Wahiawa Hills Exploration

by kenji SAITO on May 8, 2021

I did a more inclusive hike this weekend. Somebody said I should do more of these. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

Trailhead

Trailhead

Met up with Aida, Dale, Marilyn, Matt, Quan and Tessa in the city of pines.

Wahiawa Hills

Wahiawa Hills

We cut through the eucalyptus forest to start our hike.

Wahiawa Hills

Wahiawa Hills

Dale capturing the moving clouds rolling through the hills. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Wahiawa Hills

Wahiawa Hills

The group coming down the heavily rooted slippery slope.

Wahiawa Hills

Wahiawa Hills

Matt using the balancing shovel as he made his way across the log. Whatever works. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Wahiawa Hills

Wahiawa Hills

Going down the right (left) junction to stay on trail.

Wahiawa Hills

Wahiawa Hills

Dropping down to cross the longest stream on the island.

Kaukonahua Stream

Kaukonahua Stream

Fording the wide and shallow stream.

Wahiawa Hills

Wahiawa Hills

There’s a reason why this place is called Wahiawa Hills and not Flats. Photo by Marilyn Bermudez.

Wahiawa Hills

Wahiawa Hills

Hike down. Hike up. Repeat until your desired destination is reached. Photo by Marilyn Bermudez.

Wahiawa Hills

Wahiawa Hills

Detouring off the loop trail.

Wahiawa Hills

Wahiawa Hills

The sunlight poked holes through the dense forest canopy. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Wahiawa Hills

Wahiawa Hills

Descending our way down to the irrigation tunnel.

Wahiawa Hills

Wahiawa Hills

Watching our steps as the rocks underfoot were slick and shifting.

Wahiawa Hills

Wahiawa Hills

Matt wanted to explore further down the stream before wading into the tunnel. Lucky I brought my webbing along. Photo by Dale Yoshizu.

Wahiawa Hills

Wahiawa Hills

Thanks to Quan for letting me borrow her spikes for that added traction on that slippery log. Photo by Matt Vidaurri.

Wahiawa Hills

Wahiawa Hills

Exploring downstream that was cluttered with lots of trees that must have been swept down from the numerous flash floods that engorges the streams. Photos by Matt Vidaurri.

Wahiawa Hills

Wahiawa Hills

Dale and Marilyn tried their footing on the slick log as we climbed our way back up.

Underworld

Underworld

The water depth changed as we moved deeper into the tunnel, but the temperature remained constant. Cold. Ice cold. Photo by Matt Vidaurri.

Underworld

Underworld

Approaching the light at the end of the tunnel.

Underworld

Underworld

The poor man’s waterfall.

Underworld

Underworld

Matt the beaver worked his way through the tree branches blocking the gate to see what was on the other side.

Underworld

Underworld

Group photo left to right: Dale, Tessa, Marilyn, myself, Quan, Matt and Aida.

Underworld

Underworld

Some of us found it harder to leave than the others. The draw of the photoshoot was stronger than plunging back into ice cold water. Photo by Matt Vidaurri.

Underworld

Underworld

Aida approaching the end of the tunnel. Photo by Dale Yoshizu.

Underworld

Underworld

Tessa keeping all her goodies dry. Well not all of them. Photo by Dale Yoshizu.

Wahiawa Hills

Wahiawa Hills

When you don’t offer a helping hand, but give a stick instead.

Wahiawa Hills

Wahiawa Hills

Quan coming up the steep hill. Cardio hill has nothing on this one. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Wahiawa Hills

Wahiawa Hills

Dale had to leave the hike; but Ani, Cathy and Edgar joined the group at the top of the hill.

Black Hawk Down

Black Hawk Down

Behind the production scene. Photo by Ani Lagpacan.

Hawaiian Ninja Warrior

Hawaiian Ninja Warrior

Only Matt made the cut. The rest of us have to stay on the sidewalks.

Ranger Rejects

Ranger Rejects

I guess most of us are not getting our diplomas. Photo by Ani Lagpacan.

Wahiawa

Wahiawa

When the 2D and 3D worlds collide, expectations fail to meet reality.

Wahiawa

Wahiawa

Taking a break from the uluhe ferns that dominated the trail. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Valve Tower

Valve Tower

Ani approaching the over 100′ tower that was built in the 1920s.

Valve Tower

Valve Tower

Angles and perspectives.

Valve Tower

Valve Tower

Group photo in the Ku Tree Reservoir, left to right: Ani, Quan, Cat, Edgar, myself, Marilyn, Matt, Aida and Tessa.

Wahiawa

Wahiawa

Climbing out of the empty lake. Photo by Aida Gordon.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9g9kVueNoI

Video by Edgar Gamiao of our valve tower exploration.

Wahiawa

Wahiawa

We picked up another hiker in the form of the forgetful hiker who met us at the top.

My Precious!

My Precious!

Somebody was making the most out of finding a gold ring.

Catwalk

Catwalk

The dancing stopped as soon as somebody realized there were no dollar bills being taken out.

Weekend Warriors

Weekend Warriors

We wanted to be all you can be; so we headed down the road to test our speed, endurance and agility. Photo by Lilyn Avendano.

Tarzan

Tarzan

Only one of us could monkey the bars. Two-way traffic on the balance beams. Somebody thought it was the place to practice their bachata moves.

Obstacle Course

Obstacle Course

The course evaluators relaxing in the shade. Photo by Lilyn Avendano.

Easy Balancer

Easy Balancer

Easy Peasy Japanesey. Being politically incorrect.

Vaults

Vaults

We all got over the bars in our own ways. Some more graceful than others.

Swing, Stop and Jump

Swing, Stop and Jump

Most of us swung around without any direction until we got stopped and then jumped to the ground. Not exactly how it’s supposed to be done. Matt the Hawaiian Ninja Warrior was the only one to tap the top.

Belly Over

Belly Over

How do you get up there?

Island Hopper

Island Hopper

Stretching those legs.

Obstacle Course

Obstacle Course

Nothing to see here. Move along. Photo by Lilyn Avendano.

Low Crawl

Low Crawl

Somebody wouldn’t have popped up early if there was machine gun fire over our heads. Photo by Matt Vidaurri.

Wahiawa

Wahiawa

Scrambling our way out of the hills.

Wahiawa

Wahiawa

Walking our way out. It’s still daylight! Photo by Lilyn Avendano.

Wahiawa

Wahiawa

I hear you knocking, but you can’t come out.

All pau

All pau

Our fun exploration day covered over seven miles in the rolling hills of Wahiawa that gave us cardiovascular and physical exercise all rolled up into one hike. Post hike meal at Chicken in a Barrel. I guess it’s all in how you say it.

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.

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{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }

Aida Gordon May 24, 2021 at 7:53 pm

Nice write-up of q pretty chill dqy! Yes we should do nore of these lol

Reply

kenji SAITO May 25, 2021 at 8:18 am

Aloha Aida,
Thanks. Yes, once a year sounds about right. LOL.
Mahalo

Reply

Wahinee01 May 25, 2021 at 2:17 pm

LMAO.. Some of those captions tho
Fun, fun day with awesome peeps. We should check out
where the stream ends. I’m curious where and how far
does it go!

Reply

kenji SAITO May 26, 2021 at 6:24 am

Aloha Tessa,
Yup, fun day all around. Tubing next time!
Mahalo

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