Somebody waited for four years to visit this place, might as well grant her birthday wish.

Poamoho Road

Chris opening the combination lock. Adventure awaits.

Poamoho Road

Trying to fit four off-road vehicles in one muddy parking spot.

Poamoho Road

A rather large group of 17 friends gathered to celebrate not one but two birthdays, Allison and Mona’s special days.

Poamoho Road

The birthday girls getting lei’d by Agnes and Sandra. The original lei was introduced by the early Polynesian settlers who originally used flowers, leaves, shells, seeds, nuts, feathers, and even bone and teeth of various animals. The tradition of giving and wearing leis boomed with the advent of tourism in the islands and a cottage industry developed around it with lei stands and shops that populated Chinatown and the Airport areas.

Poamoho Road

Chris and Mona modeling the latest in fashionable life vests.

Poamoho Road

Matt getting muddy. Before the trail even started. He just wanted to get it over with.

Poamoho Trail

The start of the trail with everybody still dry and relatively clean.

Poamoho Trail

Hiking on the cleared corridor of uluhe ferns.

Poamoho Trail

Passing one of recent landslide areas that are still denuded of vegetation.

Poamoho Trail

Looking down into our destination – Poamoho Stream.

Poamoho Trail

Time to put on our micro-spikes for that extra traction.

Poamoho Trail

Leaving the trail.

Poamoho

Going down the short and slippery slope.

Poamoho Stream

We soon hit rock bottom. Stream bottom.

Poamoho Stream

Once the group was collected, we all started wading into the swollen stream.

Poamoho Stream

Matt opened the floodgates, much to the delight of those below him. Little did they know, he was holding it from last night.

Poamoho Stream

Poised and posed in the stream waters.

Poamoho Stream

Staying dry and then getting wet again. Rinse and repeat.

Poamoho Stream

Going upstream like so many spawning hikers.

Poamoho Stream

Saved Sandra from getting swept downstream by the strong current. Slight exaggeration.

Poamoho Stream

Weekend warriors. Water guns have existed since the 1860s when they were made out of metal and eventually into the clear plastic ones we use today.

Poamoho Stream

Stopped at a side waterfall that was flowing due to the generous rain the area had experienced the past few days.

Poamoho Stream

Back to playing in the water.

Poamoho Stream

Matt and Tessa sitting in a tree. Wait, where’s Akira?

Poamoho Stream

Are we going to Sacred Falls?

Poamoho Stream

Matt hydrating while being hydrated in the turbulent waters. The impermeable stratified squamous epithelium says otherwise.

Poamoho Stream

Fighting water with water.

Poamoho Stream

Akira playing in the deep end. Swimming against the current.

Poamoho Stream

Rock hopping galore.

Poamoho Stream

Plunging into “The Narrows.” Ice cold.

Poamoho Stream

Most of us crabbed, floated, swam or walked. One special person got carried through the water. It must be her birthday.

Poamoho Stream

Pool after pool.

Poamoho Stream

Approaching the lower waterfall.

Poamoho Stream

Finally some climbing! The rock hopping was getting old pretty fast.

Poamoho Stream

One by one, we all got up with a little help from our friends.

Poamoho Stream

Matt demonstrating his flexibility.

Poamoho Stream

Going over one of many fallen trees in the stream.

Poamoho Stream

The canyon walls narrowed through some of the stream corridors.

Poamoho Stream

Contouring our way around the cascading water.

Poamoho Stream

Drinking directly from the source. No filter needed.

Poamoho Stream

Are we there yet?

Poamoho Stream

Rock stacker. Caveman would be proud.

Poamoho Falls

We have arrived!

Poamoho Falls

A watering hole in every sense of the word.

Poamoho Falls

Mud of Mountain better than Oil of Olay. Preferred by Weekend Warriors.

Poamoho Falls

Splish splash. The recent rain had increased the flow and volume of the falls much to the delight of the group.

Poamoho Falls

Happy Birthday Allison and Mona! We sang the most recognized song in the English language to the pair, the song was produced in 1893 under “Good Morning To All” and the birthday lyrics were added later. Music publisher Warner/Chappell claimed copyright ownership and demanded royalties if used commercially or sung in public since 1949. In 2016, the courts ruled that the song belonged in the public domain. Sing it loudly and freely.

Poamoho Falls

Group photo in the pool with the 40′ falls behind us.

Poamoho Stream

Going with the flow.

Poamoho Stream

Akira skirting the rushing waters.

Poamoho Stream

The stream feeding hikers into the narrow slot of the canyon.

Poamoho Stream

More fun than Wet’n’Wild Hawaii.

Poamoho Stream

Climbing down to the pool while Matt ensured that I remained wet. That’s what friends are for.

Poamoho Stream

Looking at a side stream. Another waterfall perhaps? Another day.

Poamoho Stream

Chris spotted a webbing hanging off the hill and gambled that it was a trail back to the trail. Good call.

Poamoho Trail

Back on terra firma after some minor scrambling up the hill. Saved us over an hour rock hopping in the stream.

Poamoho Trail

Ambushing the weekend warrior. Must be a REMF.

Poamoho Trail

Going through the gates and back to our trucks.

Poamoho Trail

Champagne toast for the birthday girls. Prost. Kanpai. Cheers. Tagay.

All pau

Akira saying his goodbyes to the large, domesticated livestock. Cows despite being herbivores, will eat meat and other animals.

GPS Tracks

Our semi-loop waterlogged birthday hike covered 6.17 miles through a canyon filled with rocks, pools and waterfalls. Fun day all around with good friends. I tried to make phoking reservations at the phoking restaurant but they didn’t take phoking reservations for our phoking post hike meal. Hot soup does a wet body good. Happy advance birthday wishes to Allison and Mona, excuse the ghetto birthday cards. It’s the thought that counts.

Photos taken by Agnes Bryant, Aida Gordon, Akira Suzuki, Allison Banks, Brian and Kilani Hudson, Chico Cantu, Chris Bautista, Dave and Susan Katz, Jimmy Hernandez, Lawrence Murray, Lilyn Avendano, Matt Vidaurri, Monaliza Guillermo, Samantha Taylor, Sandra Walter, 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.

My original route from Poamoho to Laie got watered down today. Literally. Photo by Lilyn Avendano.

Trailhead

Thanks to Edgar for driving Aida, Lilyn, Quan and myself up the jeep road. Saved us roughly five miles of wear and tear.

Poamoho Trail

Are we lost or just exploring? Photo by Aida Gordon.

Ewa Forest Reserve

Sliding off the trail. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Ewa Forest Reserve

Winding our way down through the corridor of strawberry guava trees.

Low clearance

Ducking under a moss encrusted tree. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Ewa Forest Reserve

Making our way down to the stream.

Poamoho Stream

We put our micro spikes on and started our search for a new waterfall. Thanks to Allison for the idea. Why isn’t she here as well? She was asking the same question. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Poamoho Stream

The girls stacking rocks to mark the trail, just in case we got lost on the way back. These stream crossings can be tricky. I also think they might have been goaded or encouraged as well.

Poamoho Stream

There was a mixture of walking …

Poamoho Stream

… and wading and rock hopping … Photo by Aida Gordon.

Poamoho Stream

… and tree swinging … Photo by Aida Gordon.

Poamoho Stream

… and tree sitting. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Poamoho Stream

Elephant ears or Kalo? Always hard to tell them apart.

Poamoho Stream

I guess we are not done with the tree sitting. Photo by Lilyn Avendano.

Poamoho Stream

The walls got higher and closer as we hiked further upstream.

Poamoho Stream

The rocks also got more jumbled. Photo by Lilyn Avendano.

Poamoho Stream

Wading into the “Narrows.” Not as grand as the one found in Utah, just more tropical. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Poamoho Stream

Tadpole in training.

Poamoho Stream

Emerging from the ice cold immersion. That water was cold.

Poamoho Stream

I guess we are not done with the ice cold immersion. Preparing to get all wet. Again. Photo by Lilyn Avendano.

Poamoho Stream

Elevator service was up and running. Photo by Quan Haberstroh.

Poamoho Stream

We continued our way upstream like so much spawning salmon. Photo by Quan Haberstroh.

Poamoho Stream

Edgar making his way across the fallen tree. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Poamoho Stream

Making our way in the stream, rock by slippery rock. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Poamoho Stream

A tree pose on top of a tree. How fitting.

Poamoho Falls

Approaching the 50′ plus falls. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Poamoho Falls

Everybody had to get their photo with the falls, except Edgar who was droning us frolicking in the waters.

Poamoho Falls

Group photo left to right: Aida, Edgar, Lilyn, Quan and myself. Photo by Lilyn Avendano.

Poamoho Stream

Making our way back as we had exceeded the scheduled time of three hours.

Ewa Forest Reserve

There’s a ribbon up there Kenji, why don’t you go check it out. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Ewa Forest Reserve

We gave up after awhile as we had enough of our coughing seizures brought on by the uluhe fern pollen and spores.

Poamoho Stream

Back to rock hopping in the stream. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Tree fungi

Colorful mushrooms to match the colorful hikers. Photo by Lilyn Avendano.

Poamoho Stream

You got this? You got my nickel? Photo by Aida Gordon.

Poamoho Stream

Last man coming down. Photo by Edgar Gamiao.

Poamoho Stream

Lilyn swimming out of the Apocalypse Narrows.

Poamoho Stream

Quan sitting on the big rock amongst the other big rocks. They all look the same.

Ewa Forest Reserve

Lilyn leaving the stream for higher ground. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Ewa Forest Reserve

Quan and the group reaching the junction with the Poamoho trail.

All pau

The end of our waterfall adventure covered a little under six miles that were filled with excessive rock hopping, stream immersion and new waterfalls that we found. Good time with fun friends. Post hike meal at Zippy’s. The choice of dine-in eating spots are slim pickings during these covid times.

Video by Edgar Gamiao of our Poamoho Narrows Hike.

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.

I got an excuse to break in my spanking brand new Costco backpack this weekend. Met up with Chris B, Chris C and Thessa to explore the rolling hills of Wahiawa.

Water tanks

We shouldered our 40 pound backpacks and disappeared into the hills.

The hills

The group making their way down the first hill through a stand of eucalyptus trees.

Dry stream

Passing through uprooted trees scattered like so many matchsticks.

Going down

We climbed up a hill, hit a switchback and followed the trail down to our first stream crossing.

North Fork Kaukonahua Stream

Took off our shoes and waded to the opposite bank in clear, cold waters.

Going up

The ample leaves surrounding us came in handy to dry our feet off. Climbing up another hill. Theme for the day.

Group photo

Cameras and monkeys fall out of trees. No monkeys around today. Photo by Chris Bautista.

Follow the ribbon

We followed this ribbon down into a thickly vegetated valley floor with false drops, so we turned around and headed back up again.

Let’s try this way

The trail looped back the way we had come from, so we found another side trail to explore.

Looks like a trail

Let’s see where this goes.

Poamoho stream

The trail dropped us down into another stream. Photo by Chris Chun.

Hills

Climbing up another hill peppered with paperbark trees.

Deja vu

Muttered curses filled the air as I topped the hill only to realize we had looped back again!

Ridge trail

Let’s find out where this ridge will take us.

Kaukonahua stream

We meet again. It the waters were higher, we might as well have gone tubing! Photo by Chris Chun.

Come on down

We crossed the stream and picked up a faint trail that soon disappeared as the uluhe got deeper and denser as we bushwhacked our way up another hill. Losing daylight. Time to turn around and set up camp. We didn’t lug these tents around for nothing.

Campsite

Group photo left to right: Chris B, Chris C, Thessa and myself.

What’s for dinner?

Cup of cramps. All night long. Photo by Thessa Bugay.

Sunset

The day was drawing to a close. No more exploring for today. Photo by Chris Bautista.

Good night

Snoring. Cheese Farts. Eating. Rain. Tree branches creaking. Sleep. Not necessarily in that order. Photo by Thessa Bugay.

Good morning

Wakey, wakey eggs and bakey. Or in our case, leftover MREs.

Back on the trail

We broke our campsite down, packed our bags and headed back out.

Uluhe forest

Nice to look at, not nice to be in it.

Rising waters

Runoff and rain had swollen and colored the muddy brown stream. Photo by Thessa Bugay.

Until we meet again

Recycled walking sticks.

Playtime

The looping hike covered roughly 6 miles of rolling hills, pig trails, hunter trails, hiking trails, ridges and streams. Real easy to get lost in these hills. Post hike meal at Zippys. The eye is bigger than the stomach.