Our perimeter walk got washed out due to the heavy storm activity over the weekend, so it was off to chasing waterfalls again. Yay! The original group of 17 people shrank to only seven peeps when all was said and done. They were dropping like flies. I think they all went to go eat at The Beach House by 604 with the rest of their friends.

Pali Lookout

What remained of the group met up at the lookout where we skipped the panoramic views and made our way down the rain soaked road that was blocked by a fallen tree that was being quickly disposed of by HFD who questioned our mental capacity for being out in the storm system that was currently thrashing the islands. I’m pretty sure some of them were making side bets if they were going to be called back later to rescue said hikers.

Nu’uanu Valley

The group crossing the irrigation ditch.

Nu’uanu Valley

Passing over one of multiple swollen streams in the valley.

Nu’uanu Valley

We navigated our way through the forest through the diluted smell of the bloodhound and Val’s tracks and ribbons.

Nu’uanu Valley

Ferlino crossing a stream and taking a selfie. That man loves his selfies. Not to be confused with self love.

Nu’uanu Valley

The rest of us just stuck to hiking the trail. Stay focused.

Nu’uanu Valley

We soon spotted the waterfalls in the distance. Now we just had to get to it.

Nu’uanu Valley

Somebody said there was cardio involved in today’s hike?

Nu’uanu Valley

It looked like we were going further away from the falls as we got higher on the ridgeline as the footing became less secure and sure.

Nu’uanu Valley

We scrambled and slid back back down to relative safety.

Z Falls

Making our way to the base of the waterfall.

Z Falls

Like its neighboring cousin, V Falls, this dry chute only carries H2O during heavy rainfall.

Z Falls

Group photo at the lower tier, where is Ferlino?

Z Falls

He had climbed up and lowered webbing down the falls. Is that for ascent or descent? Or both? We would never find out.

Z Falls

We soon followed him up to the second tier of the falls by climbing and contouring the ridgeline, all except one. The very one that orchestrated this waterfall hike. The wet irony.

Z Falls

Looking up at the second tier as the winds were whipping something fierce and were flying most of the water into the air, rendering the waterfalls less voluminous in appearance.

Z Falls

Group photo at the base of the second falls.

Z Falls

Val looking up at the waterfall. There was probably a third tier, but no discernible means of approach. Plus, we were getting cold. Hawaii people and all.

Nu’uanu Valley

Leaving our precarious perch on the hill as we scrambled our way back down the soft and slippery slope.

Nu’uanu Valley

Edgar following the stream as we made our way back out.

Nu’uanu Valley

Passing underneath a fallen tree which answers the philosophical question. If a tree falls in a forest, just make sure you get the hell out of the way.

Nu’uanu Valley

Passing by the former Mosquito Bucket Junction, now seemingly taken over by the Hunter Bucket Association.

Nu’uanu Valley

And then our group shrank by three, as Allison, Edgar and Joyce parted ways and went back to their cars.

Nu’uanu Valley

The group going through the bamboo grass forest, whose underground root system ensures that the plants are perennial.

Waipuilani Falls

It’s been a hot minute since I last visited these falls over 10 years ago and they were trickling as compared to today’s flow.

Waipuilani Falls

End of the line for us in the roughly 100′ deep cave. Opinions have been tossed out as to the nature of the cave, whether it’s man-made or natural. There is an irrigation pipe that runs the length of the cave and another albeit short tunnel that branches off from the main one towards the end. Both dead end into the rock.

Waipuilani Falls

Group photo from the cave between the twin waterfalls.

All pau

Where’s HFD when you need them?

Kaneohe

The group retired to Chico’s house to change into dry clothes where we were joined by Anne-Marie, Herb & Shirley, Mari, Marilyn, Robin, Susan & Andrew, Tessa & Akira. We all ate a hearty meal from the potluck spread and celebrated Lilia’s Birthday. Happy Birthday and many more!

Kaneohe

Recreating the group photo from last year, albeit with a couple stand-ins and missing people.

Kaneohe

Let it rain dollars. Next stop, Club 939.

Kaneohe

One for the road. Maybe a couple more.

Our waterfall exploration hike that was lead by the annoying church slut measured roughly 3.7 miles that bore witness to a “new” and old waterfall. Thanks to Chico and Lilia for hosting the Super Bowl/Birthday party at their house and everybody for the fun company on and off the trail.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OI_GN9ErxqE

Video by Edgar Gamiao of our waterfall day.

Photos/Crew taken by Aileen Agustin, Allison Banks, Edgar Gamiao, Ferlino Carinio, Joyce Uhlmer, Val Wang, 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.

Another week of rain kept me off the mountains again. That is why I found myself in the Pali lookout with Chris, Jose and Thessa to go waterfall hunting. Waipuilani Falls to be exact. Thanks to Ryan for the idea, who unfortunately had to go to work instead of playing in the forest.

Feed me?

One of the stray cats looking for a handout in the parking lot. You would think with all the chickens strutting around. . .?

Waipuilani Falls

Walking on the Pali Highway, we caught a brief glimpse of the falls.

Spartan flashbacks

We forgot our keys, so we had to jump the fence.

Nuuanu forest

Walking on the jeep road with no jeep.

Bamboo forest

We soon left the jeep road behind us as we headed deeper into the forest.

Tie a pink ribbon

The trail was pretty much defined, reinforced with pink and orange ribbons.

Follow the stream

We soon hit the stream and followed it to the source.

Trickling

Group photo left to right: Chris, myself, Thessa and Jose. The falls on the left are usually dry, but we had some flow due to the heavy rains from yesterday. We were expecting thunderstorm weather which would have fueled the waterfalls. Where is Guy Hagi when you need him?

Tunnel

We climbed between the waterfalls to check out the grotto looking tunnel. The only thing standing between us and the tunnel was a spider web. Guess who prevailed?

Rat!

Heading into the tunnel, I saw a small rodent aka rat, drop from the tunnel ceiling and scurry into the pipe. At least he didn’t land on my head.

End of the tunnel

The tunnel ran for about 50 feet before it ended. Shucks, I thought we were going to pop out somewhere in Manoa.

Somebody has been here

Walking towards the light.

Orchids

On the way back, sometimes you have to stop and smell the orchids.

Whose wall?

Remnants of a time long ago.

Spider #1

Checking out the numerous spiders that make their home on the edge of the Pali Highway.

Spider #2

Too bad we don’t have man-made spider webs to catch all the rubbish that people seem to throw from their cars. That’s right, we do. It’s called a garbage can. Chris started picking up the rubbish as we made our way back to the Pali Lookout. The rest of us started to pitch in, but we barely made a dent.

Spider #3

Spider snacking on his lunch.

Hitchhikers

Nobody picked us up. Guess we weren’t showing enough skin.

Kalihi Saddle

Walking down the Old Pali Road, looking at Kalihi Saddle, one of the hardest hikes I’ve done to date. Still have to complete the Bowman side. Just waiting for the weather to dry out.

Pali falls

I heard there is a plane wreckage above these falls. Have to check it out one day.

From the old to the new

Looking at the falls cascading down from the Old Pali Road to the current Pali Highway.

GPS Tracks

Despite the no-show of thunderstorm activity that would have greatly enhanced our waterfall viewing pleasure, it was a short and fun four mile hike.