Waiau Ridge to Waimalu Middle Ridge

Chris, Justin, Ryan and myself piggybacked on HTMC’s planned hike up to Waiau Ridge today.

We met ahead of the club at the top of Ka’ahumanau Street to begin our long day. The plan was to break away from the club at the summit and continue to Waimalu Middle Ridge to see the “mythical” meadows if the weather held.

Enjoying the breaking sun over Pearl Harbor.

The crew walking up the paved road to the water tank.

Time to separate the trail from the road.

Six miles of ungraded ridge separated the summit from us.

Mahalos to HTMC for clearing the lower portion of the trail.

Chris passing underneath the power lines on the still wide open trail. Photo by Ryan Leano.

Justin looking at the Halapepe Nui trail that comes up from Hapaki Street. Go straight young man!

Chris going up the somewhat steep but still cleared trail.

Looking out towards the West side. Photo by Justin Hirako.

Justin ducking under an arched koa tree.

The cleared path soon disappeared as Mother Nature reclaimed the trail with a vengeance.

Sunbeams poked through the heavy cloud cover down to Waimalu Valley.

Plastic bottle marks the spot. A small group from the club soon powered past us. What the heck? One eventually turned back, saying the overgrowth was insane. What the heck?

Yup, the trail for lack of a better word, was almost completely lost to the heavy overgrowth.

Approaching the big dip where one loses a couple hundred feet in elevation, only to regain it back. The whole ridge was a bunch of big dips and little dips. All in all, a trail that does not endear itself to no one. That was a common sentiment that was echoed repeatedly on this trail. Photo by Justin Hirako.

How many false summits are there?

The last false summit. Promise.

We caught up with the club hikers at the 2,312′ summit overlooking Waihe’e Valley. Group photo by Justin Hirako, left to right: Cisco, Steve, Justin, myself, unknown, Chris B and Ryan.

Some of the club members pondered about coming with us to Waimalu but decided to return back down Waiau. Looking at the clouds rolling in, I could forecast that the now clear meadows would be swallowed up in clouds by the time we arrived there. It’s still worth it. So off we went. I guess better than going back down Waiau. Photo by Ryan Leano.

Hiking close to the Windward edge on the Ko’olau Summit Ridge Trail.

Leaving the summit of Waiau behind us.

The meadows loomed larger in our vision as we traversed the KSRT.

Climbing the last hill before dropping into the meadows.

Click here for the larger image.

Click here for the larger image.

Click here for the larger image.

It’s rumored that rubbing the belly of a jolly guy, will bring good luck, in the form of clear weather. Photo by Justin Hirako.

Urban legend.

Trying not to land in a water hole. Photos by Ryan Leano.

O Kikaida, Where Art Thou? Photo by Ryan Leano.

We wandered around the meadows. Waited for the clouds to clear. In vain. Even considered rubbing that belly again. Group photo by Justin Hirako.

The rain and wind started to come down sideways. It was time to pack up and leave. We spent several hours too long at the summit. We would be coming out in the dark.

Group photo by Justin Hirako at the cloudy 2,283′ summit.

Hiking into the clouds.

Wishful thinking?

Prayers have been answered.

Chris pointing to an obvious dry waterfall chute. Must be nice when it’s raging.

Dropping down into Waimalu Valley from the middle ridge.

Stream flows down from the mountains. We need to get away from the mountains. Thanks Justin!

Spider, Spider. Does whatever a spider can. Spins a web, any size. Catches hikers just like flies. Look out!

The original ditch and tunnel system ran three and a half miles underground to provide fresh water to the Kalauao cane fields, now replaced by housing.

Mickey had some great friends that carried this hefty slab of granite all the way out here on this trail. We soon saw the city light and the uphill switchbacks that signaled the hike was nearing the end.

Justin can you bring your truck closer, so I don’t have to walk 50′ more? Pretty please.

Our ridge loop hike covered 12.29 miles through rolling ridges, taxing overgrowth, a short KSRT traversal, cloudy meadows and endless stream crossings. Exhausting but exhilarating hike with great company. Post hike meal at Zippys.

Tagged as: big dip, koolau summit ridge trail, ksrt, waiau ridge, waimalu ditch trail, waimalu meadows, waimalu middle ridge