Picking up the trail from last week; met up with Ani, Analyn, Chris and Ferlino at the blustery Pali Lookout.

Trail

Ready … 1,2,3 … Push. Wait, I’m not ready! Photo by Ferlino Carinio.

Trail

Ferlino climbing up the short and steep hill from the lookout.

Trail

Catching a view. Photo by Ani Lagpacan.

Pali Notches

Ani making her way down the first notch.

Pali Notches

Chris climbing down the second man-made notch.

Nipple

Some took the high road … Photo by Ani Lagpacan.

Nipple

… others took the low road. Photo by Ani Lagpacan.

Chimney

The winds were slamming the ridge as Ani watched Chris make his way up. Pay close attention as there will be a test later on. Climbing test. Photo by Ferlino Carinio.

Chimney

Try and try again was the theme for today. Good job Ani.

Chimney

Everybody wanted to warm up the Chimney. Saw a couple guys loitering around the base of the nipple looking at the rotating chimney seat. They soon turned around. Sorry guys. Photo by Chris Bautista.

Trail

Photo shoots are over, let’s get back to hiking. Photo by Ani Lagpacan.

Contour

Contouring and climbing up on the thin ledge of loosely packed dirt. Photo by Ani Lagpacan.

Trail

Ani making her way up the last section of crumbly rocks.

Trail

Up, up and away on the ridge line. Photo by Ani Lagpacan.

Trail

Looking back at the group making their way along the ridge with stunning mountain and ocean views.

Trail

Fragrant, invasive yellow ginger flowers overlooking the mountain and valley views. Photo by Ferlino Carinio.

Mud Wall

Analyn coming up none the worse for wear.

Trail

Passing the Piliwale Junction on the way to the summit.

Konahuanui Summit

Coca Cola. Sardines. Balut. Kankanen. The basic four food groups for hikers.

Konahuanui Summit

Alberto’s group had raced up to the summit to catch up with us. Group photo left to right: Rick, Alberto, Ani, Zach, Analyn, myself, Captain America, Chris and Ferlino.

K2

Still looking for the geodetic marker for K1. Photo by Ferlino Carinio.

Trail

Analyn making her way down the steeply rutted trail from K2. Photo by Ani Lagpacan.

Trail

The ridge soon leveled off and we found ourselves strolling through fields of bamboo orchid flowers. Flower children at play. Somebody also kept losing their boonie hat.

Trail

Get out of the way. She’s gonna fall! Photo by Ferlino Carinio.

Trail

Ferlino showing us how it’s done. Photo by Analyn Baliscao.

Trail

Watching Alberto’s group going down Lulumahu Ridge to rappel Waipulani Falls.

Trail

Looking down into Manoa with her thick canopied forest and densely urbanized valley.

Trail

Instead of taking the trail that winded down the ridge, we decided to go up the higher ridge that was recently cleared by another hiking group.

Trail

Looking back at the twin testicles and wondering about Ani’s “friend.”

Trail

Strawberry guavas for the picking as we dropped off the ridge.

Trail

I always wondered where this trail went. Now I know the rest of the story.

Nu’uanu Valley Overlook

Honorary Filipino … by sweat and jacket … Salamat. No, you can’t have the jacket Ani until you eat that balut. Photo by Ferlino Carinio.

Nu’uanu Valley Overlook

The 1,600′ lookout was getting crowded when this guy strolled up playing his ukulele. Live music on the mountains.

Pauoa Flats Trail

Chris going through the bamboo forested trail.

Pauoa Flats Trail

Walking on the boardwalk.

Pauoa Flats Trail

Hanging. Upside down. Photo by Analyn Baliscao.

Junction

We got off the remaining boardwalk and turned right at the junction.

Kalawahine Trail

Tree branches growing from a cut stump in the shadow of a fallen tree.

Kalawahine Trail

Church service in the mountains. Every Sunday.

Kalawahine Trail

Just hanging out and sitting around.

Kalawahine Trail

Analyn checking out from the hunter check in station.

All pau

We popped out of the trail near the top of Tantalus. Thanks to Ferlino’s son-in-law, RJ for driving us back to the Pali Lookout.

GPS Tracks

Our windy hike covered 4.45 miles through saddles, ridges and valleys. Great hike with a fun group. Post hike meal at Chao Phya Thai. The salmon melted in our mouths. The complimentary chocolate mousse in a spoon was on spot. Thanks Ferlino for the delish meal.

Note: I have been made aware the 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.