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.

Kicked off the New Year with an easy hike so I can be ready for the hardest hike by Christmas Day.

Pali Lookout

Met up with Chris, Ferlino and Robin at the Pali Lookout as the morning sun torched the tops of the mountains turning them orange red. Photo by Robin Farr.

Trail

Nothing like a short cardio puff up the forested hill to get our blood pumping this chilly morning.

Trail

Enjoying the panoramic view of the Windward coast from our windswept vantage point.

Pali Notches

Climbing down one of the notches that was cut out of the ridge by the army of Kalanikupule in the late 1700’s.

Pali Notches

Robin making her way down the deeper notch that once served as gunports whose cannons were trained on Kamehameha’s invading army.

Trail

Making our way towards the Chimney. Photo by Ferlino Carinio.

Nipple

Robin keeping her center of gravity low as she scrambled up and down the nipple, lest the gusting winds carry her away.

Chimney

The winds were whipping something fierce as we climbed up the chimney. Photo by Ferlino Carinio.

Chimney

Robin climbing up with a little help from her friends.

Nu’uanu Saddle

Group photo left to right: Chris, Ferlino, Robin and myself.

Nu’uanu Saddle

Climbing our way up, around and over through the jumbled rocks seemingly glued together with dirt, trees and grass and just as stable as it sounds.

Contour

Treading carefully where an angel fell. Photo by Robin Farr.

Nu’uanu Saddle

All smiles as we left behind the crumbly and eroded ridge for …

Nu’uanu Saddle

… greener pastures filled with uki grass.

Mud Wall

Robin scrambling up the mud stained and stepped wall.

Piliwale Junction

Chris and Ferlino coming up to the Windward ridge junction that drops down into Maunawili Valley.

Nu’uanu Saddle

Bogging our way through the pocket of moss wrapped trees and shoe sucking mud.

Konahuanui

Where oh where have the views gone? Nothing to see, so we sat down and ate our lunch on the highest point on the Ko’olau Mountains that was swallowed by the clouds.

Ko’olau Summit Ridge Trail (KSRT)

Dropping into the moist and overgrown saddle between the large testicles.

K2

We didn’t get any view on the second summit as well, and on top of that, somebody took down Chris’s summit sign from our last visit! Auwe!

Trail

Chris and Ferlino dropping off the Ko’olau Mountain spine.

Trail

Robin making her way down the deeply rutted section of the trail.

Trail

We finally gained somewhat cloud muted views of the ridges and valleys.

Nu’uanu Reservoir

Looking down into one of many dams built to control potential flooding into densely populated areas.

Trail

Crossing paths with an “Aussie.”

Nu’uanu Overlook

We finally got a view at the windy 1,600′ lookout.

Pauoa Flats Trail

Robin walking down the bamboo lined trail.

Pauoa Flats Trail

Taking our group selfie on this quintuple trunked tree. Photo by Ferlino Carinio.

Pauoa Flats Trail

A short stroll on the boardwalk before branching off the trail.

Nu’uanu Trail

Passing through one of many moss and fungi infested trees.

Nu’uanu Trail

Ferlino soon realized he had left his walking stick at the multiple trunked tree and raced back to recover it before it became finder keepers.

Nu’uanu Trail

Looking across the sea of trees to the views of Honolulu.

Nu’uanu Trail

The bench that begs the question, “Who is Jay Kent Bien?”

Nu’uanu Trail

Chris going down the well manicured trail.

Judd Trail

Leaving one trail for another.

Judd Trail

Descending through the mind-numbing switchbacks on the trail. We lost count, but I heard it’s in the neighborhood of 25.

Judd Trail

Christmas was surprisingly alive and well in these mountains.

Judd Trail

All that was missing were the blinking multi-colored lights.

Judd Trail

I didn’t realize coqui frogs celebrated Christmas. Photo by Robin Farr.

Judd Trail

We left Christmas behind us as we descended through the grove of towering pine trees.

Judd Trail

Loggers were particularly busy here.

Judd Trail

Ducking through the tangled thicket of hau branches as the trail continued above the burbling stream that fed Ginger Jackass Pool.

Judd Trail

Wading through Nu’uanu Stream to get to the other side. Photo by Chris Bautista.

All pau

Mahalo to Ferlino’s son-in-law, RJ, for picking us up from the side of Nu’uanu Pali Drive.

GPS Tracks

Our first hike of the year covered less than six miles through windy ridges, cloudy mountains and wide open trails. Great hike with good company. Post hike meal at Lilihia Bakery. Somebody had a phobia about eating something from where the sun don’t shine.

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.

Mari and I took a page from Stuart Balls “The Hikers Guide to O’ahu” for our Sunday hike. The directions were spot on as we have never set foot on what can be a confusing trail system with multiple junctions.

Trailhead

Cars and hikers were streaming into the Maikiki Forest Recreation Area when we pulled into the lot. A bathroom, washing area and trail information are located at the trailhead. How convenient. Not used to these amenities on a hike.

Kanealole Trail

We took a left at the first junction where native plants marked with descriptive signs lined the trail.

Between a rockwall and a stream

The soothing sounds of Kanealole stream kept us company for a short stretch.

Rabbit hole

Mari heading deeper into the forest.

Maikiki Forest

Climbing and clinging vines covered the trees.

Fair weather hiker

Who brings an umbrella to the hike? At least it’s the “Storm” umbrella.

Maikiki Valley Trail

We climbed up the trail to the left after we let a pack of hunting dogs come down. Something else was coming down. Rain.

Nahuina Trail

It was mango season. No mangoes for us, as the decomposing fruits littered and scented the trail. Fat bugs. We climbed a couple steep switchbacks and took a right at the junction.

Tree fungi

Mountain mushrooms feeding off the many fallen trees.

Tangled trail

Pockets of hau trees sprinkled the trail along with the tree canopy, provided spotty cover from the rain.

Botanical trail

White ginger flowers.

Tantalus Drive

Look both ways before crossing. Have hiking stick, will hike.

Kalahawaine Trail

We walked down the road a short distance before finding the next trail, formerly called Manoa Cliff Trail.

Hunter check in

No dogs. No check in.

Bench view

At least the rain stopped.

Snail trail

No silver trails spotted.

Bridge crossing

Hmmm, what is the load limit?

Toll trail

Watch out for the hiking trolls.

Tree trail

Just treeing around.

Junction

We continued straight on the trail past the junction that contours around Tantalus.

Stair trail

If you see stairs on a trail, safe bet is that it’s part of the Na Ala Hele trail system.

Ditch trail

One foot in front of the other. Left. Left.

Pauoa Flats Trail

We turned left at the junction.

Rooted trail

The trail became heavily rooted and muddy.

Nuuanu trail junction

We passed the junction that comes up from Judd trail and continued straight.

Ahuilamu Trail junction

A bamboo grove marked another junction that goes down to Manoa Falls, where we continued straight on the flats trail.

Bamboo trail

Feels like Kyoto. Well to some people.

Nuuanu Valley overlook

We met another group that were already at the 1,600′ summit. Clouds sprinkled with rain were our views for today. The trail to Konahuanui would have to wait another day.

Going back down

Back on the muddy trail.

Pauoa Flats Trail

We went straight on the connector trail to make our way back.

Banyan tree trail

The trail took on a more pronounced pitch.

Switchback trail

Bends in the trail made it easier to go up the steep climb.

Manoa Cliff Trail

A closed gate marked a native reforestation project. Keeping out feral pigs since 2009.

Puu Ohia Trail junction

We passed the junction that goes up to Tantalus and continued straight on the cliff trail that soon left the gated area.

Traffic trail

Korean hikers seemed to be out in force today on the trails. Annyeong haseyo!

Bench view

Sitting on the Manoa Cliff Bamboo Rest Bench.

Fern trail

Lush ferns cascaded and covered the mountain side.

Round Top Drive

Mari coming down to the end of Manoa Cliff Trail. Watch for traffic.

Moleka Trail

Why did the hiker cross the road? To get to the other trail.

Bamboo trail

Back in Kyoto.

Twisted trees

Climbing up the side of Pu’u Kakea.

Maikiki Valley Trail

We reached the junction and turned right on the valley trail.

Tree trail

Hiking in one of the 17 forest reserves on the island.

Maunalaha Trail

We reached the last junction on our hike today.

Rocky ridge

Mari making her way down the steep ridge that was filled with fragrant eucalyptus trees.

Going down

We made our way back down to the trailhead.

All pau

We are ready for Mount Fuji!

GPS Tracks

The forest loop involved eight trails that covered 8.25 miles. Post hike meal at Hokkaido Ramen Santouka. Cold and hot ramen with pork cheeks.