Projected heavy rain showers lead us to visit a waterfall. I still haven’t learned my lesson. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Trailhead

Thanks to Jasmin for dropping Aida, Art, Ferlino, Lilyn, Tessa and myself off in the mountains above Tantalus.

Pu’u Ohia Trail

Art taking point on the trail and guiding us on what was a promised four hour hike. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Pu’u Ohia Trail

Making our way through the dense bamboo forest that diffused the sunlight from above.

Recess

We took an unintended detour off the trail and found a lonely swing on a tree. Playtime in the mountains.

Pu’u Ohia Trail

Threading our way through the densely packed bamboo forest.

Access Road

The trail soon spit us onto a paved road. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

Access Road

Disappointment registered strongly in some of us when we found out that the Tantalus Tower has been taken down. Photo by Ferlino Carinio.

Access Road

Going up the short and steep incline.

Access Road

Leaving the paved road to connect back to the trail. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

Pauoa Flats Trail

Entering the gated community of Pauoa. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

Pauoa Flats Trail

Ferlino passing through the forest of bendy trees. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Pauoa Flats Trail

Lilyn was catcalling for the catwalk. Strutting our stuff on the runway. Some did it more suggestively than others.

Pauoa Flats Trail

Art sawing off bamboo poles for the muddy trails ahead.

Pauoa Flats Trail

Heading up towards the lookout.

Nu’uanu Overlook

It was another touchy-feely moment in the mountains.

Trail

Going up the grassy trail that leads to Konahuanui.

Trail

Ferlino overlooking the Nu’uanu Reservoir. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Trail

Looking ahead to the double tiered waterfalls nestled on the slopes of the highest peak on the Ko’olau Range. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Trail

We split from the main trail to descend down to the falls. Photo by Ferlino Carinio.

Trail

Going down one of the roped steep sections. Photo by Ferlino Carinio.

Trail

Crossing the runoff trail.

Upper Lulumahu Falls

Group photo left to right: Lilyn, Tessa, Art, Aida, Ferlino and myself.

Upper Lulumahu Falls

Does Lilyn think she is going to climb down to Lulumahu Falls? Think again. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

Upper Lulumahu Falls

While we were checking out the larger of the upper falls, a big group descended on the falls resulting in a traffic jam.

Upper Lulumahu Falls

The larger group migrated to the upper tier and monopolized the smaller falls, which resulted in only their group photo being taken.

Upper Lulumahu Falls

The rest of our group moved to the top of the lower falls and took their edge of their seats pictures.

Upper Lulumahu Falls

This was my edge of the seat photo. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Trail

Tessa going back up the trail.

Trail

Taking a short, snack break at the junction. Photo by Aida Gordon

Trail

We had to do single file shuffling as we got behind the larger group.

Nu’uanu Overlook

Pressing on past the lookout.

Pauoa Ridge

Ferlino going up the ridge instead of the flats trail. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Nu’uanu Trail

Dropping off the ridge and onto the wide and maintained trail.

Nu’uanu Trail

Going with the flow of gravity down the trail. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Judd Trail

Art turning onto the trail.

Judd Trail

Most of us tried our hand and legs at climbing up the slippery banyan tree.

Judd Trail

Making our way down the switch backs. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

Judd Trail

Hitting the loop trail. We skipped the scenic route and went straight to the stream.

Cooke Pines

Reaching for the sky. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

Judd Trail

Passing through one of the hau groves where we soon passed the popular watering hole, Jackass Ginger Pool.

Nu’uanu Stream

Scrubbing and washing our lower extremities with what we thought was clean water. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

Nu’uanu Stream

Leaving the stream, feeling clean and refreshed, as we headed towards the Old Pali Road to wait for our ride. Photo by Aida Gordon.

All pau

We looked over the bridge and discovered a headless rotting carcass of a pig that the stream water washed over and trickled down to where we had sat and scrubbed. Not feeling so clean and refreshed anymore, are we?

GPS Tracks

Thanks to Art for showing us the falls on our 7.96 mile hike, despite taking longer than the promised time, but we still had loads of fun. Mahalo to Jasmin for picking us up. Post hike meal at Dean’s Drive Inn. I should have ordered the tripe stew instead.

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.