was insane. What the heck?

Trail

Yup, the trail for lack of a better word, was almost completely lost to the heavy overgrowth.

Trail

Approaching the big dip where one loses a couple hundred feet in elevation, only to regain it back. The whole ridge was a bunch of big dips and little dips. All in all, a trail that does not endear itself to no one. That was a common sentiment that was echoed repeatedly on this trail. Photo by Justin Hirako.

Trail

How many false summits are there?

Trail

The last false summit. Promise.

Waiau Summit

We caught up with the club hikers at the 2,312′ summit overlooking Waihe’e Valley. Group photo by Justin Hirako, left to right: Cisco, Steve, Justin, myself, unknown, Chris B and Ryan.

KSRT

Some of the club members pondered about coming with us to Waimalu but decided to return back down Waiau. Looking at the clouds rolling in, I could forecast that the now clear meadows would be swallowed up in clouds by the time we arrived there. It’s still worth it. So off we went. I guess better than going back down Waiau. Photo by Ryan Leano.

KSRT

Hiking close to the Windward edge on the Ko’olau Summit Ridge Trail.

Looking back

Leaving the summit of Waiau behind us.

KSRT

The meadows loomed larger in our vision as we traversed the KSRT.

KSRT

Climbing the last hill before dropping into the meadows.

Panoramic view

Click here for the larger image.

Panoramic view

Click here for the larger image.

Panoramic view

Click here for the larger image.

Lucky Buddha

It’s rumored that rubbing the belly of a jolly guy, will bring good luck, in the form of clear weather. Photo by Justin Hirako.

Waimalu Meadows

Urban legend.

Cartwheeling

Trying not to land in a water hole. Photos by Ryan Leano.

Missing in Hiking

O Kikaida, Where Art Thou? Photo by Ryan Leano.

Waimalu Meadows

We wandered around the meadows. Waited for the clouds to clear. In vain. Even considered rubbing that belly again. Group photo by Justin Hirako.

Waimalu Meadows

The rain and wind started to come down sideways. It was time to pack up and leave. We spent several hours too long at the summit. We would be coming out in the dark.

Waimalu Summit

Group photo by Justin Hirako at the cloudy 2,283′ summit.

Waimalu Middle Ridge

Hiking into the clouds.

Pray for Sun

Wishful thinking?

Sunshine

Prayers have been answered.

T-Chute

Chris pointing to an obvious dry waterfall chute. Must be nice when it’s raging.

Twilight

Dropping down into Waimalu Valley from the middle ridge.

Waimalu Stream

Stream flows down from the mountains. We need to get away from the mountains. Thanks Justin!

Spider web

Spider, Spider. Does whatever a spider can. Spins a web, any size. Catches hikers just like flies. Look out!

Tunnel

The original ditch and tunnel system ran three and a half miles underground to provide fresh water to the Kalauao cane fields, now replaced by housing.

Memorial

Mickey had some great friends that carried this hefty slab of granite all the way out here on this trail. We soon saw the city light and the uphill switchbacks that signaled the hike was nearing the end.

All pau

Justin can you bring your truck closer, so I don’t have to walk 50′ more? Pretty please.

GPS Tracks

Our ridge loop hike covered 12.29 miles through rolling ridges, taxing overgrowth, a short KSRT traversal, cloudy meadows and endless stream crossings. Exhausting but exhilarating hike with great company. Post hike meal at Zippys.