tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14829424118770143172023-11-16T02:28:39.339-10:00Hawaii Hiking, Backpacking, and Camping BlogInformation and narratives about hiking, backpacking, and camping, mostly about the island of Oahu but also the islands of Hawaii, Maui, Kauai, and Molokai as well.Dayle Turnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09409228377298646574noreply@blogger.comBlogger105125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1482942411877014317.post-4927807366506277342021-07-02T07:37:00.000-10:002021-07-02T07:37:31.827-10:00Wahiawa to Lualualei via Kolekole Pass<p class="mono forcewrap" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi03hyphenhyphenra1aAjxAuNoGeaowxWE6Bpi-I9nfK2Rqdo61ULGKPzCnGY9cjHJXAyN6XtS5mrVWV0lrh5ZFSmXtQDvitxclTSB6v7xgrbKVkPGgRzfQt37CfYC0ThMEzdsRoauGMTrQC2XeHTdQ/s673/Screen+Shot+2021-07-02+at+7.28.50+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="673" data-original-width="657" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi03hyphenhyphenra1aAjxAuNoGeaowxWE6Bpi-I9nfK2Rqdo61ULGKPzCnGY9cjHJXAyN6XtS5mrVWV0lrh5ZFSmXtQDvitxclTSB6v7xgrbKVkPGgRzfQt37CfYC0ThMEzdsRoauGMTrQC2XeHTdQ/s320/Screen+Shot+2021-07-02+at+7.28.50+AM.png" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />Today (4 Aug 2001), accompanied by several hundred folks, including the J&J girls (Jackie and Jamie), I completed a 13.1-mile "hike" that began in Wahiawa and ended in Lualualei Valley on the Waianae side. I had never explored
the back reaches of Lualualei, and today was a good opportunity to view
the lay of the land. Beautiful! During the hours I was out and about, I
ran into several acquaintances, including Mike Fujita & Jean Tsukamoto
(HTMC), Bart Mathias (Solemates), and Lt. Colonel Lew Naumchek (a high
school buddy). Good to see them all.</span><p></p><p class="mono forcewrap" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Some of us started early--6:00 a.m. to be precise--and doing that helped
us avoid the worst of the heat, which can soar on Oahu's west side.
Others looking for a shorter (6-mile) "hike" began at 7:30 at the top of
Kolekole Pass. Actually, I was in favor of the shorter outing but was
overruled by the J&J girls, resolute about tackling the long way even
though they had done minimal physical prep in the preceding
months/weeks. A despiser of whining, I insisted I hear none of that during
the day. The solution: I proceed at my pace and they at theirs. Yup,
that worked out just fine.</span></span></p><p class="mono forcewrap" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The route we 6:00 a.m.-ers followed took us on a tour of a large section
of the Schofield Barracks base housing, some structures being quite new
(and perhaps built by Ralph Valentino and colleagues?) and some not-so-new
(circa WWII?). Military personnel manned key junctions along the way to
help us through the labyrinth of roads on post. Additionally, volunteers
from Hope Chapel handed out water at several points on our route. Much
appreciation to all the volunteers for not only the H20 but also the
positive greetings served up to weary, sweaty folks.</span></span></p><p class="mono forcewrap" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;">With the 4-mile tour of Schofield housing complete, we next faced a steady
3-mile climb to Kolekole Pass, which was something I'd never experienced
on foot before. Though I was sweating heavily and huffing and puffing, I
enjoyed the ascent. Hope Chapel volunteers greeted us at the Pass and
handed out water, sports drinks, and good words. One wahine volunteer
cheered, "It's all downhill from here!"</span></span></p><p class="mono forcewrap" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZzqtuBok4ZkbUBuox_hUt7Tjj1c3_T93yR7ENUWLGk9FGiYRyZ_mb6fFnJTIw8u8bg3UzU3v_Bv3i0RknF6BCJQ3xvT4MSWZosF4W9v-_6vm8RGUC0lvgXTs8Z_8JCwrrTx1sZeWFz4E/s868/Screen+Shot+2021-07-02+at+7.35.34+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="488" data-original-width="868" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZzqtuBok4ZkbUBuox_hUt7Tjj1c3_T93yR7ENUWLGk9FGiYRyZ_mb6fFnJTIw8u8bg3UzU3v_Bv3i0RknF6BCJQ3xvT4MSWZosF4W9v-_6vm8RGUC0lvgXTs8Z_8JCwrrTx1sZeWFz4E/s320/Screen+Shot+2021-07-02+at+7.35.34+AM.png" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><p></p><p class="mono forcewrap" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;">"Yup," I thought, " and this is where my pain begins." I say this
because, at 6'4, 250 pounds, I'm not an agile nor efficient descender,
especially compared to shorter, lighter folks. As confirmation, I found
myself being blitzed by several dozen "hikers" on the way down to the
floor of Lualualei Valley. In contrast, only a handful strode by me on
the climb to Kolekole. So, while I can hold my own on climbs, I'm lacking
on downward legs. Gotta work on that.</span></span></p><p class="mono forcewrap" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The descent, however, wasn't all that terrible. One highlight was being
serenaded by a pair of bagpipe players at the first lookout just past the
sentry post atop the pass (a nice touch). Their tunes rang out over the
valley below, especially the long switchback below where they played.
Also, the views of the rock sections along the makai-facing mass of Pu'u
Kumakalii and Pu'u Kalena were impressive and awe inspiring. Ditto for
the sight of the mountainside from Hapapa to Kanehoa to Kaua. I'd seen
these before but never as close as today. Excellent.</span></span></p><p class="mono forcewrap" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The winding, hot descent to the Lualualei lowlands spanned about three
miles. During this segment, I could feel the excruciating sensation of my
body being wracked by the pounding. While many seemed to relish the
downhill, I looked forward to its end and the subsequent low rolling
sections leading to the finish. Speaking of the finish, there is a long
straightaway leading to it that seemingly stretches to the horizon, with
this stage framed by the mass of Pu'u Heleakala (an inspirational sight).
With plenty of time to ruminate as I methodically made my way along, I
wondered if anyone was climbing Heleakala today. Or do only fools (like
Spinner, Rich, and Ching) and intrepid HTMers climb this mountain during
the hot summer months? Dunno.</span></span></p><p class="mono forcewrap" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Our outing ended at the Lualualei military post, which seemed largely
unoccupied by personnel. The post included a row of nice older homes
(complete with chimneys), a ball field (almost devoid of grass), a
(drained) swimming pool, and a vacant mini mart. J&J finished a bit after
me, and while I waited for them, I partook of post-outing refreshments
(fruits, bagels, and ice water) and talked story with some of the
acquaintances I mentioned. Jackie and Jamie arrived at
the end in good form (good job!). Bothered by sore feet, Jamie completed
the last couple miles in just her socks. Wow. While that was worthy of
note, an undertaking at least equal to it was accomplished by the dude
who completed the long route barefooted and wearing just a malo
(loincloth). Damn, that's hard core!</span></span></p><p class="mono forcewrap" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;">From Lualualei, we were bussed back to Wahiawa. I was bummed that we
didn't drive back via Kolekole Pass Road, which I had expected. Instead,
we returned via Farrington Hwy, H-1, and Kunia Road.</span></span></p><p class="mono forcewrap" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;">In all, it was an interesting day and a big-time calorie burn. From what
I understand, this same "hike" will take place next August. Go try 'em.
Good fun. Promise.
--dkt</span></span></p>Dayle Turnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09409228377298646574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1482942411877014317.post-23071496792049465212020-11-02T15:45:00.172-10:002021-06-28T17:07:19.568-10:00Olomana Circumnavigation<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHNxqxynM1cS3ouxSNgk06B3mkT8rm0PF1JJTvT6RL2jHaXrhX0_15iL-BHj7B57zQL1PRBnhD19af7CfkBGpGfwHCtpLQVTDOFQqO6t7TFXxn9i3HbWtJ9knhfiB0-bV5xS-1eQ8PSrk/s640/Olomana.circumnav.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="433" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHNxqxynM1cS3ouxSNgk06B3mkT8rm0PF1JJTvT6RL2jHaXrhX0_15iL-BHj7B57zQL1PRBnhD19af7CfkBGpGfwHCtpLQVTDOFQqO6t7TFXxn9i3HbWtJ9knhfiB0-bV5xS-1eQ8PSrk/s320/Olomana.circumnav.jpg" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Many have hiked the three peaks of Olomana but few have hiked around the peaks. I did this hike on 2 November 2020 with Bob Tyson. We started at 9 a.m. at the head of the Ohana Bike Trail (OBT) on Old Kalanianaole (pictured below and as green star on the map above).</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbDQAjC0yTurydYc6sMUg-4Xndyc2OkqcLBsj9l1T6X37A6ijO6DAnL_5TeWfoV_S1QWz81LJRjaxN5EmbbwHbUjwzM-cD4y0TykQkf2K5KHwIPyMmTXXlC9K8-fCcKMqOexxPunPRCwU/s825/Screen+Shot+2021-06-28+at+3.52.33+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="818" data-original-width="825" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbDQAjC0yTurydYc6sMUg-4Xndyc2OkqcLBsj9l1T6X37A6ijO6DAnL_5TeWfoV_S1QWz81LJRjaxN5EmbbwHbUjwzM-cD4y0TykQkf2K5KHwIPyMmTXXlC9K8-fCcKMqOexxPunPRCwU/s320/Screen+Shot+2021-06-28+at+3.52.33+PM.png" width="320" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">We hiked the OBT only for a couple minutes, if that, and then headed left on an obscure trail that led us to a dry gulch that sits between the OBT and the Hawaii Youth Correctional Facility. We hiked a ribbon-marked "trail" in the gulch and then left the gulch to ascend briefly to a water tank (see map below).</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0um7SIU8AaJ78UkjRau2F7ngnvoTMSOQxnlLt6INrmbF2asNAoiCK4SsjuN5-3j5ohsYWXhvbHG0ha7M2H9YCg1T0rshaOXQCq4VUAmUMrx38ME7N2jvgudRIW19siSu3hyphenhyphen-hfkaHCwI/s853/Gulch.to.WT.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="853" data-original-width="686" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0um7SIU8AaJ78UkjRau2F7ngnvoTMSOQxnlLt6INrmbF2asNAoiCK4SsjuN5-3j5ohsYWXhvbHG0ha7M2H9YCg1T0rshaOXQCq4VUAmUMrx38ME7N2jvgudRIW19siSu3hyphenhyphen-hfkaHCwI/s320/Gulch.to.WT.png" /></a></div> <p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">We passed to the left of the tank and then commenced a climb of a ridge we named after fellow hiker Ed Mersino (hence Mersino Ridge). We then came upon a point on the ridge that intersected with the Olomana Alo trail (created by Joe Bussen). Courtesy of Joe, there is even a sign there.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvl44DFaMKS_R_2FefwQGX-qDPL_G-lv-W8lWzLT8ur2lxylC1WpoH__FAsrR-uYeE766qnwnFij6VtyHnHUmoSV2hLbx-qKqGM8MNLxu_1A_fZiQu_hjupfBr5Hn31tRGZ9FpXxnz0TI/s1143/Screen+Shot+2021-06-28+at+4.18.36+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="857" data-original-width="1143" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvl44DFaMKS_R_2FefwQGX-qDPL_G-lv-W8lWzLT8ur2lxylC1WpoH__FAsrR-uYeE766qnwnFij6VtyHnHUmoSV2hLbx-qKqGM8MNLxu_1A_fZiQu_hjupfBr5Hn31tRGZ9FpXxnz0TI/s320/Screen+Shot+2021-06-28+at+4.18.36+PM.png" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;">Not long past the sign, the high point of the ridge is acquired and then we veered right to descend Mersino in the general direction of the Olomana ridge trail (ORT). Hiking to the ORT was our next objective. Thanks to the recent work of Ed Mersino, Bob Tyson, Dave Johnson, and others, we reached the ORT at a significant junction (map point B) in maybe fifteen minutes.</span><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">At that point, instead of beginning the climb of ORT to Peak 1, we instead hiked down ORT toward its start point.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Well before reaching the golf course road where the ORT commences, we veered left at an obscure junction to begin hiking a route called Olomana Express (tbh, we got off track while searching for O Express, as evidenced by forked lines on the map). </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">We eventually found Point C and commenced the hike of Olomana Express, which was in hikeable condition thanks to recent work by HTMC trail clearers. Note that OE is not often hiked and could have become overgrown in the time after our hike.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Olomana Express eventually connected to Old Government Road (map point D), which we veered left on to begin ascending to the crest of Anianinui Ridge (if we had veered right on OGC, we would have come out on the Royal Hawaiian Golf Course).</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The way was clear and open thanks to the work and riding of mountain bikers. About halfway up the grinding climb, we left the mountain bike trail and followed a much less used trail that crested atop Anianinui. This route is called Olomana Hope (pronounced Ho-Pay).</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Bob (pictured below) and I took a lengthy rest break once we had topped out on Anianinui. We were glad that most of the climbing for the day was almost complete.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhg4XSKqtfJk1uyWyMRuv2Z4giNCeUxFnXKoWnsV5_WPbZ5ySTatwidxV2mAjFIXsouBFYtiv42zsZNPdVUkbr125KR-5dekaOier32BsBbtkaCnNWyAtM_mKtXETN7VkPrXFXT2vhVJs/s690/Screen+Shot+2021-06-28+at+5.05.49+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="517" data-original-width="690" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhg4XSKqtfJk1uyWyMRuv2Z4giNCeUxFnXKoWnsV5_WPbZ5ySTatwidxV2mAjFIXsouBFYtiv42zsZNPdVUkbr125KR-5dekaOier32BsBbtkaCnNWyAtM_mKtXETN7VkPrXFXT2vhVJs/s320/Screen+Shot+2021-06-28+at+5.05.49+PM.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>After our rest, we continued up Anianinui toward the backside of Olomana's 3rd peak. <br /></span></p></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlNxHuNpgozH5ZC0rRJTnHiPls1hDk_-OwbQaNTWK-nQIocqW-1yhvA3kdMwDPhumRGKpeosyuxQT7y1z7S2YsK-Eikxoqhc5q2_jaYnHnXjka2RYLk6JhpLzrgsYbCzaiExDrE0aX7L8/s1265/Screen+Shot+2021-06-28+at+4.51.30+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="843" data-original-width="1265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlNxHuNpgozH5ZC0rRJTnHiPls1hDk_-OwbQaNTWK-nQIocqW-1yhvA3kdMwDPhumRGKpeosyuxQT7y1z7S2YsK-Eikxoqhc5q2_jaYnHnXjka2RYLk6JhpLzrgsYbCzaiExDrE0aX7L8/s320/Screen+Shot+2021-06-28+at+4.51.30+PM.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Before reaching the peak (see above), we veered right on a trail used most recently by mountain bikers that descended to the Ohana Bike Trail at junction they call Renegade (Map point E).</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The rest of the hike went quickly at that point and Bob and I completed the 6.75 mile circumnavigation before 2 p.m. (so 4:48:50 according to <a href="https://www.gaiagps.com/map/?loc=14.2/-157.7590/21.3600&trackId=8e50e2f5351be33b3bdfa23c4499cf44" target="_blank">GAIA GPS</a> which I used to track our route).<br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div>Dayle Turnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09409228377298646574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1482942411877014317.post-44425040904447422242018-01-19T20:01:00.000-10:002021-06-28T15:22:42.104-10:00Ahuimanu Ridge via Woodridge Park (Kahaluu)<center>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9iT407thBq9eBrzeBaSn9Sk7J4sdvsOyPOtK1CqIRDHmakJfYw2cuLN5Mlzh97KEDFWeK2_LCnxLLDKHtYybiGlUNRTxx7kVB1guTN-Qg1ZC9WXYAoChIyPj8WpvRWTN6VHuKqo40AAc/s1455/Screen+Shot+2021-06-28+at+3.19.10+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="807" data-original-width="1455" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9iT407thBq9eBrzeBaSn9Sk7J4sdvsOyPOtK1CqIRDHmakJfYw2cuLN5Mlzh97KEDFWeK2_LCnxLLDKHtYybiGlUNRTxx7kVB1guTN-Qg1ZC9WXYAoChIyPj8WpvRWTN6VHuKqo40AAc/s320/Screen+Shot+2021-06-28+at+3.19.10+PM.png" width="320" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><p><span style="font-family: arial;">I hiked this windward Oahu ridge with some friends the past three weekends. It's not very long nor perilous but it is something few folks have hiked. Along for our most recent trek were my brother Alika Turner, Steve Poor, and Scott Villiger. We met at Woodridge park (adjacent to the intersection of Hui Io Street and Alawiki Street) in Ahuimanu (or, more familiarly, Kahaluu) and followed a not-oft-used trail at the end of Hui Io.</span></p></div></center><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">
There is a narrow hole in a fence to get thru and then the trail becomes more pronounced, at least for a short distance. It seems to me that this more-pronounced trail, because of its width and beaten down demeanor, was made by and for dirt bikes and/or <a href="http://www.ridetherim.com/wp-content/uploads/slide.jpg">quads</a> but we saw nor heard no sign of these while we hiked. Eventually, the dirtbike/quad trail veered off the ridge and down into Ahuimanu Valley (to the right of the ridge we were on) and we did not follow it and instead opted to stick to the ridge, the trail along which became more of a non-trail at times.
</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">
This meant trail work for us, so out came our cutting tools, my being a jumbo pair of Fiskars loppers, which are well able to sever some decent-sized strawberry guava limbs that were in abundance on our route of the day.
</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">
Along the way as we hiked and worked on opening the trail, we had some good views of Ahuimanu Valley to our right and of the teeth of Kalahaku, a couple of which <a href="http://www2.hawaii.edu/~turner/ohe/Feb98/2-7.html">I had visited with Dr. Gene Robinson</a> some eons ago (circa 1998) and which have been <a href="http://kenjisaito.com/kalahaku-teeth-to-waimano-trail/">visited up close by Kenji Saito and friends in 2014</a> and previous to that <a href="http://www.alohafrom808.com/2012/06/summiting-the-kalahaku-teeth-waimalu-middle-ridge/">by another group</a>, which included a hiker who called the negotiation of the teeth and the ridge beyond it as "the most dangerous hike I have ever done to date."
</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">
And while I would not characterize the hike we did as "the most dangerous" I've ever done, there was one part of it that requires more focus and care, that being the last several yards prior to a large near-vertical rockface which we designated as our we-will-go-no-further point.
</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">
As far as I know, no one has climbed this ridge beyond the point where we stopped, but I do know that <a href="http://extremehikinghawaii.blogspot.com/2010/12/ahuimanu-uka-pete-clines.html">Pete Clines, in 2010, ascended an adjacent spur</a> that intersected with our ridge higher up. He eventually pushed his way through to the Koolau summit ridge and exited via the Aiea Ridge trail.
</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">
We were nowhere near ambitious on this day and instead we turned our attention to a trail we had carved out and marked out down into the valley to the left. This is the same valley where the Ahuimanu Trail is. I led a <a href="http://www.htmclub.org/hikes/ahuimanu/">Hawaiian Trail and Mountain Club hike of the Ahuimanu Trail in November 2017</a>.
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The plan is to use part of the ridge route we hiked today along with the new valley section as an addition to the club's Ahuimanu trail route. I have already made that proposal to the club and am awaiting its thumbs-up or thumbs-down.
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<p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p>Dayle Turnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09409228377298646574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1482942411877014317.post-59239048380205092312018-01-18T13:32:00.004-10:002021-06-28T15:07:37.203-10:00Bay Bum Ridge (Moanalua Valley north/left ridge)<center>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPfbWcA8d-Tm-xCZHqPxu3uQGpPgdi0m8FDQ3Hdi6-ZaJq25oyj5TliSf6HkEsZf-BHnjSH7WYOrI4dp72XXGKYPdSwRJ_mtyJAESaHZ2WTyCnqb3SyH18TsEPLRsNJ1liSMSaWYRx6C4/s590/Screen+Shot+2021-06-28+at+3.05.03+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="448" data-original-width="590" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPfbWcA8d-Tm-xCZHqPxu3uQGpPgdi0m8FDQ3Hdi6-ZaJq25oyj5TliSf6HkEsZf-BHnjSH7WYOrI4dp72XXGKYPdSwRJ_mtyJAESaHZ2WTyCnqb3SyH18TsEPLRsNJ1liSMSaWYRx6C4/s320/Screen+Shot+2021-06-28+at+3.05.03+PM.png" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The Hawaiian Trail and Mountain Club christened this route as "Bay Bum Ridge" and I am unaware of the hows and whys of the naming but Steve Poor and I hiked this on a recent Saturday, the one where Hawaii was in an uproar due to <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/hawaii-missile-alert-emergency-management-system-false-ballistic-missile-warning-2018-1-13/">a missile launch from North Korea that never was</a>.
</span></p></div></center><p>
<span style="font-family: arial;">Actually, the text message that went awry came out a few minutes past eight, and at that time I was at home in Kaneohe getting ready for the hike, which was supposed to begin at 9 a.m. at the <a href="https://goo.gl/maps/SqgRZUn5b3D2">end of Ala Aolani Street</a>. I'll admit that I was a bit alarmed upon seeing the text (see below) but when the expected civil defense warning sirens never came (at least not where I live), I figured it was a false alarm or a hoax. It turns out that if was the former.
</span></p><p>
</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/H0toho7fXo3ZiyWjzaG1QE0-9qY=/0x0:1125x2000/920x613/filters:focal(473x57:653x237):format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/58368927/904606802.jpg.0.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="213" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/H0toho7fXo3ZiyWjzaG1QE0-9qY=/0x0:1125x2000/920x613/filters:focal(473x57:653x237):format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/58368927/904606802.jpg.0.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<p>
<span style="font-family: arial;">In any case, the hike was on and I headed to Moanalua Valley where I met Steve, who was oblivious to all the chaos. We did see some hikers beating a hasty retreat out of the valley and upon questioning them, they said they were military types who were ordered back to base as a result of the missile-threat-that-never-was.
</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">
As for the hike of Bay Bum Ridge (Steve said it might be a play on Bay Rum Ridge, which if so, still would warrant a how and/or why explanation about the naming), we hiked up the valley road until reaching the fourth bridge. At that point, a trail heads up on the left thru a bamboo grove (trailhead pic below).
</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/waamxfHZEsYu_PILTbzAMjzmJzlE637R0bIhFvh2vueDC8M7qTdO_f9SlM92qMEixibAvdqPv6c=s400" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="300" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/waamxfHZEsYu_PILTbzAMjzmJzlE637R0bIhFvh2vueDC8M7qTdO_f9SlM92qMEixibAvdqPv6c=s400" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: arial;">After ascending the bamboo section, we broke out in the open at a powerline tower at which point the trail veered rightward to pick up a spur ridge, which likely was the aforementioned Bay Bum. The club recently hiked the trail (in December 2017), so it was in good shape and well cleared (despite not appearing so in the pic below).
</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/OWqRJ3QhxPTMYy39sXSZrkA9poZN4swDhrHy5tXDM_OIIqzzahJAmqthniI_sKftUut4xsO1wlQ=s400" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="300" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/OWqRJ3QhxPTMYy39sXSZrkA9poZN4swDhrHy5tXDM_OIIqzzahJAmqthniI_sKftUut4xsO1wlQ=s400" width="240" /></a></div>
<p>
<span style="font-family: arial;">Bay Bum eventually intersects the north/left ridge of Moanalua Valley at a prominent Norfolk (or Cook Island?) pine grove. Starting at the end of Ala Aolani, speed hikers can likely reach this grove via Bay Bum in an hour, but Steve and I were not in speed-hiking mode on this day (plus we're old--me, 59, and Steve, 70). Thus we took a more pedestrian, botanical pace (Steve loves to talk about flora along the trail, including the healthy koa tree pictured below).
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<span style="font-family: arial;">Once we arrived at the pine grove, we enjoyed some nice views, including one of upper Moanalua, a prominent feature of which is Moanalua middle ridge, the route of choice nowadays to reach the Haiku Stairs/Stairway to Heaven (see pic below).
</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/NlnCz27I1nNs7K7UqYHhUD9uagPgWIm21_14BcEbgOCS0FN1aW5P1tFfRe95htHXDoYRSiKszj0=s400" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="300" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/NlnCz27I1nNs7K7UqYHhUD9uagPgWIm21_14BcEbgOCS0FN1aW5P1tFfRe95htHXDoYRSiKszj0=s400" width="300" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: arial;">Below: View down into Moanalua Valley from the pine grove
</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/hfeoCwUyl0jfJ1bRwNQzSFyDsQ-s3MlnRgadks_uid0An6iTNktolKuUAAezpmvsD8kx9K3ugbE=s400" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="300" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/hfeoCwUyl0jfJ1bRwNQzSFyDsQ-s3MlnRgadks_uid0An6iTNktolKuUAAezpmvsD8kx9K3ugbE=s400" width="240" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: arial;">After completing our banquet of eye-kaukau, we sat down and had some opu-kaukau at a shaded spot amongst the pines. During lunch, Steve played his version of the Poor Family Anthem, which he recorded on his phone with friends to the melody of Auld Lang Syne. A memorable line: Poor but not in hope!
</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">
From the pine grove, we headed down (makai) the north ridge, following a well-cleared trail and enjoying ample views, including one of the Waianae range in the distance (below).
</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/WAX0zmY13wZo-DMbiG79rX7OxmneGZDQfK1kOpxPK15cNyjrFCa75TKAip-dbg6RlcDLMl7eKmo=s400" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="300" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/WAX0zmY13wZo-DMbiG79rX7OxmneGZDQfK1kOpxPK15cNyjrFCa75TKAip-dbg6RlcDLMl7eKmo=s400" width="240" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: arial;">Eventually, in an hour or so, the trail transitioned to a jeep road which we followed until we reached a junction, heavily marked with ribbons, where we left the north ridge and descended a trail down to the basketball court at the park at the end of Ala Aolani.
From the park, Steve eyed a large rockface on the side of north ridge and expressed an interest in hiking up to said face to check it out for rock climbing, an avocation Steve is fond of. But such a hike would not be on this day but another, perhaps on an upcoming weekend, so stay tuned.
</span></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p>Dayle Turnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09409228377298646574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1482942411877014317.post-55605636414399050412017-01-18T19:36:00.000-10:002018-01-08T23:38:42.601-10:00Completed--The Poamoho Southern Preserve fence<center>
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Patrick Rorie (prorieandmnt@GMAIL.COM) says: <blockquote>The fence crew hired by the State NARS has finished installing a fence along the entire section of the Ko'olau Summit Trail (KST) between Pu'u Pauao and the pu'us near the Schofied-Waikane terminus, considered by some to be the Kalalau/Na Pali Coast Trail of Oahu. The fence is a terrible eyesore, and panels have been placed where the natural cliff of the contour could have been utilized to keep pigs out. Using the natural cliffs would have saved tax payers money and lessened the visual blight of the fence. Instead, in typical State government fashion, the State NARS used panels along every inch of the trail so that they will receive the same funding amount for the next exclosure. The unnecessary panels should be removed to lesson the visual blight of the fence along this magnificent stretch of the KST. On a positive note, this stretch of the KST
has been cleared and regraded, making it easier to hike. Please take a look at the 5 attached photos.</blockquote>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8hcpAkUXBzTSc8fh-lR9lpi_NKef3PRusFGhXumFbrZ2JaiOCyOCjK3nRgTBZ-swp1dk1DgdT8ZCjsxlyUUEpUyABDM-l-9OQet-dbbt1ab6ynFTuOlktT76tq94Zyb4hU7b_UVqrUz0/s1600/poamohofence1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8hcpAkUXBzTSc8fh-lR9lpi_NKef3PRusFGhXumFbrZ2JaiOCyOCjK3nRgTBZ-swp1dk1DgdT8ZCjsxlyUUEpUyABDM-l-9OQet-dbbt1ab6ynFTuOlktT76tq94Zyb4hU7b_UVqrUz0/s320/poamohofence1.JPG" width="320" height="213" data-original-width="1600" data-original-height="1067" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5_ujd0dv_RJYDyAHstoGX5KDYbF5lw3smndlf4ojej4q_TNoFZ09F8um3YdTqjYi-BIH2yi7c6tfistvKiZF6038ZQM7OrcI7QlUmx1-IbUjuuUCCHfwcEucjPlAIgrQk661eUCjsBeU/s1600/poamohofence2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5_ujd0dv_RJYDyAHstoGX5KDYbF5lw3smndlf4ojej4q_TNoFZ09F8um3YdTqjYi-BIH2yi7c6tfistvKiZF6038ZQM7OrcI7QlUmx1-IbUjuuUCCHfwcEucjPlAIgrQk661eUCjsBeU/s320/poamohofence2.JPG" width="320" height="213" data-original-width="1600" data-original-height="1067" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirTe7zlkkZHfypvNlDgIsTepFMtc-TIcpztr9bqCKIbKlVk2MSvMGXIdcDEekqqERPcy26Ktt7ElJrTjL3U0ax74oEzzmh_8tc9UbN-h1x_4zsZIDM0sJp1qi44RWZvZvorWzMLIObGP8/s1600/poamohofence3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirTe7zlkkZHfypvNlDgIsTepFMtc-TIcpztr9bqCKIbKlVk2MSvMGXIdcDEekqqERPcy26Ktt7ElJrTjL3U0ax74oEzzmh_8tc9UbN-h1x_4zsZIDM0sJp1qi44RWZvZvorWzMLIObGP8/s320/poamohofence3.JPG" width="320" height="213" data-original-width="1600" data-original-height="1067" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYhvlWcMc7GkvKGpw2aJMPLMxCUxf-moiPD0VqwdAckEhL6UkeuyrI7qXOWYBWKrd9G2Wd5we_FTZVUNMjZk9cRKE0JhSV4WitSnJxe_mK3lm81OhqGSuy2uWozc8cGHjMfnomwmcBV_s/s1600/poamohofence4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYhvlWcMc7GkvKGpw2aJMPLMxCUxf-moiPD0VqwdAckEhL6UkeuyrI7qXOWYBWKrd9G2Wd5we_FTZVUNMjZk9cRKE0JhSV4WitSnJxe_mK3lm81OhqGSuy2uWozc8cGHjMfnomwmcBV_s/s320/poamohofence4.JPG" width="320" height="213" data-original-width="1600" data-original-height="1067" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjenk-3mCzeuLNEz5h2if_oX1S7AEgcWCIfOLkwVtkO47D-TCCw6fRgndmDa2ebLY-2CtTI-v7nlIt_WzyXa0dn3BUEHxcX5dJbLVIoZpjJ0eGgXM34QP345ue79YSU6-47idw_t6Vea9E/s1600/poamohofence5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjenk-3mCzeuLNEz5h2if_oX1S7AEgcWCIfOLkwVtkO47D-TCCw6fRgndmDa2ebLY-2CtTI-v7nlIt_WzyXa0dn3BUEHxcX5dJbLVIoZpjJ0eGgXM34QP345ue79YSU6-47idw_t6Vea9E/s320/poamohofence5.JPG" width="320" height="213" data-original-width="1600" data-original-height="1067" /></a></div>
Dayle Turnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09409228377298646574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1482942411877014317.post-25564921648794283462017-01-05T19:42:00.000-10:002018-01-08T23:39:36.485-10:00A question about a plant<center>
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Keith Palmer (krpalmer@juno.com) queried: <blockquote>Can someone please tell me what shrub / tree this is? Found on Puu O Hulu Kai. I SHOULD be able to find it easily online but not having any luck. Thank you</blockquote>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFbW64ej-93MYVrrwlEgAKe_m8VVRRq9T2FMEGMvKrqaBn73HdAPxUGLouUpLZt22K9jiY24OlERz8frIAFIgSy5HvtFNqmKOmnKEw8BGTkH5xh-4h30x9tv9ngO-izDWxhHL0B_6K1dM/s1600/plant1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFbW64ej-93MYVrrwlEgAKe_m8VVRRq9T2FMEGMvKrqaBn73HdAPxUGLouUpLZt22K9jiY24OlERz8frIAFIgSy5HvtFNqmKOmnKEw8BGTkH5xh-4h30x9tv9ngO-izDWxhHL0B_6K1dM/s320/plant1.jpg" width="181" height="320" data-original-width="905" data-original-height="1600" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghQs0XNVo2Kankm_gujkBFrIrZ1-Pzg5LjPFu4ko1HV4l7sdnx5KZnRQ6FZIkc9nvwHKUVyhdVhAw_Erexe210SVkA0WaBWZ6CerI0GF27o4JY6vD23S_T5y_V1lFdcN7kpS5W7bOEsUk/s1600/plant2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghQs0XNVo2Kankm_gujkBFrIrZ1-Pzg5LjPFu4ko1HV4l7sdnx5KZnRQ6FZIkc9nvwHKUVyhdVhAw_Erexe210SVkA0WaBWZ6CerI0GF27o4JY6vD23S_T5y_V1lFdcN7kpS5W7bOEsUk/s320/plant2.jpg" width="320" height="181" data-original-width="1600" data-original-height="905" /></a></div>
If anyone knows, please contact Keith. Mahalo.
Dayle Turnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09409228377298646574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1482942411877014317.post-69331931608023195992016-11-14T19:26:00.000-10:002018-01-19T11:21:11.196-10:00The fencing of upper Schofield trail<center>
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<p>
It's been some years since I last hiked the Schofield trail. In fact, I'm uncertain if I've hiked it in the current century.
<p>
I know I hiked it in the previous century, including one time I, along with others from the Hawaiian Trail and Mountain Club, hiked up the Poamoho trail, crossed along the crest on the Koolau Summit Trail, and descended Schofield. <a href="http://www2.hawaii.edu/~turner/ohe/Sept99/9-13b.html">That was in 1999.</a>.
<p>
A couple decades later, the upper part of the trail is now fenced, as evidenced by the pics below, which were provided courtesy of Patrick Rorie in 2017 via OHE-L mailing list
<p>
Regarding the fencing of the Schofield Trail. I'm not sure if I like it or not. As such, I suppose I'm sitting on the proverbial fence regarding the fence. The fencing, by the way, is an initiative of the Koolau Mountains Watershed Partnership, one objective of which is to "protect the watershed against incipient invasive weeds and feral animals" [<a href="http://koolauwatershed.org/about/">source</a>].
<p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBZ1McG16jbC27Qn99_LkycHO0kYZXdlVbZ8uSqw10L0kkTCEYjwXzmZYEjTZR62kf4R8GwDy7qTup2dUcqAzObO3OmzrAiqDtBSVkDZ2lLBFFuoHWvxBHoEv0YK6-Ro-0nIfB1ypDEwM/s1600/schofield1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBZ1McG16jbC27Qn99_LkycHO0kYZXdlVbZ8uSqw10L0kkTCEYjwXzmZYEjTZR62kf4R8GwDy7qTup2dUcqAzObO3OmzrAiqDtBSVkDZ2lLBFFuoHWvxBHoEv0YK6-Ro-0nIfB1ypDEwM/s320/schofield1.JPG" width="320" height="213" data-original-width="1600" data-original-height="1067" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuXqBVge8D97WsRsk8A88vOeWDiwMLTDH4Y28vYe65g_SgyHXrEuVBRSuVqpK9AS0_CY9GclUGe_xWm2xXNxvH-95gzexrddFOGX03BHnGFCLsiqeA5K1dvN5Q-YfUMM0822thsq86bI0/s1600/schofield2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuXqBVge8D97WsRsk8A88vOeWDiwMLTDH4Y28vYe65g_SgyHXrEuVBRSuVqpK9AS0_CY9GclUGe_xWm2xXNxvH-95gzexrddFOGX03BHnGFCLsiqeA5K1dvN5Q-YfUMM0822thsq86bI0/s320/schofield2.JPG" width="320" height="213" data-original-width="1600" data-original-height="1067" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFDYBiXFWHnTokKmu0OekSqAbutZfHUBtWRyk3uyuszUjQRUJi663BdYn7eNTOukLFZgknoz_RZBN8jXg5v3etOBv0UmcdV5TUMb97Ed12pR5Ll62P1tJeG9Ci6lHaJZcqFCaVXMhi1Bw/s1600/schofield3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFDYBiXFWHnTokKmu0OekSqAbutZfHUBtWRyk3uyuszUjQRUJi663BdYn7eNTOukLFZgknoz_RZBN8jXg5v3etOBv0UmcdV5TUMb97Ed12pR5Ll62P1tJeG9Ci6lHaJZcqFCaVXMhi1Bw/s320/schofield3.JPG" width="320" height="213" data-original-width="1600" data-original-height="1067" /></a></div>Dayle Turnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09409228377298646574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1482942411877014317.post-10340477446251284502010-09-04T09:28:00.001-10:002018-01-19T22:05:18.582-10:00Kawiwi to Kaala to Waialua -- by Kapa Reero<center>
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<pre><b><span style="color: green;">From the Oahu Hiking Enthusiasts Archives
Date: Tue, 20 Mar 2001 09:48:03 -1000
From: Kapa Reero (kapareero@lycos.com)
Subject: Kawiwi-Ka'ala-Waialua</span></b></pre><pre><b><span style="color: green;">
</span></b></pre>Did a great hike with a dude named Lawrence Muredo on Sunday, March 11. Dayle Turner and other super hikers had the right idea, but less than ideal conditions kept them from completing the entire jaunt in November of 2000. This write-up is not meant to shame them. Lawrence and I had the luxury of picking a perfect day to do the traverse.<br />
<br />
The weather? A drop-dead gorgeous day! Pleasant temperatures, gentle trade wind breeze, both mountain ranges (Ko'olau, Waianae) completely clear of cloud cover.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJqC_IFG5k_KRKcNRFpkuPIqfYDZe6qS2yhyNtHoZTTiK8neQh9yak3NVmZTOpcFM_JepD2mOOSwaaVw-y5PQiAMPsvbDyKbrLMZB0QEFzidCen8U0JZpKNQeEI0ZeBjgua2EubUiHv5Y/s1600/Picture+9.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJqC_IFG5k_KRKcNRFpkuPIqfYDZe6qS2yhyNtHoZTTiK8neQh9yak3NVmZTOpcFM_JepD2mOOSwaaVw-y5PQiAMPsvbDyKbrLMZB0QEFzidCen8U0JZpKNQeEI0ZeBjgua2EubUiHv5Y/s320/Picture+9.png"></a></div>We met on Farrington Hwy in front of Waialua High at 8 am and carpooled to Waianae Valley. Following final preps, Muredo and me set out on foot from the Waianae Kai dirt parking area at 9:12 am and gained elevation via a paved road. After entering a scrub haole koa forest, the two of us meandered about the lower environs until reaching the base of the main ridge leading to the summit of Pu'u Kawiwi. En route to the summit, we enjoyed steep exposed rock scrambling, and Lawrence snapped a few photos as well (<i>photo at left by Pete Clines, 2010</i>).<br />
<br />
At approx. 11 am the two of us topped out on Kawiwi's apex, sat down for a water break and gazed at the prominent surrounding geographical features. To the east lay massive Mount Ka'ala (our lunch time goal), and to the north, Ohikilolo's triangular peak, as well as the beautiful sheer fluted cliffs below the peak, caught our attention.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizgA2arpts5sUaLKacViZn-J4uOyI6L_gbSuxmSEDBrwzAK7ZIqr2UyGgjkqXFQkoq9lkx_39iJQUta2rol1sAz2BGEOLvPA4901XUe6_uxLZW9zTOiWEIG_XcnA8zbkvpUzfvuZYAWI0/s1600/Picture+10.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizgA2arpts5sUaLKacViZn-J4uOyI6L_gbSuxmSEDBrwzAK7ZIqr2UyGgjkqXFQkoq9lkx_39iJQUta2rol1sAz2BGEOLvPA4901XUe6_uxLZW9zTOiWEIG_XcnA8zbkvpUzfvuZYAWI0/s320/Picture+10.png"></a></div>With a significant chunk of territory still to cover, Muredo and I continued the trek at 11:12. On the way to the narrow dike, we paused to look down at a dozen goats contouring toward Kawiwi's main ridge. While on the dike itself, Muredo snapped a couple photos, and, farther ahead, the two of us experienced "the excitement of getting there" as we carefully negotiated boulders shaped like giant teeth (molars). An ironwood forest came next, and then a respectable climb to the pinnacle of No Name peak. [<i>Photo at right by August Smith, 2010</i>]<br />
<br />
From No Name, we eventually dropped down to the junction with Kumaipo (an ancient Hawaiian trail), but remained on the crest of Kamaileunu Ridge and ascended to "Three Poles". A short distance above "Three Poles", Lawrence and I encountered a military dude and conversed with him briefly. <br />
Pressing on, the two of us ascended steeply via a series of ropes/cables. Upon reaching a small clearing on the edge of the Ka'ala plateau/bog, we met two friendly gentlemen who had gained Ka'ala's summit by using the Dupont Trail. Dan (one of the men) told us to be on the lookout for lobeliads in bloom, and, sure enough, we spotted several just inside the Ka'ala NAR. Muredo even took a picture of one of the plants. As we traipsed along the boardwalk, I halted on several occasions to bring various native shrubs to Muredo's attention. He was very impressed (sarcasm).<br />
<br />
Finally, at 2:21 pm, Lawrence and I arrived at the grassy overlook just outside the FAA radar installation and proceeded to consume a late lunch.<br />
<br />
During the break we were treated to a magnificent vista of the northshore, the Ko'olau foothills above Haleiwa, the multicolored tracts above Mokuleia, the Wahiawa plain and most of the Ko'olau Range. The white wake of waves visible off the northshore gave proof that surf was definately up!<br />
<br />
At 3:08 pm we reluctantly departed the overlook and headed for Dupont. Prior to reaching the Mount Ka'ala Road/Dupont junction, six military men passed us having come up the Dupont Trail.<br />
<br />
<br />
The leg down to Waialua went pretty much without incident. Muredo and me delighted in the superb transition from native forest to dry-land forest to cattle pasture, all accentuated by the lovely afternoon, characterized by abundant sunshine and blue sky. However, we did get stopped by a ranch owner not far from the long semipaved road leading to Farrington Hwy. Fortunately, the man recognized Lawrence by his unusual hair color (they do business together), and they carried on a favorable conversation. In the end, the ranch owner bid us a friendly farewell but said to call him BEFORE we set foot on his land to hike.<br />
<br />
At 5:30 pm Lawrence and I entered my car and immediated sped off for the Leeward Coast. About an hour later, we found ourselves in Waianae Valley. I waited to make sure Muredo's truck started then followed him to Waianae Town. Instead of making a left onto Farrington Hwy, I proceeded straight to Pokai Bay Beach Park where I witnessed a nice sun set.<br />
<br />
== KapaDayle Turnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09409228377298646574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1482942411877014317.post-14124146918105249222010-09-01T20:44:00.020-10:002018-01-08T17:52:58.974-10:00Wiliwilinui to Lanipo -- by LastKoho<script async src="//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"></script>
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<p>
<pre><b><span style="color: green;">From the Oahu Hiking Enthusiasts archives</span></b></pre><pre><b><span style="color: green;">Date: Thu, 15 Mar 2001 19:59:07 -1000
From: LastKoho (lastkoho@yahoo.com)
Subject: A Walk on the Spinal Side
</span></b></pre><b><span style="color: green;"></span></b><span style="color: green;"></span><br />
The plan hatches when Mrs. Koho reads about a recent Sierra Club hike from <a href="http://www2.hawaii.edu/%7Eturner/hikes2/wiliwi.htm">Wiliwilinui</a> to <a href="http://www2.hawaii.edu/%7Eturner/hikes2/lanipo.htm">Lanipo</a>. We decide to follow suit. That is, we'll hike to the end of the Wiliwilinui trail, turn left, hike on the Koolau crest to the end of the Lanipo trail and turn left again and trek back to civilization. We hope the path, given that it's only been a few weeks since the Sierra Club outing, will not be too badly overgrown or too treacherous on this, our first, Koolau summit jaunt.<br />
<br />
And so it is that we find ourselves in separate cars heading up Sierra Drive to Mauanalani Heights, parking one vehicle at the Lanipo trailhead. Together, we then coast back down Sierra Drive and ultimately up into Waialae Iki where we park at the Wiliwilinui trailhead after obtaining a permit at a guard shack. It's mid-morning, a weekend, and, slinging on our packs, I note that quite a few other cars are already in the lot.<br />
<br />
I say, "Hope there's not a lot of people up there."<br />
<br />
My wife says, "Just expect it."<br />
<br />
We walk on a sure-footed road past acacia confusa, guava, ironwoods, and a water tank. Farther up, curving left behind a hump there is dueling plant-life: non-native versus native. On the right there's botanically unpopular guava fringed with evil clidemia; on the left there's koa and ie'ie.<br />
<br />
"Nice dichotomy," I say, waving my arm dramatically.<br />
<br />
My wife says, "Yeah."<br />
<br />
At the end of the wide road but not at the end of the Wiliwilinui hike, we reach yellow boot brushes under a brown sign that asks hikers to wipe their shoes so that they don't carry the seeds of pest plants -- like, no doubt, guava and clidemia -- farther on. We run our boots over the brushes and then walk up a hill and by a set of utility poles and on to another set of utility poles where we stop for a break as we watch a long line of hikers climb steeply to the radio relay station, gateway to the Wiliwilinui summit. We are in no hurry to join the hordes, so we drink some water before pushing up the dry and eroded mountain and past a bevy of boy scouts who have suddenly appeared, heading down, this a different crowd from the one we had seen going up. One of the scout leaders, a bit of a wiseacre, tells us that at least twenty people are currently on the summit lookout.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCO-Ps9ErkLEi61KsHgtj_6DcCvJl0PyYxxt3ZMExCNAeCoyTcWyvr2_yFDRLnG5o4eJE4YL-UU-H-iC-bKjnEPV0obWZ4LJtc0Rgl5iYfxVNmgBMn0qpu-PmEG_vU1YFo44APZxw0Dlc/s1600/Picture+9.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCO-Ps9ErkLEi61KsHgtj_6DcCvJl0PyYxxt3ZMExCNAeCoyTcWyvr2_yFDRLnG5o4eJE4YL-UU-H-iC-bKjnEPV0obWZ4LJtc0Rgl5iYfxVNmgBMn0qpu-PmEG_vU1YFo44APZxw0Dlc/s320/Picture+9.png" /></a></div>"Have fun," he says.<br />
<br />
Hot and tired, we eventually reach the relay station and look toward the summit just ahead and see that the scout leader was not exaggerating: it's more crowded than Starbucks on Ward Avenue. So we sit exactly where we are, eat some cream crackers, look at the cigarette butts littered around the building, and, through the arches of utility wires curving over the valley, survey a slice of the Koolau spine heading west. While I can't make out the width of the crest or how overgrown it might be, the grade up to a set of six utility poles looks not too severe. After the six poles, however, there's a sharp rise. I say out loud, "I don't know how we are going to go up that."<br />
<br />
My wife says, "What?"<br />
<br />
I point and trace the route to the steep section. "See over there? Looks tough." I pause, shuffle my feet and add, "Of course you never know what it's like until you're there."<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHIB4C2xHxdxf_80dbt7GtfBv_D7DotC0dbEH564oQ8rNi2VM7SqSMwpzhsf98cRqRItRSrx-BwwF2KS17QwP8v3_BXiMP1aks0d4oejZK-eC3lkKN4SM_hHxIq-o5jm7ONtD3FQU6LJA/s1600/Picture+11.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHIB4C2xHxdxf_80dbt7GtfBv_D7DotC0dbEH564oQ8rNi2VM7SqSMwpzhsf98cRqRItRSrx-BwwF2KS17QwP8v3_BXiMP1aks0d4oejZK-eC3lkKN4SM_hHxIq-o5jm7ONtD3FQU6LJA/s320/Picture+11.png" /></a></div>I turn back to Starbucks on the Hill. A fellow is violently thrashing a tree, essentially doing his best to uproot the thing. I figure that it is a guava and that he is shaking and pulling it down in the name of pest control. I wonder, however, if he plans to pull down all guavas on the island with his bare hands.<br />
<br />
After twenty minutes, the crowd still occupying the lookout, we climb up and wade into the masses, -- spotting the brown and yellow "End of Wiliwilinui Trail" sign and seeing that the emasculated tree is indeed a guava -- then excusing ourselves two or three times as we baby-step through and exit left, descending carefully on the summit path, which is narrow with a seriously steep drop windward.<br />
<br />
But it's not all that bad, not all that bad because there's also a wall of vegetation up to my knees -- at spots a little higher, at spots a little lower -- that provides a certain amount of security. And opposite, on the lee side, the drop off is generally not so steep in pitch and the ground is thick in uluhe and ie'ie and clidemia, plant life that, I calculate, will slow down, if not halt, a falling body.<br />
<br />
About halfway down the slope from the Wiliwilinui lookout we stop and look and it becomes immediately apparent why someone might want to venture out to the crest: Not necessarily for the scare or the dare or the brag -- but for the view. Tremendous. Unspeakable. Some other modifier that would make sense coming in the wake of the previous adjective. It's a rare feeling, floating free-style over the island, the greenery clinging onto the near perpendicular pali and -- makai to the right, makai to the left -- the tropical blue ocean framing tiny, silly, and insignificant civilization within.<br />
<br />
I say to Mrs. Koho: "Wow."<br />
<br />
She responds: "Calm down, Last."<br />
<br />
I now turn and scan the summit lookout -- empty -- and then look right and see a line of hikers marching down and by the relay station.<br />
<br />
On the crest we walk to a saddle and then start back up, passing two clusters of lapalapa trees (three to a cluster in this instance) and six utility poles and then, not too much farther, I stop dead in my tracks. Ahead and above is the portion of the ridge I had viewed earlier. Up close it looks the same as it had from a distance: steep, overgrown, and narrow. I wonder if it's really something I want to climb and, too, if this represents what the remainder of the hike will be like. One other thing, there is a mildly tricky spot -- a windward step-around -- that initiates this sharp-angled segment.<br />
<br />
I turn to my wife and point out the obvious. "You see this?"<br />
<br />
She interpolates. "It looks scary."<br />
<br />
I reiterate. "No kidding. It does look scary."<br />
<br />
I examine the trail and, confidant that I can ascend farther and, too, if need be, descend back, I lean into the cliff and hoist myself safely up and beyond the tricky spot. With the aid of some clidemia, I then continue up a bit more, wiggling into a snug place and sitting. I look back down at my wife who has, in the meantime, moved forward and is now face-to-face with the same little step-around obstacle. Behind and below her is nothing but air.<br />
<br />
She says, "I can't move."<br />
<br />
I say, "You can't move?"<br />
<br />
She says, "No, I'm frozen."<br />
<br />
It's a rather common scenario -- frozen hiker syndrome -- and one that I dread for myself or anyone else, including my wife -- my wife who is, at least for the moment, wide-eyed and paralyzed.<br />
I say, "OK, relax. Not a problem." She half-nods. I explain that if she wants to head back, now would probably be the time, no need to come up. I simultaneously consider just how to negotiate the death step on the way down since I expect her to say, "Yes, let's call it off."<br />
<br />
But she doesn't say that. She doesn't say anything -- she just looks at me.<br />
<br />
I start to speak: "Just---"<br />
<br />
"What's it like above you?"<br />
<br />
I turn and look and then give her the straight dope: It's steep, there's a lot of brush obscuring the trail so I have no idea what's afoot, and I can't see the top.<br />
<br />
The wind comes up, gusting pretty hard, and now she says, "I don't know about this."<br />
<br />
"OK, then, that's--"<br />
<br />
"I don't want to go back." She points. "What's up there?"<br />
<br />
I pause, caught off guard, somewhat happy that she wants to carry on but now adjusting to the task at hand, namely, me climbing into the unknown rather than her falling into the abyss. I say, "Hang on," and take a deep breath and turn and head up, clinging tightly onto clidemia with one hand, -- lovely, remarkable, beautiful clidemia -- and keeping the other hand on or near the ground, hunched over in my own little cocoon of uluhe and ie'ie before soon discovering that a few makeshift steps -- lovely, remarkable, beautiful makeshift steps -- have been cut into the cliff. I report the good news to my wife and next thing, just like that, she climbs past the point of almost-no return (maybe it isn't an incredibly tough spot as much as it is unforgiving -- long way down -- and made more imposing by the steep ridge above). I shout out something vague in as peppy a tone as I can muster, something like, "All right," and then turn back to the incline. We inch our way carefully up, without incident, to the top of the puu where we stop and catch our breaths.<br />
<br />
And soon enough we continue on, descending ewa and finding that the trail is again OK, sometimes steep and almost always narrow, yes, requiring a certain amount of concentration to safely cross, yes, but not so terrible that we can't stop and take a picture or two and stare in wonder up and down and left and right amid the fanned ridges.<br />
<br />
Negotiating our third summit smile -- the irregular curve between knolls -- we are joined by a red-vented bulbul that's snacking on the orange fruit of the ie'ie, the bird fluttering away as we approach and thereby loosely foreshadowing the hiker who we now see descending from ahead. She's alone, wearing shorts, no gaiters, a t-shirt, just a small fanny-pack. Meeting up, we say hello and learn that she's already come up Lanipo and is now heading over to Wiliwilinui.<br />
<br />
She looks down at our gaiters and says, "I wish I had worn long pants."<br />
<br />
I look at her cut, red-streaked legs and say, "Yeah, well, I can see that."<br />
<br />
Soon enough, wishing her luck, we part company. And not too much later, ascending and descending, we finally reach the grassy area at the end of the Mauumae Trail. We are more than mildly pleased to have made the crossover. I'm not in the least bit hungry but we break out lunch (3-minute eggs with salt and pepper, a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, oranges, trail mix) and continue to drink in the views for nearly forty-five minutes. And then we pack up and head down the mountain.<br />
<br />
We've trekked Lanipo (Mauumae ridge) a couple of times previously and the trail is no less enjoyable than before, starting with the stern descent from the summit lookout and on to the semi-serious ups and downs through a mostly native forest of koa and ohia. We're not in any hurry and we stop and sit and I peer through binoculars across the Palolo Valley at the <a href="http://www2.hawaii.edu/%7Eturner/hikes/kaau.htm">Kaau Crater</a> and the water cascading down the cliff.<br />
<br />
My wife says, "See any pigs over there?"<br />
<br />
I say, "Nope."<br />
<br />
Afterward, standing and moving again, we walk through my favorite part of the Lanipo hike as the hills round off and the forest folds in and embraces. On the kokohead side, below, large patches of green -- koa and ohia foliage -- sway in the wind and host a fair amount of birds that we clearly hear chirping away, including an unseen apapane's throaty hee-hee-hee. Soon the area becomes a little drier and the flora becomes a little more mixed: a koa tree and a strawberry guava tree, a lama tree and a eucalyptus tree, some clidemia (lovely, remarkable, beautiful clidemia) and some ie'ie.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkmUxnj5w1N_QlIhqhDbxNZSD1-c9Klv6rjiqO_kH1iU589A4OylKBb4Pwov0WX0pKl73JAiyhznlfNOHGJjDMq2X6UuI51oOE_csHqZoabyzR0Ejrbdvtwru9xv0h58e8JuT5W0GmDVg/s1600/Picture+10.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkmUxnj5w1N_QlIhqhDbxNZSD1-c9Klv6rjiqO_kH1iU589A4OylKBb4Pwov0WX0pKl73JAiyhznlfNOHGJjDMq2X6UuI51oOE_csHqZoabyzR0Ejrbdvtwru9xv0h58e8JuT5W0GmDVg/s320/Picture+10.png" /></a></div>We eventually reach a large knob that sports three Cook pines -- a Lanipo landmark, one my wife noted from the crest. We sit for a little while and drink water and then, packs again slung on, move down the path and spot an artful arrangement of naupaka and pukiawe, an occasional ilima blossom -- dust now kicking up -- more and more guava trees, stick-like vervains with their little purple flowers, my wife falling, more pukiawe, she's all right, ulei, no broken bones and she eventually gets up and moves along as we pass a telephone pole and I now trip and almost bite the dust.<br />
<br />
We're tired.<br />
<br />
But in time we are climbing up boulders and, afterward, strolling by an autograph tree and through a grove of ironwoods and then walking along a narrow, fenced corridor running between a big house and a big water tank. A minute later, we arrive at the trailhead and sit and relax in the shade of our car. We drink a little more water, change out of our boots, then drive back down to H1 and over and up to the Wiliwilinui trailhead. I get out of one car and get into another, and, finally, respectively, we roll toward home.Dayle Turnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09409228377298646574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1482942411877014317.post-21282784794532265892010-08-28T11:20:00.015-10:002018-01-08T23:41:03.632-10:00Haleakala Secret Spots -- by Eric Stelene<center>
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<pre><b><span style="color: green;">From the Oahu Hiking Enthusiasts Archives</span></b></pre><pre><b><span style="color: green;">Date: Thu, 8 Mar 2001 09:00:47 -1000
From: Eric Stelene (stelene@email.com)
Subject: Secrets of Haleakala
</span></b></pre><pre><b><span style="color: green;">
</span></b></pre><b><span style="color: green;"></span></b><span style="color: green;"></span>I've been working at <a href="http://www.amazon.com/National-Geographic-Trails-Illustrated-Haleakala/dp/0925873853?ie=UTF8&tag=hawhikbacandc-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Haleakala National Park</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=hawhikbacandc-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0925873853" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1"> for about 5 months, but my job never gets me into the back country so I have to go on my own. Last week I went into the "crater" with another ranger on his back-country patrol. The plan was simple: he'll take me to the secret places he knows about and I'll show him the secret places I have discovered.<br />
<br />
Keep in mind that hiking off established trails in the Park is prohibited and I am providing this write-up for "informational purposes". I'm not going to get specific about the locations of some of these places so don't bother to ask.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY1AeSUVfsT7GUibsuWz3CNC7zyQWVFCXvfvjh1-pL2RffspKfAbHQ7d0KUUl3TbvDEkXN55tbxhjrZDJBj0LbnBVhTqGC3gVLEmn9tSVy6tW1FSvNuezplalU0t7NcqCW0kIhbW3fBY4/s1600/Picture+17.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY1AeSUVfsT7GUibsuWz3CNC7zyQWVFCXvfvjh1-pL2RffspKfAbHQ7d0KUUl3TbvDEkXN55tbxhjrZDJBj0LbnBVhTqGC3gVLEmn9tSVy6tW1FSvNuezplalU0t7NcqCW0kIhbW3fBY4/s320/Picture+17.png"></a></div>We started from the Halemau'u trailhead (elev 8000 ft.) about 6 miles up from Park HQ. Next time you go to Haleakala be aware that you pass no fewer than 5 lava tubes all within spitting distance of the road between the entrance station and Halemau'u. (Don't bother looking, you'll never find them unless you know where the are.) These tubes are fairly small but have some interesting history. When the road was built by the CCC in the 30's, the workers apparently used these little caves for shelters. There are remnants of dynamite boxes and other debris left behind. One has some petroglyphs which are believed to be pre-European.<br />
<br />
Although I can't tell you where the lava tubes inside the Park are (well, I could but then I'd have to kill everyone who reads this) so here's one just ouside the Park which is similiar to the ones described above: When heading up the mountain pass mile marker 9 (Park boundry is mile 10). Park at the first guard rail mauka of mile marker 9. About 50 ft off the road you'll see the small cave.<br />
<br />
Anyway, back to Halemau'u. The Halemau'u trail in use today was built after a landslide wiped out the old Halemau'u. No one I talked to seems to know how long ago this happened but from what I learned, the new trail is about 30 years old. The old Halemau'u was a pre-European route into the crater. We left from the parking lot and headed for the old trail. We were at the crater rim in a few minutes and spent some time looking for some petroglyphs rumored to be in the area. We found no petroglyphs but did find a small shelter (an alcove in the cliff with a small rock wall built in front of it.)<br />
<br />
The old Halemau'u trail dropped steeply to the crater floor in a series of short switch backs. The footing was rough since the trail was rocky and ummaintained. About half way down we came the old landslide area. A huge, deep gouge cut into the crater wall and took most of the lower switch-backs with it. From here we just cut straight down the the steep cliff and were soon at the crater floor. Total distance from the parking lot to the crater floor on the new Halemau'u is 2.8 miles, the old Halemau'u: about 1 mile! At the crater floor we picked up a faint trail through a grassy area and in few minutes came to the gate at the bottom of the new Halemau'u.<br />
<br />
From the gate, an unmaintained trail branches off in the direction of Koolau Gap. (Not being an established trail, its use is prohibited by visitors). Soon this trail branches. One fork cuts across Koolau Gap to Waikau, the other fork heads down Ke'anae Valley a short distance to the fence at the park boundry. There is a locked gate there and the trail continues past the fence. I have not been beyond the fence yet but I have been told by some hunters that it ends at a cinder cone or pit of some kind called "Dead Man's Hole". There have been past instances of Park personnel assisting in search and rescues in the area for lost hunters and one report of someone falling to their death off a ridge.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBxtOPZTPYjdfJwVlhWxc1CrsN3mapQ-8MG7H8zu8XB_ABDXPhwAAlsJXQ4XmcPDRe_Z9rTWlH7uoDnNKjkPe3tdpJ7t1CQEbilvFhOUkYrSRxL3cEyH90rE-7DTxFEbEaAq31bli2Adg/s1600/Picture+19.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBxtOPZTPYjdfJwVlhWxc1CrsN3mapQ-8MG7H8zu8XB_ABDXPhwAAlsJXQ4XmcPDRe_Z9rTWlH7uoDnNKjkPe3tdpJ7t1CQEbilvFhOUkYrSRxL3cEyH90rE-7DTxFEbEaAq31bli2Adg/s320/Picture+19.png"></a></div>We took the fork that led across Koolau Gap to Waikau (pictured at right). There used to be a cabin there similar to the other cabins in the crater. Soon, we made a short side trip to some small lava tubes I found on a previous trip to Waikau. One of these small caves had skeletal remains that I thought were human. I have studied human bones and can identify them; however these bones were slightly out of proportion. They were small like a child's but too a little too thick. My friend thinks they were goat bones. I've never seen goat bones so I can't be sure. Maybe they were Menehune?<br />
<br />
A little farther along the trail we made another side trip to huge a lave tube I found on my first exploration of the area. At the entrance there were more bones like the ones we found in the smaller cave. This tube is about as big as the one near Holua cabin. I paced it off to be about 150 yards long. In the back of this tube is one of the strangest things I've encountered while hiking. There is sort of table-like rock formation with about 50 seashells all lined up on it. In front of this is what appears to be shingle-sized sections of palm tree bark arranged in an even pattern. There was also a ti leaf lei and fresh ohelo berries indicating some one else has been here recently. The was also a circle of rocks arranged like a minature heiau on the cave floor.<br />
<br />
Everyone in the Park who I asked about this has the same idea as to its origin: hippies probably did this. We do get a lot freaks and new-age types leaving weird offerings in Holua cave - candles, bird feathers, animal bones, etc.<br />
<br />
We left the cave and continued to Waikau where the trail ended at an intersection with a streambed. This is as far as I have been in this part of the crater. Distance from Haleamu'u to Waikau is about 2.5 miles. Our plan now was to find a route into the central crater. We followed the gravely streambed upslope about 1/2 mile to the leading edge of a huge a'a flow. We were happy to find a rough switchback trail ascending the flow. We followed this narrow trail up the lava and climbed steeply through a gully. The trail leveled off at a beautiful meadow with the base of the pali on the right and the a'a flow to the left.<br />
The guy I was with said he was familar with this area and was sure he get us to an old trail through the a'a to the central crater. To make a long story short, we spent the next 2 hours walking though hell with no trail in sight. The a'a finally ended in a sea of black cinders. We joined up with the Haleamu'u trail about midway between Bottomless Pit and Silversword Loop. My plan from here was to continue to the central Crater to check out some archeological sites I heard about and to look for a pit called "Dante's Inferno" and a lava tube called Crystal Cave. The trip through the a'a exhausted me and we still had over 5 miles to go to get back to the parking lot. Dante's Inferno and the arch sites weren't going anywhere, so we headed for home. I'll go back in a few weeks and let you know what I find.Dayle Turnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09409228377298646574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1482942411877014317.post-20497328912482860742010-08-25T10:45:00.023-10:002018-01-19T22:03:00.780-10:00Kamakou and Halawa Valley (Molokai) -- by Dave Webb<center>
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<pre><b><span style="color: green;">From the Oahu Hiking Enthusiasts Archives</span></b></pre><pre><b><span style="color: green;">Date: Tue, 20 Feb 2001 08:59:53 -1000
From: Dave Webb (dwebb@mailhost.k12.hi.us)
Subject: Molokai hikes
</span></b></pre><b><span style="color: green;"></span></b><span style="color: green;"></span><br />
I did a couple of fantastic hikes on a recent trip to Molokai that I thought you folks would be interested in hearing about.<br />
<br />
<b>1. Kamakou Preserve - Pepeopae bog trail to Pelekunu valley overlook</b><br />
<br />
For some time I've wanted to hike this trail but the problem was getting to the trailhead. Well, on this particular trip we had good fortune with us the entire time. The first night we were on Molokai we went down to the Hotel Molokai bar/restaurant for some pupu's and drinks. As we were enjoying the live entertainment, Sandy mentioned that she recognized someone that she knew from the Nature Conservancy here on Oahu. After speaking with him she told me that he was on Molokai to check out their preserve in Kamakou the next morning! We met the lady from the Molokai N.C. (Cathy) and her husband Brian who were going to take him up there and she agreed to take us as well. What luck!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfnv6A7fNg2-9LEPn42UpPJ7J4aSTgC134vYbIN8Vg7akpn5dCpTIsZxgThuF0b0wwoLAiQUbt07ogEnujaCIJUnmeAjCNOrycRj_dTBxtVk_De-3ec5cUwLgu29fmJNXDSrbUoVfZZOg/s1600/Picture+13.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfnv6A7fNg2-9LEPn42UpPJ7J4aSTgC134vYbIN8Vg7akpn5dCpTIsZxgThuF0b0wwoLAiQUbt07ogEnujaCIJUnmeAjCNOrycRj_dTBxtVk_De-3ec5cUwLgu29fmJNXDSrbUoVfZZOg/s320/Picture+13.png"></a></div>To get to Kamakou you have to drive up a rough dirt road. You can find this road about 4 miles west of Kaunakakai. Turn mauka at the sign for Homelani cemetery and keep going mauka for about 10 miles until you reach the Sandalwood Pit and Waikolu lookout. The Waikolu overlook is awesome! From that vantage point on the west rim of the valley you can see all the way to the ocean. There is a large offshore rock just beyond the mouth of the valley. Across on the east wall are 3 or 4 beautiful falls plunging down from the heavens. The largest one in the middle feeds the Molokai tunnel that provides irrigation water for west Molokai. We were lucky enough to have mostly clear conditions here as the clouds were high that day.<br />
<br />
On a dry day, you could probably get this far in a rental car if you were reallly careful. We saw two groups of people who made it in and back out OK. Beyond the Waikolu overlook, I would DEFINITELY NOT attempt to drive a rental car. To get to the beginning of the Pepeopae bog boardwalk it is necessary to drive another couple of miles and the road gets really bad. I wouldn't try unless you have 4wd with high clearance and you know what you are doing.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzeQQZCSejOID7mWlNPnCGpfDcz-VoUYRN4_D3UmeJgGXv12s1UbIljbGJ_avw80BohyYTY3l8NivqDzcAgsbD8QtXMXke7j-6pcZbIEfufodi8UYiPKHxwnTLHJLu1kv0EtO7TLQJdCs/s1600/Picture+14.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzeQQZCSejOID7mWlNPnCGpfDcz-VoUYRN4_D3UmeJgGXv12s1UbIljbGJ_avw80BohyYTY3l8NivqDzcAgsbD8QtXMXke7j-6pcZbIEfufodi8UYiPKHxwnTLHJLu1kv0EtO7TLQJdCs/s320/Picture+14.png"></a></div><br />
<br />
<br />
After negotiating the road we reached the beginning of the Pepeopae boardwalk. It's about 10 inches wide and covered with metal lattice to keep you from slipping off. The boardwalk trail is about 2 miles each way. At first, the trail passes through a nice forested area before gaining the bog itself. The bog is quite amazing, much like Kaala. Most amazing to me was the abundance of stunted Ohia Lehua growing right on the ground! I had never seen such a spectacle! If you like native plants, I'm sure this would be the place for you. I don't know many of them, but I learned a few from the NC folks on this day.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqFdN6Rh3hTgVmnccUvTrzxVYhzGyusO8X8BUqnVr_h6UuEuOG7S23cTrwX2IRh6QdIBKuVsVdBk8ajS-dn7j3BmVn0QNKWGxE728mYZOtlXlsjc81e_WbTDfP_Ww2UELboXt97dDeW0k/s1600/Picture+15.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqFdN6Rh3hTgVmnccUvTrzxVYhzGyusO8X8BUqnVr_h6UuEuOG7S23cTrwX2IRh6QdIBKuVsVdBk8ajS-dn7j3BmVn0QNKWGxE728mYZOtlXlsjc81e_WbTDfP_Ww2UELboXt97dDeW0k/s320/Picture+15.png"></a></div>We walked at a leisurely pace, enjoying the morning and talking story. I don't know how long it took us to reach the Pelekunu overlook. When we got there the wind was gusting up from the valley and it was full of clouds. After waiting a few moments, the fog lifted and we were blessed with a truly amazing view! We were perched on the rim of the west wall of the valley near the back, and the whole expanse of Pelekunu was before us. You could see all the way to the ocean! The awesome east wall of Pelekunu was directly across and you could see Olokui and the ridge separating Pelekunu and Wailau valleys! Brian regaled us with some of his old hunting stories in Pelekunu and the time he and a friend climbed up a side ridge chasing some goats until the ridge became less than a foot wide!! He told us that in the past, people would travel between Pelekunu and Wailau on a trail that crossed over the low saddle in the ridge. Supposedly there is a cave up there where they used to spend the night. This vista must be one of the most amazing in the Hawaiian Islands! Right up there with the view from Poamoho summit, Konahuanui summit, Kalalau lookout, and Haleakala rim looking into Kipahulu valley.<br />
<br />
<b>II. Halawa valley waterfalls</b><br />
<br />
Before describing how to get to the trail, let me first explain the Halawa situation as I understand it. As of right now, the trail is off limits to the general public because the valley landowners don't want people "trespassing" on their land. I have heard stories about someone breaking their ankle up in the valley and then suing the landowners, but that simply never happened. I guess these folks are just paranoid - whatever. So, that leaves you with two choices as I see it. You can join a $25 "cultural tour" and have a guide take you to the falls if you wish. This would actually be quite interesting to learn about the history of the valley, but I'm too cheap for that and I don't really care to hike this beautiful valley with a big crowd of tourists. Don't get me wrong, I certainly don't have a problem with some enterprising Molokaians taking people on hiking tours to earn income. After all, if the demand is there why not take advantage of it? Anyway, tourists would never be able to find the trail on their own anyway.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgPsp2yJbhsUBrv9BA_z7oZFSP51U2T6mZ2UF84t2kft-WNAO1S4y0Wk3kl2B2DEB1HrOlKl4rSVZNJ4vo2Qqv_nd2zq7PLWvd7BzZ6b382A1OL8Qqcxn5lhh0fTiXK68gEAgoLC2EUCw/s1600/Picture+16.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgPsp2yJbhsUBrv9BA_z7oZFSP51U2T6mZ2UF84t2kft-WNAO1S4y0Wk3kl2B2DEB1HrOlKl4rSVZNJ4vo2Qqv_nd2zq7PLWvd7BzZ6b382A1OL8Qqcxn5lhh0fTiXK68gEAgoLC2EUCw/s320/Picture+16.png"></a></div>Your other option is to take my advice, pucker up your lips, and get ready to kiss up to some valley resident and ask their permission to hike in "their" valley. This has worked for me twice, and although the folks that I met were at first reluctant to let me pass, I eventually won them over with my pretty smile and even prettier disposition! Good luck if you dare venture into this valley! Trail directions are pretty simple as they were given to me. Park at the end of the paved road in the valley and then take the small dirt road down past a little church. At the first junction go right and continue until you cross a bridge over the stream. Almost immediately, take the first overgrown road on the left through the grass. You should see a sign with a heart on it saying something like "private driveway, no trespassing". Continue and you will see two houses on the right. Go around these on the left and then cross a small irrigation ditch on a board. The trail is right there, turn left on it and follow it up into the valley.<br />
<br />
From this point it is about 2 miles to Moaula falls. The trail is really easy to follow with no confusing places. At the end, you cross a stream just before reaching Moaula falls. The falls are really nice, with 3 or 4 different sections that are sometimes hidden from view. The lower cascade is really powerful and the pool is quite big and deep. Strip down and enjoy a great swim. If you want to visit the other falls, Hipuapua, you need to backtrack to the junction where the stream splits and rockhop unstream for about 30 minutes. Bring your tabis. It is really worth it because Hipuapua is truly awesome. The topo lists it at 500' (but it probably isn't quite that high). Maybe 300' or so, it's hard to tell. The volume of water in this fall isn't quite as high, so you can stand directly under it. No low-flow showers in Halawa! The pool is shaped like a dumbbell and the side opposite the waterfall is quite deep and nice for swimming. This place has a lot of mana. Standing back there with the falls coming down and feelig the wind on your face it is impossible not to be moved. This is one of the most remote places in all of Hawaii and something not to be missed.<br />
<br />
Have fun if you go to Molokai! Some recommended things are:<br />
<br />
<ul><li>Hotel Molokai: Cheap and really nice. Nice restaurant and pool and the whole thing is right on the beach. Great entertainment at night poolside.</li>
<li>Molokai drive-in: One word: Platelunch.</li>
<li>Kamuela cookhouse: Located in Kualapu'u, on your way to the highschool. Broke da mouf grinds and cheap. Go for breakfast, you wont be disappointed.</li>
<li>Kalaupapa lookout</li>
<li>Sunset from Kaluakoi pool</li>
</ul>Dayle Turnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09409228377298646574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1482942411877014317.post-80585914337257533602010-08-22T10:36:00.008-10:002018-01-19T22:01:13.402-10:00Moanalua Valley to Tripler Ridge -- LastKoho<center>
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<pre><b><span style="color: green;">From the Oahu Hiking Enthusiasts Archives</span></b></pre>
<pre><b><span style="color: green;">Date: Tue, 13 Feb 2001 16:38:17 -1000
From: LastKoho (lastkoho@yahoo.com)
Subject: Violators will be Prosecuted
</span></b></pre>
<b><span style="color: green;"></span></b><span style="color: green;"></span><br />
Sitting at the computer all weekend (hopelessly trying to resolve a file access problem), I finally decide, late on Sunday afternoon, that I need to get out of the house.<br />
<br />
With the intention of finding the trailhead at Monanalua Valley, I jump in the car and hop onto H1, exiting at Red Hill and following Ala Aolani Street to its end. From the car I walk to the back of the Moanalua Neighborhood Park and approach a fence that has a big white sign attached to it. The sign warns that access to the valley road without permission from the Damon Estate is restricted, that violators will be prosecuted. The words are clear but the gate is open.<br />
<br />
With dual forces working within and without, I stroll light-footed through the fence and down the old carriage road and under a huge monkeypod tree hosting some equally huge pothos. While a northern cardinal sings in the distance, ahead I spot two people -- man and wife, I presume -- just off the trail. They must see me but they continue to examine the forest, not moving a muscle or saying a word as I pass at arm's length. Semi-kindred spirits, I speculate: they have read and wandered beyond the same sign as I have and are now frozen, worried that I might know their secret.<br />
<br />
I hike forward a bit more, if only to allow the uncomfortable pair to move on. But, in turn, I am snared: Ahead two people sit on one of the many bridges that traverse the dry stream, and they are looking directly at me. There's nothing else to do but walk forward and smile in as natural a manner as I'm able. They smile back as I stiffly veer right and cross the stream on the road. I feel compelled under their watch to continue along the trail -- and that's just what I do, passing lots of hau (from within the tangle two white-rumped shamas vigorously mark their territory through a series of songs) and, farther along, koa haole and strawberry guava trees as the road more or less loses its canopy cover.<br />
<br />
It's not too much later that I feel a small amount of dread as I spot more hikers, a mother and her two children. They are heading makai, toward the trailhead. Passing, the children smile and I force a smile back. The mother, a few yards behind the kids, averts her eyes. I figure that Mom is, like me, a Monanalua wanna-be. And I decide that this is not fun, seeing my ringer-self reflected in others.<br />
<br />
I walk forward a few sluggish paces, looking right. I had read on the OHE web site about a path in this vicinity that climbs the valley wall. A quick peek --- and then I'll head back to the car. I move into the brush and spot a flag tied to a branch, and then, curious, head up through uluhe, with things getting steep fast as I grab and pull-on the smooth-barked trunks of the guava trees. I stop for a moment to rest and, looking up, see a series of colorful trail flags that continue to lead the way.<br />
<br />
And then I have a brilliant idea. I decide to top-out and escape the valley via the Tripler Trail that follows the ridge above. Tripler, a hike I've never been on, is, I had read, open to the public (notwithstanding parking restrictions at its trailhead). No more ambivalent feelings and uncomfortable encounters with other hikers, I'll take the ridge trail back to its starting point and then walk down to the pink hospital not too far below and call my wife for a ride to my car. That's the idea.<br />
<br />
So up the valley wall I go, and after about twenty minutes, the well-flagged climb ends at an imperfect oval of dirt. To the left is yet another flag, one that I reflexively follow, heading mauka. I figure that I must be on a tributary, a path that will connect to the main trail at a junction where I can turn back makai. I hike the ridge for five minutes, more flags marking the way, down and up and then down.<br />
<br />
There's no junction. And I am heading toward the summit -- not the way I want to go at 5:00 P.M.<br />
I stop and wonder: Did the trail at the top of the valley-climb also travel right? Was I so pleased by the flags that I let them lead me astray?<br />
<br />
I decide to turn back and, if necessary, descend to Moanalua Valley and walk to the car -- again as hiking contraband.<br />
<br />
Retracing my steps, I soon reach the valley-climb turnoff and the imperfect oval of dirt, and, sure enough, I now see that I could have easily gone right, toward the trailhead -- not just left, toward the summit. I am and have been for the last ten to fifteen minutes on the veritable Tripler Trail, not a conjured tributary.<br />
<br />
I now hurry along, trail-legitimate, on course, pleased with the quiet path. At least for the moment. Suddenly, there's a violent commotion. Something jumps and crashes through the brush just behind the trees and I hear a snort and a grunt. I have startled a pig (or some other animal) -- and it, in turn, has scared the hell out of me. We both dart forward on parallel courses. I clap my hands and shout "hey-hey-hey," concocting this behavior on the fly in the vain hope that it will trick the little piggy into believing that there are lots of us and we are not pleased with those who trespass our turf, that violators will be prosecuted. I also consider -- all in a flash -- a worst-case scenario, how it might work out in hand-to-hoof combat. Will I be summarily slaughtered by a territorially ticked-off swine? What a way to go -- main entrée in a reverse luau. But in a few moments it's over. I hear only my own heavy breathing and fast-paced footsteps, no more sounds from the other side of the trees.<br />
<br />
I slow my pace, shake my head, and, in time, settle down and carry on. I soon reach a bare hill, where I stop and soak in the views before walking through uluhe and passing a huge Cook pine. The trail is narrow but pronounced and yet, ironically, there is not one trail marker along the way. I glide down through a dark tunnel of guava and somewhere in the thicket a shama throws a fit, firing out an impressive arsenal of calls and clicks.<br />
<br />
I eventually reach a paved road. And shortly I see a group of people, three men, two women, and two children. When they catch sight of me, they turn abruptly, almost in unison, and move down the hill. I follow for a bit, keeping my distance, and then they just stop. They are wooden, the kids at their mothers' sides as one of the men points in a phony way toward tiny Aloha Stadium in the distance. It's only when I am right on top of them that I receive two turns of the head and one grave nod hello -- the others continue to look off. I pass; and five or so minutes later, at the end of the road, through a gate, I look up and see a huge Damon Estate sign announcing in black and white that this area -- the area I've just come from -- is restricted, no access, that violators will be prosecuted.<br />
<br />
Not my day.<br />
<br />
I walk through army housing, reach Tripler Hospital, find a pay phone and call Mrs. Koho. I try, unsuccessfully, to explain why I need a lift, and she agrees to pick me up, ultimately driving back to Moanalua Park where I jump into my car and roll toward home.<br />
<br />
Epilogue:<br />
<br />
Today I called Moanalua Gardens, inquiring, of course, about permission to hike in the valley. A man on the other end of the line told me that with two (or fewer) people hiking there was "no problem," meaning there was no need, ironically enough, to come over and sign a waiver (larger groups, they want to know about, especially with children). I was also told that hiking was not allowed on Saturday because pig hunters had been hired to work that day.Dayle Turnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09409228377298646574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1482942411877014317.post-17427726988212184422010-08-19T10:22:00.012-10:002018-01-19T22:01:54.028-10:00Kapilau Ridge (Maui) -- by Eric Stelene<center>
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<pre><b><span style="color: green;">From the Oahu Hiking Enthusiast Archives</span></b></pre><pre><b><span style="color: green;">Date: Mon, 12 Feb 2001 20:52:02 -1000
From: Eric Stelene (stelene@email.com)
Subject: Kapilau Ridge - West Maui
</span></b></pre><pre><b><span style="color: green;">
</span></b></pre><b><span style="color: green;"></span></b><span style="color: green;"></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj_wdlGdUPxpABuOfJT-FeaAgHtmwHt6ImSEksopPgpB1V5XtMyL1hyphenhyphenj9QnnLxPO6dMOTeK5P4rYs2h9YincOMmxEq-Vhn183z2l4cSZ3NO6rbhzKsAKQrPXP-ieDMgzf6SLIYs_gLjmI/s1600/Picture+10.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj_wdlGdUPxpABuOfJT-FeaAgHtmwHt6ImSEksopPgpB1V5XtMyL1hyphenhyphenj9QnnLxPO6dMOTeK5P4rYs2h9YincOMmxEq-Vhn183z2l4cSZ3NO6rbhzKsAKQrPXP-ieDMgzf6SLIYs_gLjmI/s320/Picture+10.png"></a></div>Kapilau is the towering ridge above Wailuku that separates Iao Valley and Waikapu Valley in the West Maui Mountains (pic at left and other pics in this post are courtesy of chrisparis.org). To get to the trailhead, head into Iao Valley toward the Needle. Come to a fork in the road with a sign pointing right to Iao Valley State Park. Go left instead. Almost immediately, reach a pull-off on the left. Walk up the road a short distance to a telephone pole with the number 5 on it. The trail starts right next to the pole.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUKl3BEOsr2Nmp8h_3E_cViZyy92x9WQycVdjC2znNkxExUU_y8IEjRGhSUUIQa0BLrpCNishiwXFRxCfU8-GcGPa7-hiTd35pyeKyuUM33IVgKxdJomA7zzuq09FKHHzeWThVdMWYhuE/s1600/Picture+9.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUKl3BEOsr2Nmp8h_3E_cViZyy92x9WQycVdjC2znNkxExUU_y8IEjRGhSUUIQa0BLrpCNishiwXFRxCfU8-GcGPa7-hiTd35pyeKyuUM33IVgKxdJomA7zzuq09FKHHzeWThVdMWYhuE/s320/Picture+9.png"></a></div>Climb steeply, climb some more, then keep climbing. The trail's in good shape, but the climb is brutal. Eventually, the trail levels off in an open area with a large white cross (visible from all over central Maui). The cross is wooden and much smaller than the old cross at Kolekole Pass on Oahu. There is a rickety ladder leading up to one of the arms.<br />
<br />
Past the cross, the trail narrows a little and is overgrown in some spots, but is still in pretty good shape. Kapilau Ridge starts at about 500 ft and climbs to an unnamed peak at 4,426 ft in about 2.5 miles. I made to about the 3,000 ft mark in about 2 hours when clouds and rain showers moved in discouraging further progress.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp7GGQLfgHjeuv_K3dP2H81buPsNccGFCatZw7ydkzKqGTkx3DaSxkh77qLCoFlyqR43wMaRGZsd6I0l5c9H18SKLK8K5ZnVBCgoeHbl9rn_J_xiX7sOAm1Mjpdlwq55FRzGhM1ItgPbA/s1600/Picture+11.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp7GGQLfgHjeuv_K3dP2H81buPsNccGFCatZw7ydkzKqGTkx3DaSxkh77qLCoFlyqR43wMaRGZsd6I0l5c9H18SKLK8K5ZnVBCgoeHbl9rn_J_xiX7sOAm1Mjpdlwq55FRzGhM1ItgPbA/s320/Picture+11.png"></a></div>The views into Iao Valley are incredible. The Iao Needle looks like nothing more than a bump on a small ridge from up here. You can also see into two hike-able (is this a word?) valleys: A'e stream, and what I have named the "Needle Canyon". A side ridge ahead blocked any view in Waikapu Valley, but if you keep going to the top you will probably be standing on a knife-edge sperating the two valleys. The ridge was not very narrow up to the point I made it to, so you don't have to worry about falling to your death until you get a little higher.<br />
<br />
I posted <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20010424070541/http://photos.yahoo.com/bc/eric96753?d&.flabel=fld1&.src=ph">a picture of Iao Valley</a> from the ridge at the following link. I labeled the Needle and the 2 hike-able valleys mentioned. Its definitly worth a look - a view of the Needle few ever see! Picture quality's a little poor. I got a free digital camera for signing up for Worstlink internet service.<br />
<br />
<div><br />
</div>Dayle Turnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09409228377298646574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1482942411877014317.post-79736874547482289942010-08-17T22:58:00.000-10:002018-01-19T22:03:28.579-10:00The Ngs and Turners on Pu'u Maelieli<center>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie5OHj6OSISghyphenhyphenvJZvMgm5YzjIcCeBa_y4yRAwZR-KoGroZJ1fuTtyBQ8KIW1lhvWUwFg0QVZWkkq3Ges1BdKEhiZ36X3IHl6sva6y35UM0z_3teM6hBXXH9EqzMWN7d18NL1mhNORa4A/s1600/the.ngs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie5OHj6OSISghyphenhyphenvJZvMgm5YzjIcCeBa_y4yRAwZR-KoGroZJ1fuTtyBQ8KIW1lhvWUwFg0QVZWkkq3Ges1BdKEhiZ36X3IHl6sva6y35UM0z_3teM6hBXXH9EqzMWN7d18NL1mhNORa4A/s200/the.ngs.jpg" width="150"></a></div>Yesterday, I called up my friend Wing Ng to ask him if he wanted to come along to check out the Maelieli trail for an upcoming HTMC hike (8/28 Saturday, coordinated by Justin Ohara).<br />
<br />
Before saying yes or no, Wing asked me who else would be joining me.<br />
<br />
“My wife,” I said.<br />
<br />
“Good,” said Wing, “I have one of them now, too.”<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">Wondering if I was hearing things right, I asked Wing to clarify what he said.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Indeed, Wing is now a married man, having departed the ranks of bachelorhood on June 25, 2010. And he said would be bringing his new bride along to hike with us. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">“She can hike faster than me,” said Wing, as if tempting me to make a sarcastic remark about his hike pace, which I refrained and restrained myself from doing.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">“Good,” I said. “We look forward to meeting her.”</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"> And we did meet her. And Wing is right. She can hike faster than he. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The <a href="http://htmclub.org/skeds/htms1003.html">write-up in the club schedule</a> credits my wife and I for pioneering a new route that stems off the Maelieli trail. For the record, who also should be recognized as a pioneer is Wing, who joined us in scouting out the route last year. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOjxXTJyfLgrKjS_ifhpEv2O2c7gHPtmb148zE243cZM1YyCAo1yyEkYGi5okc-EHjgQCuk9LvxigwWm3i5lFUyFiUsQx1llZQA92aXXhvExQ4kYeQxkhS9kN-031elYrs2939R4Pfg7c/s1600/maelieli.map.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOjxXTJyfLgrKjS_ifhpEv2O2c7gHPtmb148zE243cZM1YyCAo1yyEkYGi5okc-EHjgQCuk9LvxigwWm3i5lFUyFiUsQx1llZQA92aXXhvExQ4kYeQxkhS9kN-031elYrs2939R4Pfg7c/s320/maelieli.map.jpg" width="320"></a></div>Today, the four of us scouted out an even newer route which I must say is even better than the one we used last year. Just like last year, the newer route drops into the lowlands on the Kaneohe Bay side of the Maelieli Ridge, but what we found today is much more wide open, better marked, and more efficient. For those interested, come out in a couple weeks to join Justin at Maelieli.<br />
<br />
In the map at left, the yellow dots are the usual route to Maelieli which begins along Kahekili Highway near Temple Valley Shopping Center and proceeds along a ridge to a WWII bunker (blue dot). The red dots follow the approximate route of the newest extended route that we scouted today. </div>Dayle Turnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09409228377298646574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1482942411877014317.post-59995265293449782342010-08-16T06:04:00.021-10:002018-01-19T22:04:28.129-10:00Aiea Ridge -- LastKoho<center>
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<pre style="text-align: left;"><b>From the Oahu Hiking Enthusiasts archives</b></pre><pre><b><span style="color: green;">
</span></b></pre><pre><b><span style="color: green;">Date: Wed, 7 Feb 2001 21:42:43 -1000
From: LastKoho (lastkoho@yahoo.com)
Subject: Tendered is the Hike
</span></b></pre><b><span style="color: green;"></span></b><span style="color: green;"></span><br />
Sunday morning, a little tired after a late night, I drift to the kitchen where I make a cup of coffee and sit down and open the newspaper. My wife, in the living room, is alternately watching the TV and glancing at a booklet of Longs coupons. And then she looks over at me and says, "Well?"<br />
<br />
I say, "Well, what?"<br />
<br />
Conversation killed.<br />
<br />
I sip from my cup and turn a page of the paper. A minute later, caffeine kicking-in, antennae emerging, I raise my head and look near the door and see two stuffed backpacks on the floor, propped against the wall, ready to go.<br />
<br />
I point. "What's that all about?"<br />
<br />
My wife says, "What's what all about?"<br />
<br />
The negotiations commence. Implicitly, I have some leverage. Since my wife -- through the act of pre-packing -- has already indicated a desire to hit a trail, the particular trail hit should be mine to choose. As such, it only takes a small amount of haggling to settle on a specific hike, Aiea Ridge. But another issue arises: Do we hike to the end of the path? Details surface: We will be getting a somewhat late start, probably not arriving at the trailhead sooner than 10:00 A.M. Given this, can we safely and comfortably reach the summit and get back to the car before the sun goes down? Don't know. Therefore, the following deal is struck: "Both parties agree to not hike summit-way after 2:00 P.M. Both parties agree to only hike trailhead-way after 2:00 P.M." With sunset slated for about half past six, this should allow us to beat steady hiker Darkness to the car.<br />
<br />
Still, in the back of my mind, I speculate that if I am anywhere near the summit at around two or two- thirty or two forty-five it will be difficult not to succumb to that gladiator / conquer and tame / ego building / bragging rights / we've come too far to turn back now / not getting any younger / it's always faster coming down / we have flashlights anyway / I really want to see that lapalapa tree feeling or some combination thereof (assuming we are injury free) and that negotiations will recommence trailside. But perhaps time won't be an issue and there won't be a need to renegotiate. That would be best. So I pull myself together, skipping breakfast, and get out the door and into the car and merge onto H1 and across 78 before jumping off the highway and turning up Aiea Heights Drive.<br />
<br />
A few minutes before ten, car parked, we set off along the wide and civilly graded Aiea Loop trail, which comprises the first mile or so of the hike. We pass gum, guava, bamboo, paperbark, and swamp mahogany trees --- and then turn left and step up a slight grade and arrive at the intersection of Lace Fern and Steep Drop-Off, confluence of loop, valley, and ridge trails.<br />
<br />
We stop and take a swig of water, lift our socks, zip up our gaiters. Then, moving again, we swing right, past ti and lantana and fern.<br />
<br />
Suddenly, the scenery changes. The dark forest we've just left (off the loop trail) sported lots of tall eucalyptus, a high, majestic canopy, a wide path. But now, in contrast, there are lots of ohia and koa, a low, intimate canopy, a narrow path, benign greenery.<br />
<br />
I half-turn to my wife. "Wow. Fast change." I swing my arm. "Like a whole 'nother trail."<br />
<br />
My wife says, "It is another trail."<br />
<br />
Right. So it is.<br />
<br />
We walk amid uluhe, ie'ie, pukiawe, and audio irony. I mean, we hear more than the birds in the distance and the wind in the trees -- we hear cars, cars streaming along the mighty H3, the mighty H3 that snakes its way through Halawa Valley far below. It's get-away-from-it-all scenery with a cityscape voice-over.<br />
I turn again. "Sounds like our living room."<br />
<br />
"Yeah."<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzBDo2Now-SjCRId5Ntf4iUqHhfL2P2lexgLP-hNlBjL8KCN3ASbHNyi7ghGcFarHKzQpkwonLCoXk2IjgHpRn_bbr-teQ_AHn_vcpf8RCgawUiRYdaj-LXkzEgxcT-tykKx7vLuTnrGw/s1600/Picture+9.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzBDo2Now-SjCRId5Ntf4iUqHhfL2P2lexgLP-hNlBjL8KCN3ASbHNyi7ghGcFarHKzQpkwonLCoXk2IjgHpRn_bbr-teQ_AHn_vcpf8RCgawUiRYdaj-LXkzEgxcT-tykKx7vLuTnrGw/s320/Picture+9.png"></a></div>We pass a furry fiddlehead and step around a tree, turn left behind a hump. We stop, hear nothing but birds. And then we see four apapanes flying over Kalauao Valley. We follow in the same general direction, the trail becoming a little more overgrown not far from where we begin a not-so-easy ascent to Pu'u Kaiwipo'o. Along the way there's a pleasant interlude: After an aggressive incline, resting behind a cluster of ohias, a natural blind, we see two more apapanes land in a tree within thirty feet of us. The birds hop from branch to branch for a minute or so before I shuffle my feet and scare them away.<br />
<br />
Two-plus hours on the trail and, not without some effort, we reach the top of Kaiwipo'o, a sizeable helipad. We drink water and, looking both ewa and diamond head, count the ridges fanning out from the Ko'olau spine. I turn toward the summit. Clouds slide here and there, and a dark utility tower stands guard in the distance. Five minutes, and we continue on, stepping across a few mildly narrow sections, squishing through mud among fairly thick vegetation, leaning into a few blasts of wind as we ascend and descend one small knob after another.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsUxG0jwzB7-hlpm13w59HnO-Nf674ZoASEmkCWb6-EUCAFMNdu9-KQgmMPlWPCytOWECasH4uSupYRQnGt4nknbTUSHrrOAnUTLb8B0kVPGweUAXe1_3tYfEf9fjFhUACFXzRf8H7BAI/s1600/Picture+10.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsUxG0jwzB7-hlpm13w59HnO-Nf674ZoASEmkCWb6-EUCAFMNdu9-KQgmMPlWPCytOWECasH4uSupYRQnGt4nknbTUSHrrOAnUTLb8B0kVPGweUAXe1_3tYfEf9fjFhUACFXzRf8H7BAI/s320/Picture+10.png"></a></div>We top-out at another helipad, this one even bigger than the previous plateau. From here we can see a healthy slice of windward Oahu. And it's only 1:25; but I am suddenly, inexplicably, exhausted. I half wish it were two o'clock, turnaround time -- the hell with any more negotiations or ego building or bragging rights. I look at my wife and she looks at me. I wait for her to say something but she says nothing. So I start walking, say, "I guess we go this way."<br />
<br />
We descend, curving slightly left, soon reaching the base of the utility tower. At last, my wife can't help but wonder, aloud, how much longer it is to the summit.<br />
<br />
I stop. "Don't know. Maybe we should just call it off right here."<br />
<br />
Perhaps thinking I was kidding, perhaps surprised by my lethargy, perhaps seized by a conquer and tame / ego building / bragging rights / we've come too far to turn back now feeling, my wife replies, "Oh, let's just keep going."<br />
<br />
Right. A deal's a deal.<br />
<br />
We climb a little rise and walk past an open grassy area and, just like that, reach the summit overlook. It's 1:35 P.M.<br />
<br />
We are instantly energized and relaxed, snapping pictures of the land below and the sea beyond as wisps of cloud rush urgently up and over the lip of the pali. Clusters of toy houses lie far below in Ahuimanu. Beyond and a little to the right is the green of the Valley of the Temples Memorial Park and farther out still, across Kahekili Highway, very tiny, the monolithic blue-green roofs of the Temple Valley Shopping Plaza.<br />
<br />
I'm hungry. And just behind the crest, where a small collection of ohia and lapalapa trees shelter us from the gusts, we sit and share a lunch of water, boiled eggs, cream crackers, raisons, a power bar, oranges. Then I lie down, hear the leaves of the lapalapa flutter and watch a dragonfly -- veering every which way in the air -- vainly, comically try to negotiate the swirling wind.<br />
<br />
Thirty minutes pass before we pack up and leave. Walking at an easy pace, we spot a small mud-colored frog leaping awkwardly across the steep path in front of us. A little later, we stop and watch a grove of wind-swept loulu stand tough on the valley wall below. Later still, we bend to examine the bright green, forked wawae'iole growing trailside.<br />
<br />
Again to Puu Kaiwipo'o and then down and across the saddle. The wind calms and the trail softens -- becomes more pronounced, less severe in its ups and downs -- and I feel as good as I have all day, marching slowly through the cozy forest. In time, we swing left, past fern and lantana and ti, and after a break at the Loop junction, we stroll along the wide path, listening to the birds - shamas, a northern cardinal, waxbills, bulbuls - as they call out and begin to settle for the evening. Finally, trailhead. No other cars are in the upper parking lot and we sit and take off our boots. A light breeze, quiet -- night falls like a feather. We stand, get in the car, and, with me behind the wheel, roll toward home.Dayle Turnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09409228377298646574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1482942411877014317.post-34896948950272826552010-08-10T13:07:00.009-10:002018-01-19T22:04:53.096-10:00Kuliouou Ridge -- By LastKoho<center>
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<b>From the Oahu Hiking Enthusiasts Archives<br />
Date: Fri, 19 Jan 2001 21:08:41 -1000<br />
From: LastKoho (lastkoho@yahoo.com)<br />
Subject: This Way to Kuliouou</b><br />
<br />
----<br />
<br />
Thursday, though a work deadline looms, I decide to head out for a hike. My wife, who has the day off, agrees to join me.<br />
<br />
After a drive through mostly flowing traffic, we park near the end of Kala'au Place and hop out of the car and sling on our packs. Across the street a couple of rottweilers stare at us from behind a fence as we cut through the cul de sac and then move down a paved road. After not-too-many paces we take a right turn at a brown and yellow sign that marks the beginning of both the Kuliouou Valley and Ridge Trails. Continuing along the path, we soon reach another sign marking the split between valley and ridge. We follow the arrow that points to the ridge route.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAP7tW59kBrO2gysmckRkYN9vQ49FhZYICTcsEutOEFrqjgiKh2a1caK_PDL91yHKTMfsl7bcHlRSiONdKx7AA66_W5QsxBABX3D6y4gs6EpcvMRuTDpJTN6SLGuFiZ_WA_HsoDmZ1kBU/s1600/Picture+10.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAP7tW59kBrO2gysmckRkYN9vQ49FhZYICTcsEutOEFrqjgiKh2a1caK_PDL91yHKTMfsl7bcHlRSiONdKx7AA66_W5QsxBABX3D6y4gs6EpcvMRuTDpJTN6SLGuFiZ_WA_HsoDmZ1kBU/s200/Picture+10.png" width="126"></a></div>As a passing note, there are more signs per mile on the Kuliouou Ridge Trail than any other in Oahu that I've been on in recent memory: There are signs warning hikers to stay on path rather than use shortcuts between switchbacks because this, the use of shortcuts, facilitates erosion; there's a sign directly above two yellow bristle brushes that requests hikers wipe their boots at the end of the trek; there's at least one well-placed yellow-arrow directional sign; and there's even a sign of a petroglyph sketch pinned on a huge Cook pine. None of the signs bothers me (mostly informative and simple and unobtrusive in a yellow and brown kind of way); they're just a mildly curious feature of this trail. I suppose too this is the telltale sign of most well-traveled hikes, a proliferation of signs.<br />
<br />
Meanwhile, back on the trail, we begin switching back and forth up the side of the hill. Soon enough, coming around a bend, we cross paths with a woman who has a frown on her face and three small children on her hands. One of the children is actually a baby, a baby that's strapped-in heavily on the woman's back and sleeping. Another child is about four years old and she stands shyly behind her mother. The last child, about two years old, has stopped dead in her tracks and is crying, crying because she is scared of a small drop-off in front of her.<br />
<br />
We say hello and move around them. A minute later, out of earshot, I half turn to my wife and say, "Heights are relative."<br />
<br />
My wife says, "Funny."<br />
<br />
The trail is wide, dry, and sure-footed. But it's nothing but uphill; and it's generally steeper than either my wife or I anticipated. More than that, along various stretches there is not much, if any, breeze, so that at times it feels like we're hiking in the trunk of a car.<br />
<br />
Still, up we go, passing guava and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Dynamic-Health-Tahatian-Morinda-Citrifolia/dp/B001G7QL72?ie=UTF8&tag=hawhikbacandc-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">noni</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=hawhikbacandc-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B001G7QL72" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1">, hearing a white rumped shama, spotting a pair of Japanese white eyes and not-too-few bulbils. Then, fifteen or twenty minutes later, we see a shirtless man bounding zestfully down the grade. I say hi as he passes. This fellow, I speculate to my wife a few moments later, is the father of the family battling it out down the hill.<br />
<br />
My wife, unimpressed with my deductive reasoning, responds with a dull "Yeah."<br />
<br />
We press on and, finishing-off the switch backs, follow a directional sign and turn left on a padded path (the arrow actually points toward where we came from, intended more for the returning hiker). Within five minutes or so we are in sight of two picnic tables under a shelter. It has taken us a little under an hour to get this far from the trailhead and, as we sit at the tables and drink healthy gulps of water, I speculate that we are no more than halfway, if even that, to the summit.<br />
<br />
But I was wrong.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7izJAfPQC-HuH1JwzGNtDexTZZCzQXv2rW0IwONH8ovjbsLf0n0Kc0ZQ-6q982SBg9sO4UWClamsexQ2H6eB6JmGPtXG8_Vm1LXSXjhoTHgl5-L76RVU2sgehe9LhL-8FySlFjmjm2b8/s1600/Picture+9.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7izJAfPQC-HuH1JwzGNtDexTZZCzQXv2rW0IwONH8ovjbsLf0n0Kc0ZQ-6q982SBg9sO4UWClamsexQ2H6eB6JmGPtXG8_Vm1LXSXjhoTHgl5-L76RVU2sgehe9LhL-8FySlFjmjm2b8/s320/Picture+9.png"></a>After a five-minute break, we continue on, traipsing under big Cook pines, ironwoods, a few swamp mahoganies, and a banyan tree or two. We follow the arch of the trail and emerge into the sun among ohia and lama trees with mucho uluhe root-side. There is one grade with a gratuitous rope, and then we reach erosion-guard stairs. We climb, and just over thirty minutes after leaving the picnic tables, sooner than I had expected, arrive at the summit, where, of course, a sign says, "End of Kuliouou Ridge Trail." Below this sign is yet another sign, a yellow triangle with a black silhouette of a stick figure falling off a cliff (at least that's my wife's interpretation; I think it looks like two bears admiring the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel).<br />
<br />
Clear, no summit clouds or overwhelming gusts of wind, we take a few pictures and then sit on the bare hill and dangle our legs and drink water and eat chips and salsa (a first for us, Mexican at the Koolau summit). Waimanalo crows and moos below and I look longingly at the ridge trail heading off Makapuu way. In the other direction, left, my wife spots a pink ribbon tied to a shrub on a dusty knob. What do things look like from over there? After lunch, we decide to find out. We take binoculars and camera and head left and down and across a section of the trail that should have (but doesn't have) a sign that says, "Whatever you do, don't fall here."<br />
<br />
At the other end of this little stretch, stopping to soak in the view, my wife announces she has the heebie-jeebies. I know exactly what she means because I look over the ledge and get that light-headed falling sensation. I actually feel a little tug toward cliff side. But I shake it off and keep my mouth shut, only saying that it's best just to concentrate on the trail when walking and to only consider the view after you've positively stopped moving. I say this as much for myself as for my wife -- and then I ask if she wants to turn back. She responds that she'll continue for now, see how it goes. It goes OK, with one mildly tricky spot, relatively speaking, crumbly earth, no terrific handholds. We soon reach the pink ribbon and look left and right and up and down and snap a picture and then start back, again crossing safely through heebie-jeebie lane.<br />
<br />
Back at the Kuliouou summit, my wife says, "Heights are relative."<br />
<br />
I say, "Funny."<br />
<br />
She says, absently, "Do you think anyone's ever fallen off the crest?"<br />
<br />
I say, "Is the bear Catholic?"<br />
<br />
We pack up and pound down the mountain, passing two pairs of other hikers on their way to the top. In a little over an hour (certainly the quickest hike to and from the Koolau summit we've been on), we sign out at the trailhead mailbox. We then stroll up the paved road, jump into the car, and, with me behind the wheel, roll toward home.Dayle Turnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09409228377298646574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1482942411877014317.post-8349476127659753492010-08-07T09:08:00.001-10:002018-01-19T22:06:14.887-10:00Manana Ridge -- LastKoho -- December 2000<center>
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<b>From the OHE archives, posted on 11 January 2001 by LastKoho (lastkoho@yahoo.com<i></i></b>)<br />
<br />
------- --------<br />
This past December, early on a Sunday, I dragged myself out of bed and wobbled to the kitchen where I forced down two Eggos with maple syrup, some cold left-over fried rice, and a couple of Portuguese sausages. My wife, I vaguely recall, already done with her breakfast, was watching CNN. It was not morning ----- it was a dream, a dream that continued with me behind the wheel of our car as it floated along H1, a dream in which my wife and I talked about the traffic.<br />
<br />
"Man, I'm surprised there're so many cars out here at this time of day."<br />
<br />
"I guess folks are going to breakfast before church or something."<br />
<br />
"Geez, who the hell are all of these people?"<br />
<br />
We headed along Moanalua Road and turned onto Waimano Home Road and were then somehow magically curving up into Pacific Palisades on Komo Mai Drive. Finally, reaching the end of the street and the start of Manana trail, I parked at a cul-de-sac, feeling a small jolt as the front bumper scraped against the curb. Car locked, backpacks slung on, my wife signed-in at the trailhead mailbox ("Koho, party of 2, hikers, 5:55 AM, Please don't touch the car") and, with <a target="_blank" href="http://www.amazon.com/Neiko-Super-Bright-Heavy-Duty-Aluminum-Flashlight/dp/B000LIOPTI?ie=UTF8&tag=hawhikbacandc-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969">flashlights</a><img src="https://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=hawhikbacandc-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B000LIOPTI" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important; padding: 0px !important"> beaming, we headed up the paved road.<br />
<br />
There was no wind but the air was cool and the torches provided plenty of light so that we glided past three utility towers and a water tank and, at the end of the pavement, entered a forest where three brown signs with yellow arrows (the first sign full of bullet holes) helped us stay on path. No menehunes, no boogeyman, no nutcracker doll, just a tranquil, dark forest that we emerged from after about a half an hour.<br />
<br />
The skies had now lightened. There were clouds in the east, no great dramatic fireball or sizzling red-orange horizon, just a gray-white eastern sky. The air still, birds were calling in the distance, a serene dawn. I was finally awake and, to boot, pleased.<br />
<br />
We now put our flashlights in our packs and walked on top of a bare hill below which the State (or some other concerned party) had planted baby pine trees and on top of which they had pounded-in erosion guards. The trail was slippery in spots because of the morning dew but we did just fine, hiking through brown-topped buffalo grass, up a lengthy and relatively steep grade, along the muddy side of a hill, and then climbing a puny pali with the aid of some well-placed ropes. Five minutes after 8:00 A.M. we reached the helipad, halfway ---- and it started to rain. This was not a terrible thing, the rain, since we found shelter under a tree past the pad and sat and each ate a banana (visually rhyming with Manana) and, after twenty minutes, now in gaiters and windbreakers, the rain just a sprinkle, trekked through a terrific native forest. The ohia and fern surroundings were so enjoyable that we almost forgot about the mud and steep hills.<br />
<br />
We took frequent water and cardiac breaks (my personal rule of thumb: when the heart knocks heavily, answer it). And, after a few rope climbs (nice, these ropes; thanks to those who set them up), eventually broke into the open, no more rain, moving along the narrow somewhat overgrown ridge path from one small knob to another. While the flora along the sides of the valleys was clearly beaten and bent from frequent winds, there wasn't a breeze to be found on this day. We were far out in the thunderously quiet, peaceful Koolaus, just us. And then, suddenly, we spotted two apapanes; they flew above and over the Waimano Valley, gave out a call, and then just as suddenly disappeared below the cliff.<br />
<br />
Happy, on we went; and after one last push through a bit of brush, we popped onto the summit knob, which was about twelve feet by eight feet with knee-high grass that we promptly matted down with body and bag. Like in a bad novel, the sun broke through now for the first time that day. Then a high cloud came overhead and then the sun again broke through. High clouds, sun, clouds, sun. Not a drop of rain, always the stunning view of the windward side below and the sea beyond, framed by Ohulehule to the left and Makapuu far to the right.<br />
<br />
We ate lunch, which included a memorable peanut butter and guava jelly sandwich, and for a full hour enjoyed the scenery.<br />
<br />
Starting back at around 11:30, with time on our side, we took a picture or two, gained three more quick looks at apapanes, stopped frequently for water. When we reached the helipad over two hours later, I was tired. I lay down on my back. When I lifted my head and looked toward the summit, I saw that it was now cloaked in clouds. My wife sat nearby and compared the mud on her legs and shoes to the mud on my legs and shoes and declared the contest a tie.<br />
<br />
About twenty minutes later, in the sun, we began moving again. Shortly after passing a shelter and picnic table, about an hour or so from the car, we saw people, the sight of whom, after a day of relative solitude, was slightly jarring. A young man and young woman, perched on a green puu, were together bent over a book. We kept going. In the forest, we passed a mountain biker and a couple of other hikers and a little later, on the paved road, said hello to a pack of five or six fellows (towels slung over their shoulders) who carried and drank from McDonalds cups (they were heading, no doubt, to Waimano pool).<br />
<br />
After a hundred or so more yards we saw a discarded McDonalds cup lying like an open wound in the center of the road. There's always something. It was a rather depressing sight after such a satisfactory day, this trash on the trail. I had an urge to backtrack and find the culprit and somehow make things right. But, of course, it was only an urge. Feeling a little foolish, I picked up the cup (somewhat absurd -- there was also litter in the brush on either side of the trail but I just focused on the "new" litter). I recalled the stretch of the hike where we hovered over the valleys on the narrow ridge path as the apapanes flew above us. I wondered what it would feel like to be there and come across, as someone inevitably one day would, a McDonalds cup lying on the ground. It stung a little, this thought.<br />
<br />
At the cul-de-sac, finished, we signed-out at the mailbox and threw our rubbish in a smelly waste can. After changing shoes, we got in the car, my wife behind the wheel, and, with visions of McDonalds and Manana dancing in our heads, rolled toward home.Dayle Turnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09409228377298646574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1482942411877014317.post-32302184196576226922010-08-04T08:48:00.001-10:002018-01-19T23:33:03.355-10:00Waimalu to Moanalua on the Koolau Crest -- Pat Rorie<center>
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<b>Yet another post from the OHE archives, this one by Patrick Rorie, posted on 9 January 2001.<i></i></b><br />
<br />
Gene Robinson and I have accomplished some pretty challenging backpacking trips together during the past few years (i.e. La'ie to Waimano in '98, Mauna Loa via the Ainapo Trail in '99). This past weekend (January 6, 7) the two of us got together to attempt another tough outing - an overnight stay on the Ko'olau summit at the terminus of the Waimalu middle ridge, followed the next day by a rollercoaster tramp along the Ko'olau crest, eventually dropping down into and exiting Moanalua Valley. Roger Breton also received an invitation, but he had a commitment on Saturday. Instead, Roger decided to meet us at the top of Aiea Ridge at noon on Sunday. The weather on both days? Almost completely clear skies and bright sunshine due to light winds until mid afternoon when thick clouds engulfed the Ko'olau summit.<br />
<br />
Gene is a medical doctor and has two 8th grade children so he had some loose ends to take care of before we could commence the trek. As a result, the two of us didn't hit the trail (Waimalu Ditch - the first leg of our journey) until 11:15 a.m. Nevertheless, we made good time to the floor of Waimalu Valley via the ditch trail despite a hau tangle nuisance, arriving at the normal terminus of the HTM hike (elev. 657 ft) at 1:15 p.m.<br />
<br />
After obtaining four liters of water from a nearby pool (the stream was not flowing, and Gene had never seen it so dry), I followed Dr. Robinson to the base of the middle ridge. Due to a lack of trade winds (steamy!), the initial steep climb through thick uluhe took quite a physical toll, every shady spot serving as an oasis. Fortunately, the ridge leveled off and the thick open uluhe section transitioned to forest, the home of a few native birds. Gene, an avid birder, paused frequently to listen to their calls and attempted to identify the species. Meanwhile, I spocked the surrounding flora. Farther ahead, we recognized dormant "Angel Falls" (a sheer rocky cliff on Waiau Ridge shaped like an angel), gained pleasure from the excellent view of Waimalu Valley stretched out before us toward Pearl Harbor, and enjoyed "the process of getting there", esp. over a particularly narrow stretch, as we continued the birder/botanical pace. Eventually, Gene and I commenced the final spectacular open grassy ascent to the summit, halting on atleast one occasion to gaze at a lovely copse of tall loulu palms to the left of the ridge. During the final climb, Gene sang a line from the movie "Sound of Music"..."The hills are alive with the sound of music!"and proclaimed the section "The Ramp to Heaven".<br />
<br />
At 5:21 p.m. the two of us reached the <a target="_blank" href="http://www.amazon.com/Koolau-Summit-Trail-Canvas-Art/dp/B003OHE8EU?ie=UTF8&tag=hawhikbacandc-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969">Ko'olau summit</a><img src="https://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=hawhikbacandc-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B003OHE8EU" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important; padding: 0px !important"> (elev. 2,570 ft) in the fog and immediately began erecting our canvas coverings on the broad essentially tree-less peak, Dr. Robinson his four season tent and myself a <a target="_blank" href="http://www.amazon.com/Slumberjack-No-Fly-Zone-Bivy/dp/B003WZ20YO?ie=UTF8&tag=hawhikbacandc-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969">slumberjack bivy</a><img src="https://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=hawhikbacandc-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B003WZ20YO" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important; padding: 0px !important"> (we decided against an exploratory jaunt down windward facing Kalahaku Ridge because of the fog and a shortage of daylight). Once our tents were pitched, Gene and I put on warm clothes, ate dinner and relaxed near the campsite. When darkess set in, a rare break in the mist revealed the nearly full moon high in the eastern sky and the Pearl City/Aiea city lights far below in the distance to leeward. A gentle breeze also existed in stark contrast to the gusty trades that normally pound the region.<br />
<br />
Anticipating an arduous day of hiking along the summit ridge, Gene retired for the evening inside his humble abode around 8 p.m., and I entered my temporary shelter half an hour later upon giving up hope that the clouds would significantly dissipate.<br />
<br />
== Sunday, January 7 "The Long Haul to Moanalua Valley"<br />
<br />
A few minutes prior to 6 a.m. I emerged from my slumberjack bivy to a dark, chilly morning (57 degrees fahrenheit) but was amazed at the wonderful sights. At long last, the fog had lifted revealing windward suburban/city lights from Kahalu'u to Waimanalo, and to leeward, the lights of Salt Lake, Aiea, Pearl City, Waipi'o and Mililani/Wahiawa. The heavens were filled with many stars/constellations, including Leo almost directly overhead, the Big Dipper, the North Star, Hokulea, Spica, the Southern Cross and Gemini. I encouraged Gene to come out of his tent and soon he joined me in star gazing mode. As the glow of the golden hue of the rising sun filled the eastern horizon above Moloka'i and Lana'i, the silhouette of the Aiea Ridge terminus appeared to the south. Then we witnessed a gorgeous sunrise, and while the sun moved higher and higher above the horizon, its rays reflected beautifully off the surface of the Pacific Ocean and illuminated the impressive sheer fluted cliffs in back of Waihe'e Valley, as well as Mount Ohulehule and Pu'u Kanehoalani.<br />
<br />
At 7:46 a.m. packed and psyched, Gene began the traverse to Aiea Ridge along the Ko'olau crest. I had spent too much time delighting in the marvelous panorama and required an additional half hour to get my act together. Nevertheless, I departed the peak at 8:20 a.m. bound for a rendezvous with Roger Breton.<br />
<br />
Regarding Ko'olau summit trekking, every step usually finds terra firma under a mask of uluhe but stumbling or slipping is fairly common. Because the leeward side of the ridge tends to be choked with vegetation, travel is easiest on the extreme windward edge. However, it is similar to walking on a tight rope, one wrong step, esp. if burdened with a 45 pound pack, can send the hiker over the windward pali to a potentially catastrophic injury or even death!<br />
<br />
It didn't take long for me to catch and pass Gene, and following the first serious climb to the top of the next prominent pu'u, I had to wait for my hiking partner (not a good sign). After a couple more significant ups and downs, Gene confessed that his legs just weren't in shape for the rigors of summit travel (he would bail down Aiea Ridge). Although steamy conditions prevailed and the journey proved laborious, the two of us enjoyed looking down on lines of loulu palms clinging to the sheer windward pali and the fluted cliffs/precipitous ridges to windward. Furthermore, the presence of native plants, such as lapalapa trees, bolstered our spirits.<br />
<br />
Once Aiea Ridge came into view, I spotted Roger completing the final stretch to the summit. When he turned toward me, I signaled him with my mirror. Unexpectedly, Breton interpreted my act as a gesture of distress and descended along the Ko'olau crest, closing the gap between himself and Gene and I. Later, when I realized what Roger was doing, I yelled for him to stop, which he did. Dr. Robinson and I got together one last time and agreed to keep in touch via walkie-talkies. While Gene rested, I proceeded south along the summit and rendezvoused with Breton. I radioed Gene that a bottle of gatorade and Roger's truck keys lay in a clearing where he could find them. Suddenly, Dayle Turner chimed in on the radio, and he and Gene spoke briefly to each other.<br />
<br />
Pressing on, Breton and I accomplished the tough climb to the Aiea Ridge terminus (elev. 2,805 ft) at 12:45 p.m. then took a much needed water break. Roger provided a 20 oz. Dr. Pepper to quench my thirst, and I also consumed the contents of a 12 oz. can of Dr. P! Talk about a sugar/caffine jolt! :-)<br />
<br />
Leaving Aiea Ridge behind, Roger and I continued on the Ko'olau crest toward the Haiku Valley overlook between 1/1:15 p.m. During the cross over, the two of us recognized a tour helicopter parked on one of the concrete platforms once used by the Coast Guard to secure the former Omega Station wires, but the chopper flew away before we reached it. Upon arriving at the overlook at 2:43 p.m., I radioed Dayle and found out that he and his Red Hill Ridge gang (masochists?) were reclining at the Moanalua Valley saddle. En route to the Halawa Ridge Trail terminus, Breton twisted his ankle and doubled over due to heat exhaustion. As if right on cue, a thick cooling mist engulfed the Ko'olau crest, allowing Roger to partially recover. Nevertheless, Breton stripped off his shirt and hiked ala "Big" John Darrah style despite the scratches he knew he would suffer.<br />
<br />
We reached the Halawa Ridge Trail terminus, but did not pause for a breather/rehydration. From Halawa Ridge, Roger and I ascended to the Ko'olau summit/Red Hill Ridge junction, successfully negotiated the Henry Davis rope sections, and used the steep eroded swath created by the Red Hill Ridge masochists to drop down to the Moanalua Valley saddle. Upon tramping through Thomas Yoza's superb clearing job, Roger and I attained the normal terminus of the Moanalua Valley Trail (elev. 1,680 ft) at approx. 5 p.m. I immediately contacted Dayle (now residing at the Moanalua Valley Park with those remaining from the trail clearing effort) via walkie-talkie that Breton and myself were at the saddle safe and sound.<br />
<br />
After gazing at the sheer fluted cliffs of Haiku Valley for a short duration, Roger and I commenced the final leg of the day - a 5.5 mile stroll by way of the well cleared valley trail and long dirt/gravel road. Prior to exiting the valley, night fell but the pale moon light of the nearly full moon illuminated the thoroughfare nicely.<br />
<br />
At 7:07 p.m. the two of us emerged from the woods onto Ala Aolani Street where our vehicles were parked (Gene had dropped off Roger's truck subsequent to reaching the Aiea Loop trailhead at the top of Keaiwa Heiau State Recreation Area), and bid each other "Aloha".<br />
<br />
== PakaDayle Turnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09409228377298646574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1482942411877014317.post-36659753935095903272010-08-02T08:42:00.000-10:002018-01-19T22:07:02.716-10:00Maui Valley Trails --by Eric Stelene -- 8 January 2001<center>
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Another installation from the Oahu Hiking Enthusiasts Archives. This one is by Eric Stelene (stelene@email.com). Here's Eric.<br />
<br />
I've been on Maui for about 3 months now, so I guess it's time to start posting stuff. So with out further ado here's some of what I've explored so far:<br />
<br />
<b>WEST MAUI</b><br />
<br />
<b>A'e Stream (aka JFK's Profile)-</b> <br />
This deep gorge in the Iao valley is only a roadside curiosity to those on their way to the Iao needle. The profile of John F Kennedy (the drunk, womanizing war-monger covered for by his classy wife) can supposedly be seen in the canyon wall.<br />
<br />
Park your car at the Needle parking lot and walk back down to the bridge. Pick your way down to the stream bed and follow it up. There's no trail but the going's not too hard. Large boulders are scattered throughout the valley floor and seem to have originated high on the cliffs above and probably came crashing down long ago. Climb up a few small, dry waterfalls and in about 45 mins the canyon walls close in. About 3/4 mile from the start, the canyon becomes reminiscent of Ma'akua Valley on Oahu.<br />
<br />
The narrow walls are covered with moss and water continuously seeps from above. A waterfall about 40 feet high blocks further progress upstream. However, a large tree trunk leans at an angle to the top of the falls and it seems possible, but very dangerous, to climb the slippery wet log to the top of the falls and continue to the amphitheatre at the back of the valley. Just below the falls, an irrigation tunnel comes out of the canyon wall about 6 feet above the stream bed. Those who are suicidally adventurous could crawl through tunnel and emerge (hopefully) somewhere else.<br />
<br />
<b>"Iao Needle Canyon" (unnamed stream)-</b><br />
When looking at the Needle from the small footbridge everyone takes pictures from, you can see this incredibly narrow, steep gorge to the right of the Needle. In other words, the canyon's west wall is the Iao Needle itself. From the left side of the bridge, you can see a small trail leading down to the stream.<br />
<br />
The is a sign written in some foriegn language that reads something like "No resspassing, keep ou" With no intention of "resspassing", follow the trail down to where it meets the stream. Cross it and climb up the embankment into the "Needle Canyon" streambed. The rocky streambed is thick with hau and progress is hard and slow. In several places it is necessary to remove your pack and squeeze through the branches. The stream bed opens a little and you can see the valley walls towering above you on each side. Although you can't distinguish it as such, the cliff on your left is actually the base of the Iao Needle. Climb up several rocky cliffs, each harder than the one before it, then the vegatation disapears and you can see the back of the valley ahead. The canyon walls soar high above you. Pass several small pools and dry slippery slides and come to one more dry waterfall to climb. You have to cling to roots and branches next to falls to make it up. Its not easy. Squeeze through a windy, fantastically carved section section of streambed comperable to a slot canyon of the southwest. Emerge at a small amphitheatre and 60 foot waterfall chute. Above the chute, you can see the back of the valley several hundreds yards beyond. Total distance to here is less than mile, it takes about 1 hour.<br />
<br />
<b>EAST MAUI</b><br />
<br />
<b>Twin Falls-</b><br />
You have to do this early to beat the crowds at this very popular spot. Although it's a real tourist trsp, its well worth it. Twin Falls is the only waterfall I have found in Hawaii that is possible to walk behind. The trail starts at mile 2 of the Hana Highway and follows a dirt road about 1/2 mile to Twin Falls. Several pools and small falls are found along the way. The road is wide and easy. Come to a juction where a path splits off to the left. A rock with a faded painting of a waterfall and arrow pointing left sits at the juction. Take this path a short distance to another juntion. Bear to the right(to the left the path leads to a rusty gate). Reach an overlook of Twin Falls and climb down to the pool. At the back of the pool is a large eroded alcove. Walk/wade around the pool to alcove. Long ferns hang down over the cliff above you reminding you of Fern Grotto on Kauai (Note: There is only one single waterfall here, so I don't know why its called Twin Falls). When you're ready to leave, head back the way you came. At the juction you can take the path that leads to the rusty gate. You can continue a little further to several small water falls and pools.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFhXH5wo31hrUexfIZOvl8QXLUAo2iejRchRCnuJ7eAP-MfxjupYGOMmcxEfkmPScyoayA_hKW8_pP5WeyIalgrF-rJFyk0uW5qjxzz65j-niUyntlPA0h6rt7AnBx5RUcppx7vjs-M_Q/s1600/Picture+20.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFhXH5wo31hrUexfIZOvl8QXLUAo2iejRchRCnuJ7eAP-MfxjupYGOMmcxEfkmPScyoayA_hKW8_pP5WeyIalgrF-rJFyk0uW5qjxzz65j-niUyntlPA0h6rt7AnBx5RUcppx7vjs-M_Q/s320/Picture+20.png"></a></div><b><br />
</b><br />
<b><br />
</b><br />
<b>Waikamoi Stream-</b><br />
Waikamoi Stream is the first bridge past the Waikamoi ridge trail, past mile 9 on the Hana Hwy. The first waterfall you will find here is right at the bridge. Hike beyond on the trail to right of the falls and follow the streambed a few hundred yards upstream to another waterfall with small cave near its base (see pic at left). You can also hike downstream from the bridge and in about 15 mins come to the top of a 40 footer with big plunge pool. It looks like great place to jump from, only there is no apparent way to get back up.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQOXskH_URw07HVWLb_8WJ3YahRpEPtEdwYLekCqHLrtmvrV5YWlklJZtJQmtDnr1VZGg92yPWSmog_WUmoO_bLsnJY6X8eWBH66OG9XFOEJUfbFtjnRpEhYqQLMdQioG36z8gLh8cdks/s1600/Picture+21.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQOXskH_URw07HVWLb_8WJ3YahRpEPtEdwYLekCqHLrtmvrV5YWlklJZtJQmtDnr1VZGg92yPWSmog_WUmoO_bLsnJY6X8eWBH66OG9XFOEJUfbFtjnRpEhYqQLMdQioG36z8gLh8cdks/s320/Picture+21.png"></a></div><b>Puohokamoa Stream-</b><br />
Probably the most popular swimming hole along the Hana Hwy, its is 1 mile beyond Waikamoi stream. Like Waikamoi, you can find 3 waterfalls all within a short distance. The first one is a stones throw from the bridge. There is path to the left of the falls that leads to the top. Continue a little further to the second waterfall and a little more privacy. Downstream from the bridge, walk several hundred yards in the stream bed and come to the top of a specatular waterfall about 300 feet high. You can view this waterfall another way:<br />
<br />
From the bridge, drive back in the direction of Kahului. Just before the road turns out of Puohokumoa valley, there is a pulloff on the left next to some powerlines. A short trail leads to a breathtaking overlook of the falls. a little further along the trail you can get a partial glimpse makai of the Hana coast and Keopuku Rock, an impressive seastack just offshore.<br />
<br />
P<b>unolao(?) Stream</b><br />
Honomanu Valley is the largest valley on the Hana Highway west of Kipahulu. On the west side of Honomanu is a deep draw cut by Punolao(?) Stream. A short hike up this stream is a must. Almost immediately upon leaving the Highway you find yourself in deep narrow valley similar to Ma'akua. In 15 mins you find yourself at the base of a 100 foot waterfall. This valley looks so wild you would think you were in the most remote, unexplored parts of Hawaii and not minutes from a major thoroughfare!<br />
<br />
<b>Hanawi Stream-</b><br />
Around mile 24, there is another roadside waterfall everyone takes pictures of and then drives off. If you climb over the fence and down to the stream, you will find one neat little place! A small stream comes down from the left from a cove so undercut by erosion it looks like its flowing out of a cave. The first pool above the falls has a natural arch big enough to walk through. This the only arch I've found along a stream in Hawaii. There are 2 more pools upstream and another waterfall, The whole place is filled with all kinds of alcoves, pukas, and swimming holes. Its definitley worth a look.<br />
<br />
<b>Nahiku-</b><br />
Nakhiku Road turns makai off Hana Hwy to Nahiku landing. About a mile down the road look for caves on the right. you'll drive right past them if your not careful. There're not very big, but one is big enough to stand up in and goes back about 30-40 feet. You'll need a flashlight.<br />
<br />
More to come.Dayle Turnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09409228377298646574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1482942411877014317.post-1893830599892977772010-07-31T08:42:00.000-10:002018-01-19T22:07:20.495-10:00Opaeula Watershed Project -- Patrick Rorie<center>
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<pre><b><span style="color: green;">From the Oahu Hiking Enthusiasts Archives</span></b></pre><pre><b><span style="color: green;">Date: Mon, 22 Jan 2001 14:08:41 -1000
From: Patrick Rorie (prorie@k12.hi.us)
Subject: Recent Ko'olau Summit Trail History
</span></b></pre><b><span style="color: green;"></span><span style="color: green;"></span></b><b><br />
</b><br />
<b>Ko'olau Summit Trail History</b><br />
<br />
<b>== 'Opa'eula Watershed Project (2000-2001)</b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRfu4LHDVB_1q2BG_KgoARSdLHlNwW21wqQ0fFnf7Wd3gWGvrEeqk6RXI6J1rbeuAdshDKGEvfH7yoTXS2kSKdZYLaJ8zsRwC8ejB4BWG0a7_SdVxI7Uh76Caha1p5WUaEiA9rRVu_9L8/s1600/Picture+12.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRfu4LHDVB_1q2BG_KgoARSdLHlNwW21wqQ0fFnf7Wd3gWGvrEeqk6RXI6J1rbeuAdshDKGEvfH7yoTXS2kSKdZYLaJ8zsRwC8ejB4BWG0a7_SdVxI7Uh76Caha1p5WUaEiA9rRVu_9L8/s320/Picture+12.png"></a></div>On 20 January 2001 Patrick Rorie (HTMC President) and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Hikers-Guide-Oahu-Stuart-Ball/dp/0824823052?ie=UTF8&tag=hawhikbacandc-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Stuart Ball</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=hawhikbacandc-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0824823052" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1"> (hiking author and a former HTMC President, pictured at left with wife Lynne) were flown with Joby Rohrer (biologist, U.S. Army Environmental Division) via helicopter to the 'Opa'eula Watershed Project, a newly established rain forest preserve located between Pe'ahinai'a Trail and the leeward slopes opposite the headwaters of Kaluanui Stream. The purpose of the trip was simple: establish specific instructions regarding how the fencers should proceed as they install a four foot tall fence along the historic Ko'olau Summit Trail to keep feral pigs from entering the preserve.<br />
<br />
The chopper took off from the Army's East Range a short distance mauka of California Avenue in Wahiawa. As it neared the Ko'olau summit, the pilot carefully maneuvered through fog until he identified the designated landing spot. The helicopter touched down just long enough to allow the three men to exit the craft then lifted off into the clouds. The change in climate was substantial - from warm Schofield East Range to the chilly, foggy, and rainy Ko'olau summit. After putting on rain gear and speaking with one of the fencers, the trio headed east on foot over the skirt of an already completed section of the fence toward the crest and a rendezvous with the Ko'olau Summit Trail.<br />
<br />
Once at the Summit Trail, the threesome halted, Rohrer to remove a notebook from his rain coat for note-taking, Rorie and Ball to envision how the fence and trail could coexist. While they walked the trail, Rohrer pointed out a couple of native <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Distribution-Variation-Hawaiian-Achatinella-Bulimoides/dp/B002KMUKTC?ie=UTF8&tag=hawhikbacandc-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">tree snails</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=hawhikbacandc-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B002KMUKTC" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1"> and a rare native plant. At the end of the roughly one third of a mile segment that would be most impacted by the fence, Rohrer, Rorie and Ball sat down to have lunch and to summarize the new guidelines:<br />
<br />
<ol><li>in general, keep the fence to the leeward side of the trail thus allowing an unobstructed windward vista</li>
<li> keep crossings via wooden stiles to a minimum</li>
<li>although more difficult and expensive to do, create as many corners as possible to protect the integrity of the trail</li>
<li>when given the choice between the easy way and the hard way, choose the more difficult option</li>
</ol><br />
After consuming the midday meal, Rorie and Ball bid farewell to Rohrer (later, a chopper plucked the Army biologist from the Ko'olau summit) then they continued tramping south at a leisurely pace. The two men enjoyed gazing at the native flora (clusters of crimson 'ohi'a lehua flowers, tall loulu palms, lapalapa trees) and paused briefly at a waterfall notch and at the landing zone near the Pe'ahinai'a Trail terminus to get an idea of exactly where the fence would be positioned.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMkwmTLZMDIKltL5nEaggUI-qwexgBKAf_Fk7BD5XdOdUms5Bzjam9oF1Fehndx-_QMjZ1bZbVk4kKLZvLaTZNKnRPXy5zGPVVsbqHyY2N2JRk74jsDkagE1TtHfX62jm83Pfo9nyU3S0/s1600/Picture+11.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMkwmTLZMDIKltL5nEaggUI-qwexgBKAf_Fk7BD5XdOdUms5Bzjam9oF1Fehndx-_QMjZ1bZbVk4kKLZvLaTZNKnRPXy5zGPVVsbqHyY2N2JRk74jsDkagE1TtHfX62jm83Pfo9nyU3S0/s320/Picture+11.png"></a></div>Upon arriving at the Poamoho Trail terminus, they inspected the recently reinstalled Cline Memorial plaque (pictured at left) then climbed a small grassy hump and sat down for a quick bite to eat. Pressing on, Rorie and Ball remained on the Summit Trail and stopped again at the fairly new Poamoho Cabin to check its condition. While on the porch, the two men recognized three 'apapane flying through the air or perched on an 'ohi'a limb and delighted in the distinct calls the birds produced. Leaving the Poamoho Cabin behind, Rorie and Ball gained pleasure from the wonderful shelf-like windward sections of the Ko'olau Summit Trail dug out of the sheer pali, but the normally spectacular views of Punalu'u and Kahana valleys directly below were nonexistent due to a thick fog.<br />
<br />
At about 3 p.m., Rorie and Ball reached the Pauao Ridge/Summit Trail junction, and following another break to hydrate, commenced the final leg of the day. During the methodical descent along the ungraded Pauao Ridge Trail, they endured a periodic drizzle, identified additional native plants/birds and enjoyed viewing the manner in which the low cloud ceiling engulfed the Ko'olau summit. Eventually, the two men ended up at the Kahana watertank at 5:30 p.m. and walked out via a paved road to the locked gate mauka of a small cluster of houses.<br />
<div><br />
</div>Dayle Turnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09409228377298646574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1482942411877014317.post-56157432395911041562010-07-29T17:56:00.001-10:002018-01-19T22:07:41.375-10:00A Kawainui Campout --By Kapa Reero -- 3 Jan 2001<center>
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This is from the OHE (Oahu Hiking Enthusiasts) archives and is written by Kapa Reero kapareero@lycos.com), an intrepid hiker and backpacker. It was posted to OHE on 3 Jan 2001. Here is what Kapa had to say:<br />
<br />
Tucked away in the boonies, the Kawainui Trail is located in the leeward Ko'olau foothills many miles above the northshore town of Hale'iwa. Regarding Kawainui, Stuart Ball writes..."The circular pool at the end is the most beautiful one on the island. It is also one of the largest and is great for swimming."*<br />
<br />
Every Labor Day weekend, members of HTM used to camp at Kawainui until access was prohibited. Prior to New Year's weekend 2000, I had never camped there, so I decided to go for it as a way to escape the noise and smoke of the New Year's fireworks. With Palama Uka closed and access to the trail limited to the Sierra Club/Boy Scouts/Audubon Society, I had to find another route to Kawainui. I decided to hike "over the top" of the Ko'olau Mountain Range, starting the journey in La'ie on Saturday, December 30 at 8:08 a.m. Saturday was a beauty weatherwise - an abundance of blue sky and sunshine, clear summit ridge due to light and variable winds, temperatures in the low 80's.<br />
<br />
After tramping approx. 6 miles, I reached the Ko'olau Summit Trail (KST) at 10:27 a.m., dropped my heavy pack and proceeded to the La'ie foxhole to rest and enjoy the terrific vista of Kahuku and the La'ie coastline to windward. Pressing on, I traveled south along the KST for half a mile to the marshy region surrounding the Kawailoa flat-topped mound (obtained a liter of water from the pool below the tiny waterfall - barely a trickle).<br />
<br />
At 11:11 a.m. I found myself a top the mound (elev. 2,360 ft) consuming lunch and gaining pleasure from the outstanding leeward view of the Wai'anae Range and northshore to Ka'ena Point in the distance, as well as the verdant wilderness stretching out for miles directly in front of me. Truely, O'ahu's backcountry. I changed into long pants and then at 11:45 a.m. started down the Kawailoa Trail, a graded contour footpath built in 1934 by the Civilian Conservation Corp (CCC). Of Kawailoa, Ball writes..."Kawailoa is a bear of a hike through extremely wild and rugged terrain.<br />
<br />
The Kawailoa Ridge Trail receives little or no maintenance. As a result, it is heavily overgrown with uluhe ferns and Clidemia in the lower and middle sections.<br />
<br />
Although basically graded, the trail has many uneven spots because of erosion and landslides. Watch your footing all the time. Expect to fall down and get muddy and wet."*<br />
<br />
Nevertheless, Ball also writes..."Up La'ie, along the summit, and down Kawailoa makes a superb Ko'olau traverse."*<br />
<br />
During the Kawailoa segment of the journey to Kawainui, I paused to look at tall loulu palms dotting the slopes of a leeward Ko'olau ridge to the north on the other side of the gully containing Kamananui Stream, startled a feral pig, and lost the trail a couple of times.<br />
<br />
At 2:47 p.m. I rejoiced upon emerging from the overgrown footpath and soon reached a dirt road characterized by a long series of ups and downs. Despite the ups and downs, I enjoyed the vista from the road of the steep, verdant leeward slopes of the northern Ko'olaus in the distance and the pleasant combination of Norfolk Island pines, tall eucalyptus, and Koa trees which parallel the thoroughfare. However, due to the high humidity, I had to fight off a nasty leg cramp.<br />
<br />
Once I reached Pa'ala'a Uka Pupukea Road beyond the forest reserve boundary at 3:36 p.m., I followed the military road to the junction with Kawailoa Road. Continuing on Pa'ala'a, I descended into and then climbed out of a gully to broad Pu'u Kapu, an active Army landing zone (LZ). Leaving Kapu behind, I dropped down into Kawainui Gulch, halting on one occasion to study the Hendrickson Memorial, a Private First Class who died at age 22 in 1936 while participating in the construction of the road.<br />
<br />
Finally, at 4:40 p.m., I arrived at the Kawainui trailhead. Because access to the trail is extremely limited, I was not surprised to find the footpath in need of a good clearing. I became especially exasperated at the hau section, having to crawl on all fours under thick branches to continue the trek.<br />
<br />
Despite the humidity (leg cramps), the Kawailoa "Bear", the hot dirt/gravel road walk, and the Kawainui hau tangle - a grand total of 16 miles, I reached the campsite (approx. elev. 945 ft) at 5:45 p.m. and immediately cleared away knee high grass in preparation for the setting up of my canvass covering.<br />
<br />
After pitching my tent, I proceeded to the large, circular pool to wash off. When I returned to the campsite, I climbed inside my humble abode and took a much needed snooze. Later, I commenced dinner preparations then consumed the evening meal (Mountain House chicken a la king) while gazing up at the clear night sky, which afforded excellent star/planet action (layers of heavenly bodies).<br />
<br />
Revived by the cat nap and delicious supper, I took pleasure from my surroundings: the gurgling of Kawainui Stream, the chill in the air, the silhouette of a nearby ridge, and the wondrous evening sky.<br />
<br />
Eventually, at 11:22 p.m., I reentered my tent and fell sound asleep.<br />
<br />
== Sunday, December 31 "Layover Day at Kawainui" ==<br />
<br />
Just what the Doctor ordered, a layover day at the Kawainui pool to recover from an arduous trip the previous day. Definately a leisurely morning: slept in til 8:30 a.m. and ate breakfast til 9:30. Completely clear blue sky overhead as the sunlight of the rising sun slowly made it's way down onto the surface of the pool and onto the floor of the stream bed.<br />
<br />
Upon arriving at the rim of the tarn, I decided to take an invigorating swim then sunbathed on a rock (the perfect size and shape for doing so) for a spell. Unfortunately, clouds moved in around noon, blocking the sun, and by 1:30 p.m. had created overcast conditions.<br />
<br />
Between 2 and 2:40 p.m. I explored upstream using a narrow trail to get beyond the pool, but backtracked when the clouds broke, allowing sunshine to hit the region again. Next, I swam to the other side of the pool and walked upstream to a small waterfall (natural jacuzzi), where I gained pleasure from the therapeutic massaging action caused by the stream flowing down and around a huge rock. The final two hours prior to night fall were spent pretty much lounging beside the tarn, gazing at the reflection of the surrounding low rocky cliffs and vegetated slopes (including many kukui trees) on the placid pool's surface.<br />
<br />
Once darkness began setting in, I returned to my tent. After preparing and consuming sweet and sour pork with a salad, I hiked back to the pool and enjoyed the manner in which the crescent moon light illuminated the pale green leaves of the kukui trees. I also noticed the Great Square (constellation) and traced the path of a satellite as it traveled across the heavens. Eventually, I ended up at the campsite, but continued to delight in the marvelous star/planet configuration in the clear night sky.<br />
<br />
== Monday, January 1, 2001<br />
<br />
Arose at 7:15 a.m., ate breakfast until 8 and then reluctantly broke down my tent/packed for the impending noon departure. Prior to heading out, however, I experienced another exhilarating swim in the pool, lay in the small waterfall (natural jacuzzi) and sat by the pool's edge right up to the moment when I had to leave.<br />
<br />
Overcast skies and a slight drizzle told me it was time to go so after putting my backpack on, I hit the trail at 12:15 bound for Kamehameha Hwy on the outskirts of Hale'iwa. En route to the Kawainui trailhead, frequent sunny periods prevailed, and I paused to take in the sights.<br />
<br />
I retraced my steps to the Pa'ala'a Uka Pupukea Road/Kawailoa Road junction and headed west (directly makai) at 2:41 p.m. Endured a 5 mile gradual downhill semi-paved road walk which was murder on my feet but made less boring by the terrific view of the northshore to Ka'ena Point, the white wake of breaking waves clearly visible off the coast. Also, a huge cloud bank engulfed much of the Wai'anae Range with a heavy downpour onto the Wahiawa plain. On the way out I couldn't help but notice acres and acres of tall, green stalky grass existing on both sides of the thoroughfare. "What a waste of land" I thought to myself. Farther ahead, about one mile from Kamehameha Hwy, I recognized a large field of corn growing near a building.<br />
<br />
When I spotted tall date palms in a ranch bordering Kawailoa Drive, I knew the end of my journey was near, and sure enough, I reached a bus stop on the shoulder of Kamehameha Hwy a few minutes later at 4:15 p.m. My buddy Ned Dilmon arrived in my vehicle at 4:25 p.m. followed by his lovely wife in their car. A big mahalo to Ned for picking up my vehicle in La'ie on Saturday and dropping it off at our designated rendezvous point on New Year's day.<br />
<br />
Notes:<br />
<br />
The wooden La'ie Trail sign is missing (someone obviously confiscated it). Perhaps Mike Algiers can make a replacement.<br />
<br />
The Kawailoa Ridge Trail is still there! The first mile and a half beyond the long series of ups and downs is open, relatively speaking. Hunters probably use it. We simply must keep these classic (and historic) CCC trails alive considering how much human effort went into building them!<br />
<br />
The Army has repaired (filled in the ruts) the military road leading to Pu'u Kapu. However, the ruts remain as the road drops down into Kawainui Gulch.<br />
<br />
There is a guard posted at the Kawailoa Refuse Transfer Station. I'm not sure if his purpose is to protect the transfer station or to keep people out of the corn fields. As soon as the dude spotted me, he got on his bicycle and sped toward my position. I ignored him; therefore, a confrontation did not occur.<br />
<br />
REFERENCES<br />
<br />
* Ball, Jr., Stuart M. THE HIKERS GUIDE TO O'AHU. Honolulu: University Of Hawaii Press, 1993.Dayle Turnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09409228377298646574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1482942411877014317.post-2018013720945872232010-06-10T13:06:00.000-10:002018-01-19T22:08:05.286-10:00Castle Trail<center>
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The HTMC is hiking the Castle Trail this weekend (Sunday 6/13). It's a members-only hike and with only a limited number of hikers allowed. The limit is very likely a result of a requirement of the landowners, the Kamehameha Schools/Bishop Estate, who probably are concerned about environmental impact and liability. In any case, it is good for the hiking community that KS/BE is allowing access to Castle as well as other trails, such as Kawainui, Kawai Iki and Opaeula, that are on KSBE properties.<br />
<br />
I have hiked Castle a number of times, the first being back in the early 80s when I really wasn't into hiking at all. On that occasion, I joined two friends, Bob Benham and Guy Kaulukukui, who both worked for KSBE at the time and hence were able to get access.<br />
<br />
During that hike of Castle, I remember a particularly dicey section where we had to inch across an exposed waterfall section of the old switchbacks. At the time, I thought that was the craziest thing I had ever done in my life. <br />
<br />
I also remember only carrying a liter of water and drinking water out of the stream that the trail crosses what up in the mountains above Punaluu. At the time, I reasoned that the water had to be pure since no animals who could foul the water could exist this high up in the Koolaus. Of course, years later I found out how incorrect I was and that indeed there were lots of animals who live up that high (and higher) and they had no problem fouling the water.<br />
<br />
Fortunately, I survived that drink-from-the-stream episode and lived to hike another day, which included other days in the years that followed hiking on the Castle Trail which is mentioned favorably in Stuart Ball's <a target="_blank" href="http://www.amazon.com/Hikers-Guide-Oahu-Stuart-Ball/dp/0824823052?ie=UTF8&tag=hawhikbacandc-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969">The Hikers Guide to Oahu.</a><img src="https://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=hawhikbacandc-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0824823052" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important; padding: 0px !important">Dayle Turnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09409228377298646574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1482942411877014317.post-74492755194277523762010-06-06T03:12:00.003-10:002018-01-19T22:08:27.320-10:00Malaekahana-Kahuku<center>
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This hike took place back in June 2001 and involved three trails: Malaekahana Ridge, Koolau Summit Trail and Kahuku Ridge. The whole thing had to be at least 12 miles but it could have been as much as 15. Whatever it was, we all had a sweaty, muddy workout. Ken Suzuki even said the plants along the Kahuku Trail are better compared to sister ridges, Laie and Malaekahana.<br />
<br />
The hike started at the Laie ballpark on Poohaili Street, the trailhead for the Laie Trail hike. The first phase was a romp along a dirt road that passed the Laie trailhead and crossed a (dry) stream. There are several side roads on the left and right leading to farms. One concern along this stretch is harassment by dogs. A couple barked and growled as we went by in the a.m. but no dog hassles took place in the p.m., at least when I went by.<br />
<br />
Not long after the stream crossing, we headed mauka on another dirt road.<br />
This road eventually becomes eroded and rutted and then transitions<br />
into the Malaekahana Trail, which we headed up. About an hour from the<br />
cars, we passed the junction with the trail heading down to Malaekahana<br />
Stream and continued mauka up the ridge. The trail beyond the junction<br />
was overgrown but still passable.<br />
<br />
Eventually, the ridge trail angles left, goes over several humps, and<br />
arrives at a junction at a low saddle, now very well ribboned. This is<br />
about 2 to 3 hours from the cars, depending how fast one goes. It was<br />
there we left the ridge trail (heading right) to begin a segment we<br />
called "The Shortcut to the KST," a longtime brain-child of Bill Gorst.<br />
This route drops down to a little stream, passes some paperbark trees,<br />
winds around some low ridges and ravines, crosses little streams at least<br />
twice more, and eventually gains the summit trail about a half mile (as<br />
the mynah flies) north of the KST/Malaekahana junction. It takes about<br />
half an hour.<br />
<br />
Once on the KST, our loop headed right (north) toward the Pupukea summit<br />
hilltop, where the terminus of the Kahuku trail resides. The KST segment<br />
was muddy in many places (to be expected) and about 2/3rds was<br />
well-cleared. Count on at least an hour to get this part done.<br />
<br />
At the base of the Pupukea summit hilltop is a signed junction. Today's<br />
correct choice was to head up to the right (heading straight ahead would<br />
take one around the hilltop and on to Pupukea). Near the top of the hill<br />
was another signed junction. This is where the Kahuku trail begins/ends.<br />
<br />
Getting back to the cars from this location will take approx 3-4<br />
hours. We did it by heading down the Kahuku trail, which is a typical<br />
uluhe-ohia ridge higher up. This part is very obvious and marked well.<br />
After the uluhe abates, the trail transitions into the guava zone. The<br />
corridor thru the guava is generally distinct and well-marked when the way<br />
becomes less clear. After the guava zone, the trail becomes drier, more<br />
eroded, and populated by vegetation like ironwoods, some pines, and<br />
christmas berry, with some guava thrown in to keep things from<br />
getting too easy/pleasant.<br />
<br />
About 90 minutes from the summit, there is a junction with what appears to<br />
be an old jeep road. We went right at that point, leaving the Kahuku<br />
trail, which continues straight down the ridge, very broad at<br />
this point. The old road arrives at another junction in a forest of<br />
ironwoods. The correct way at that point is to head right to begin<br />
descending to Malaekahana Stream. Ribbons mark the way, which eventually<br />
gets steep and proceeds down a swath thru uluhe, then a large eroded<br />
patch, and then puts one in the side fork of the (dry) stream. The side<br />
fork quickly leads to a junction with the main (babbling) stream. At that<br />
point, there is ribboned trail that gets the old ticker a-pumping by<br />
climbing steeply to the ridgetop of the south side of Malaekahana Stream.<br />
<br />
Once the ridgetop is gained, the trail heads mauka for a short spell, then<br />
swings to the left thru a forest of guava and ironwoods. This area is well<br />
marked. The trail reaches a barbed-wire fenceline, which is followed for<br />
a bit and then ducked under at a ribboned point. A road covered<br />
with horse manure heads makai to mauka (head makai). Heading as such will<br />
lead to a large antenna tower. Near the tower is an indistinct (but<br />
ribboned well today) path that heads to the right. This path leads to a<br />
gate and the start/end of a dirt road. Go thru the gate (make sure to<br />
secure the gate with the attached rope) and proceed down the road.<br />
<br />
This road will lead to a junction with the dirt road leading to<br />
Malaekahana that was walked on earlier. The conclusion of the hike is the<br />
dirt road amble back to the Laie ballpark.<br />
<br />
<b>Some notes about the hike:<br />
</b><br />
<b></b><br />
Several folks ran out of water en route. This is at least a three-liter<br />
hike, especially in the summer months.<br />
<br />
Walkie-talkies were useful in helping us keep track of who was where. For<br />
those who don't have a walkie-talkie, consider purchasing one.Dayle Turnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09409228377298646574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1482942411877014317.post-15288588796006931582010-06-05T06:04:00.003-10:002018-01-19T22:08:55.894-10:00Marriage, Hiking, and Life<center>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYIfUSJpZxkjTShHtaaZGqOqiaEVWpwYjHGozitXO8AyPKvCOYPTFQumn2zKfOOmI_n3gmidvC5ZNWkjbb1RvPcwsNvYp-xJa1CEisBKOb37WK3Y81-B7wyS0DzCKKoa0QvybACqBcu8o/s1600/poomau.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYIfUSJpZxkjTShHtaaZGqOqiaEVWpwYjHGozitXO8AyPKvCOYPTFQumn2zKfOOmI_n3gmidvC5ZNWkjbb1RvPcwsNvYp-xJa1CEisBKOb37WK3Y81-B7wyS0DzCKKoa0QvybACqBcu8o/s320/poomau.jpg"></a></div>While I haven't read the book <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Solemates-Lessons-Marriage-Appalachian-Trail/dp/1440453659?ie=UTF8&tag=hawhikbacandc-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Solemates: Lessons On Life, Love, and Marriage From the Appalachian Trail</a></i><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=hawhikbacandc-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=1440453659" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1">, it sounds like an interesting read. Maybe someday I'll write a book similar to it and call it <i>Solemates: Lessons On Life, Love, and Marriage From the Trails of Hawaii</i>.<br />
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Well, today is my wife and I's 6th wedding anniversary (the picture to the left is us above Poomau Canyon [Kokee] on Kauai). As I reflect on the years I've been married, I can say that they've been good years on the whole. Yes, there've been lots of trials and challenges along the way but I can say that I love my wife and I love being married to her. While it is true that I am hiking a lot less than I was in my pre-married days, I have no regrets. <br />
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Hiking, as it turns out, has played an interesting part in my life. I met Jacque in 1993. Up to that point, I had hiked very little, perhaps less than ten times in the 30+ years of my life. Interestingly, Jacque suggested a hike with a local hiking club (HTMC) as a date during my early courtship of her. I liked the idea and we decided on a Saturday hike with club on the Hauula-Papali trails. If you discount the suffering I endured on the climbs on these supposedly novice trails and also the fact that I led us astray at one point on the hike, we had a good experience that day <br />
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Such a good time did we have that we had other hiking "dates," one of them being a backpacking trip up Mauna Loa, which I blogged about recently.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo6-A53ZNWmmPshTPg0A33v6wZ85bUceXJC4fCoV65mD6UNs-iAwl7eCTMFtA9uVdosi3w1HMDbJTiHd2yMcvsIHh1oQebCm1UPSjXF0FUblo7JD3snSmT_dB2G-2mrOBp-2IG9eE3phc/s1600/kalihi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo6-A53ZNWmmPshTPg0A33v6wZ85bUceXJC4fCoV65mD6UNs-iAwl7eCTMFtA9uVdosi3w1HMDbJTiHd2yMcvsIHh1oQebCm1UPSjXF0FUblo7JD3snSmT_dB2G-2mrOBp-2IG9eE3phc/s320/kalihi.jpg"></a></div>Little did I realize that that date with my future wife would lead to LOTS of hiking thereafter (the pic to the right is us on a ridge in Kalihi Valley). So much so that we became members of HTMC and even lead hikes for the club till this day.<br />
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Right now, my wife and I are engaged in an urban hiking expedition, with the goal of hiking around Oahu (via roads) in stages for a total of 120+ miles. We have completed the section from Kaneohe to Haleiwa, from Pearl City to Kaneohe, and from Hawaii Kai to Nuuanu. What remains is the West side (Waianae Coast) and Mokuleia to Pearl City. We hope to complete all that by the end of summer 2010.<br />
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I also look forward to another year of happily married life with the woman of my dreams.Dayle Turnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09409228377298646574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1482942411877014317.post-82222954509188155192010-06-04T09:37:00.000-10:002018-01-19T22:10:15.056-10:00Aiea Hiking with the HTMC on National Trails Day<center>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjQHngyNVC8bHsQS7nxS-wlIhvficoWSQmYt11QRuvYIW2x5_ZqLYSOP_orE-cYqRfWE_TwcNSR1q9QvQR0v1kZ26ppGLNJttbE5U5HuuW6cZM9YvKpEgaewiAQJpS5TYCwRzdTxQA6Yc/s1600/thumb_AHS_NTD_2color_date+jpeg.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjQHngyNVC8bHsQS7nxS-wlIhvficoWSQmYt11QRuvYIW2x5_ZqLYSOP_orE-cYqRfWE_TwcNSR1q9QvQR0v1kZ26ppGLNJttbE5U5HuuW6cZM9YvKpEgaewiAQJpS5TYCwRzdTxQA6Yc/s200/thumb_AHS_NTD_2color_date+jpeg.JPG" width="132"></a></div>Tomorrow (6/5/10 Saturday) is my wife and I's sixth wedding anniversary. On 6/5/04 at 3:21 in the afternoon, we were married at the chapel on the campus of the Kamehameha Schools, my alma mater. Happy anniversary to us! <br />
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Tomorrow also is <a href="http://www.americanhiking.org/NTD.aspx">National Trails Day</a>. In tribute to the day, the Hawaiian Trail and Mountain Club will be conducting three (count 'em) hikes tomorrow, all in the mountains above Aiea.<br />
<br />
The options, from longest/most difficult to shortest/easiest include<br />
<ol><li>Aiea Ridge trail (12 miles)</li>
<li>Aiea Loop trail (4.5 miles)</li>
<li>Aiea bisectional trail (3 miles)</li>
</ol>Meeting time tomorrow is 8 a.m. up at the upper trailhead in <a href="http://www.hawaiistateparks.org/parks/oahu/keaiwa.cfm">Keaiwa State Park</a>.<br />
<br />
Dunno if the missus and I will be hiking with the club, but we do plan on celebrating our 6th! BTW, the pic you see of my wife and I on this blog is taken at the upper trailhead aforementioned.Dayle Turnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09409228377298646574noreply@blogger.com