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?