Met up with Aida, Art, Colt, Jen, Lilyn, Mauricio, Quan, Sofiya, and Tessa at Schofield Barracks to do an inclusive birthday hike. Scratch that due to ID problems. To keep the inclusivity, we collectively drove towards Plan B which was actually Plan A originally. Full circle.

Kaena Point Trail

We secured all our worldly possessions after a friendly cop told us to keep everything out of sight in our cars.

Kaena Point Trail

Walking on the isle of abundance side of the island. Surface waves pounded the shore as the energy in them dissipated into the foamy surf.

Manini Pali

Leaving the rutted jeep road for the trail that would take us up into the mountains.

Manini Pali

Mauricio in a field of plants that looked oddly familiar. Just can’t place my finger on it.

Manini Pali

Going up on a river of rocks.

Manini Pali

We cut out some of the switchbacks and just climbed straight up the steep cliffs.

Manini Pali

Watching the rest of the group make their way up.

Manini Pali

Not all those that wander are lost. Not all those that hike need ropes as well.

Manini Pali

Aida and Quan working their way up through the koa haole trees and dry grass. Just glad there were no kiawe trees around here.

Manini Pali

The couple that sweats together, stays together.

Manini Pali

Somebody needed immediate medical attention as a rock had landed on her head. Just wipe the blood off and good as new.

Manini Pali

Somebody else was eyeing for attention as well.

Manini Pali

Group photo on the pile of rocks.

Manini Pali

Sofiya reaching out for her next handhold on the less traveled route.

Manini Pali

The rest of the group stuck to the more familiar safe ground, so to speak.

Manini Pali

Art resisting the temptation to spread his wings.

Manini Pali

Teamwork in the mountains.

Manini Pali

Sofiya checking her facebook status.

Manini Pali

Checking out the mountain and coastline views from our rocky perch at roughly 850′.

Manini Pali

Tessa looking towards the town of Haleiwa and points North.

Manini Pali

Running across one of many cow patties that we saw on the “trail.” No magic mike or mushrooms spotted.

Waianae Mountain Range

Traversing the top of the mountain that serves as home to grazing cows and the US Space Force.

Waianae Mountain Range

How many clowns, I mean hikers can fit into this small cave? Nine with a lot of contorting and pushing and squeezing.

Waianae Mountain Range

Now, somebody just needs to play the music composed by Julius Fucik – Entry of the Gladiators.

Waianae Mountain Range

Brownie and Macaroons for the birthday girl. Overindulgence at its finest.

Waianae Mountain Range

Group photo at the last known sighting of the puka.

Waianae Mountain Range

Hey look, we can go down this way! Has anybody been down this way before? Crickets.

I’ve been here before gulch

The group checking which “path” to follow down.

I’ve been here before gulch

This is the direction that we need to be hiking to get down. This way!

I’ve been here before gulch

So much for that theory of lemmings following each other to certain doom as the group went their own separate way. Urban legend.

I’ve been here before gulch

Climbed up this crumbly pile of rocks to watch the group make their way down.

I’ve been here before gulch

Joined back up with the group as we hiked our way down the grassy and rocky gulch.

I’ve been here before gulch

Taking a break on the rock ledge as we waited for the rest of the group to catch up.

I’ve been here before gulch

Somebody was flexing in the mountains.

I’ve been here before gulch

Hugging the cliffs to avoid the drop in the middle.

I’ve been here before gulch

Scrambling our way down with the loose rocks underfoot.

I’ve been here before gulch

Looking back at the “slot canyon.”

I’ve been here before gulch

Colt trying out for American Ninja Warrior as we followed the dry streambed back to the jeep road.

All pau

Making our way back to the parking lot as we tried to beat the afternoon sun. In closing, a certain IG botanist recalled that the gulch did look familiar on our way out. I guess we didn’t refer to his IG page to get the skinny.

GPS Tracks

Our short birthday scramble up and down the mountain covered roughly 4.5 miles that was cut short due to us taking an unplanned exit route instead of the original way out that appealed to certain authority averse individuals. Fun hike with new and old faces.

Jerry’s Pizza

We finished by lunchtime, so we ate at the nearest food establishment that served us up pizzas, pasta, wings and a burger. Hold the bun and all the fixings. Drizzled with butter.

Paalaa Kai Bakery

Somebody was badly feeding their white powder fix in the parking lot. I don’t know this person.

Photos taken by Aida Gordon, Art Young, Colt Correa, Jen Odence, Lilyn Avendano, Mauricio, Quan Haberstroh, Sofiya Spencer, Tessa Bugay 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.

Gloomy weather conditions scratched another return to the saddle for Christine, Yoly and myself. Luckily Christine knew of a trail that was on my to do list. Yoly dropped out due to gas problems, not talking about the intestinal sort.

Jeep road

We drove to the end of the island as we started our hike in the Mokuleia section of the rugged park that hugs the coastline.

Trailhead

Turning off the main road as we headed towards the dry grass and shrubs that fringed the base of the mountains.

Manini Pali Trail

Headed up what All Trails calls the “rough cousin of Kealia Trail.” I can partially see the resemblance.

Manini Pali Trail

Making our way up the switch backs.

Manini Pali Trail

We lost the trail for a bit and decided to go up the most direct route instead.

Manini Pali Trail

Back on the trail again.

Manini Pali Trail

It was hot and humid going up the dry grassy trail. Wishing I was on the saddle instead. Photo by Christine Galiza.

Manini Pali Trail

The picture spot. Photo by Christine Galiza.

Manini Pali Trail

A little bit of rock scrambling lay in store for us.

Manini Pali Trail

Ocean to ocean view, one of the benefits of living on a small island in the Pacific.

Manini Pali Trail

All the uphill climbing was now behind us, just like the inviting blue ocean. Photo by Christine Galiza.

Cow Trail

Stepping foot on a trail made by cows?

Cow Trail

We spotted pink ribbons scattered throughout the dry brush.

Cow Trail

No signs of any four legged domesticated ungulates.

Golf Ball

Tracking space junk since Statehood.

Road

The ten minutes that was most filled with anxiety.

Lookout

Life imitating art.

Kaena Point Ridge

Christine leaving the solar observatory station.

Kaena Point Ridge

The start of our rocky climb down. Photo by Christine Galiza.

Kaena Point Ridge

Group photo at one of the bunkers that populate the ridge line.

Kaena Point Ridge

Making our way to the last bunker before dropping off the ridge.

Kaena Point State Park

Following the fenced trail on our way out.

Kaena Point State Park

Christine climbing through the vehicle barrier.

Kaena Point State Park

Shall we go back up again? Perhaps not. Photo by Christine Galiza.

All pau

Our cars were still intact and baking in the hot sun upon our return. Thanks to Christine for taking me on a new trail. Post hike meal at Jerry’s Pizza where you go big or go home. We went big as we were hungry.

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.