Back to back Kona Lows meant another waterfall hike. Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in.

Pali Lookout

We all met up at the natural wind tunnel that was out of service today.

Pali Lookout

Everybody chose their ingress to the Old Pali Road based on body type.

Old Pali Road

We didn’t start this stack of stones, but we are going to finish it.

Old Pali Road

It’s hard to believe this road used to accommodate two lanes of traffic before it was closed down in 1961, in favor of the current Pali Highway.

Old Pali Road

The water draining from the road that was blasted out of the Pali in 1897.

Old Pali Road

Some struggled more than others in attempting to execute this common callisthenic exercise.

Old Pali Road

Aerial view of Twin Falls. The flow was not as voluminous as it was during the storms.

Old Pali Road

Mother Nature is slowly reclaiming the road through landslides and overgrowth.

Pali Trail

Paralleling the bustling highway as we walked through the corridor of uluhe ferns.

Pali Trail

Drones are like dogs, they don’t always follow you.

Pali Trail

Accident prone hikers need to exercise extreme caution crossing this foot bridge. Said hiker was not in this photograph.

Maunawili Demo Trail

Look but don’t touch. I think we got it backwards. Or twisted.

Maunawili Demo Trail

We decided to explore our first stream crossing to our first waterfall.

Maunawili Demo Trail

Marilyn next to a side waterfall.

Maunawili Smalls

If you are gullible enough, people will believe your made up name.

Maunawili Demo Trail

Walking over the slippery bridge as we passed by a trickling waterfall. Accident prone hikers beware.

Maunawili Demo Trail

Coming across a historic landmark on the trail that dates back to the 1930s, an old rainwater collection tank that is connected to the Saint Stephen Diocesan Center located below the hill.

Maunawili Demo Trail

Crossing over one of multiple streams flowing down from the mountains.

Maunawili Demo Trail

Pausing at the junction to Piliwale Ridge, a steep Windward trail that touches the KST.

Maunawili Demo Trail

Edgar working his way around one of multiple blowdowns on the trail.

Maunawili Bigs

Our group photo at the turning point on the trail as we saw our destination through the low hanging clouds and trees.

Maunawili Bigs

Another view of the four waterfall chutes flowing down from the mountains.

Maunawili Bigs

Working our way upstream under the giant ferns.

Maunawili Bigs

Blonde Buddha at the first waterfall.

Maunawili Bigs

Waterfall point of view.

Maunawili Bigs

Climbing our way up the second waterfall.

Maunawili Bigs

Not much flow for the effort.

Maunawili Bigs

Ani joining the spectators down below.

Maunawili Bigs

Running into the Katz family on the trail.

Maunawili Bigs

Short hike up to the third waterfall.

Maunawili Bigs

More flow, less effort.

Maunawili Bigs

Look up in the sky, it’s a i’iwi bird, it’s a tour helicopter, it’s a upper tier waterfall!

Maunawili Bigs

Slipping, sliding and falling on our way to the last waterfall.

Maunawili Bigs

Akira on top of the lower tier. Come and join us. Our invite fell on water clogged ears.

Maunawili Bigs

Scrambling our way over loose rocks and blowdowns to the upper tier.

Maunawili Bigs

Photo with the raging 600′ gusher of a falls. Dramatic exaggeration for those that missed it.

Maunawili Bigs

Making our way back down loose rocks and trees. One tree gave way which resulted in Akira sliding down the hill before being stopped by a not so loose tree.

Maunawili Demo Trail

Chico checking to make sure the fellow hiker from Beijing is properly attired for the trail.

Maunawili Demo Trail

Heading back to the Pali Lookout just as rain showers started to sweep the area.

All pau

Kenny met us at the end and took our final group photo. Quite the artist.

GPS Tracks

Our waterfall hike covered 6.10 or 7.5 miles, depending on whom is tracking. Mad respect to everybody that came out for today’s adventure. Post hike meal at Kam Bowl, hyped as “Home of The Best Oxtail Soup Since 1965,” but the jury is still out, as some would argue Kapiolani Coffee Shop has the best oxtail soup.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ueMt-d-2uGU

Video by Edgar Gamiao of our irresponsible hike.

Photos/Crew taken by Akira Suzuki, Allison Banks, Ani Lagpacan, Chico Cantu, Edgar Gamiao, Marilyn Bermudez, 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.

We decided to stay off the mountains and stick to the foothills today.

Trailhead

Met up with Akira, Allison, Deborah, Mari, Mona, Tessa in the backwoods of Waimanalo, a stones throw from The Village.

Maunawili Demo Trail

Stepping foot on the trail that was originally scouted and marked out by HTMC hiker, Richard Dick Davis.

Maunawili Demo Trail

We soon passed the junction that would have took us to the back of Olomana and countless other side trails that exist in this area.

Maunawili Demo Trail

The temptation was too great.

Maunawili Demo Trail

Just like monkeys, even horses fall from trees.

Maunawili Demo Trail

That trail was originally called Ko’olaupoko and work was started in 1991 by the Sierra Club.

Maunawili Demo Trail

The group weaving their way through the downed trees.

Maunawili Demo Trail

Climbing was not on today’s agenda.

Maunawili Demo Trail

Prisoners from OCC were recruited to help finish part of the trail in the summer of 1991. Voluntarily?

Maunawili Demo Trail

Meandering our way around the base of the the Ko’olau Mountains.

Maunawili Demo Trail

Standing in the verdant forest with a dead and twisted tree.

Maunawili Demo Trail

Winding our way in and out of multiple gullies.

Maunawili Demo Trail

No steak today. Chocolate dipped banana bread is what is on the menu.

Maunawili Demo Trail

Group photo with the three peaks of Olomana, Paku’i and Ahiki in the background.

Maunawili Demo Trail

Foraging for trail snacks on the path.

Maunawili Demo Trail

We passed the junction for the connector to Maunawili Falls and approached Maunawili Bigs, the waterfall chutes that are quite the spectacle when Mother Nature turns on the spigot.

Maunawili Demo Trail

Passing a fruitful branch of fiddlehead ferns.

Maunawili Demo Trail

Unfiltered. Straight from the tap. Lepto straight to the belly.

Maunawili Demo Trail

The trail was finished at the end of 1993 and it was renamed Maunawili Trail. Thanks to the combined efforts of the Sierra Club, OCC prisoners, Boy Scouts, Marines and volunteers that contributed to make this trail a reality.

All pau

Illustrating what next week’s hike will look like. A picture is worth a thousand words.

GPS Tracks

Our hike in the shadow of the mountains covered just shy of nine miles with a great group. Thanks to Mona’s son who picked us up and took us to Tokyo Central for our post hike meal before returning us back to our cars.

Photos taken by Allison Banks, Akira Suzuki, Deborah Tom, Mari Saito, Monaliza Guillermo, 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.