Extreme Hiking Hawaii

On Sunday a group of 4 completed the Koolau summit ridge between Konahuanui and Olympus. Myself, George Privon, Cherly Batangan and Casey Myers were the intrepid adventurers and what a day we had. We dropped off my Honda at Waahila State Park and left for the Kalawahine trailhead in Cheryl's car at about 8:30am. I noted as we pulled out that the gate closed at 6:45pm and we all shared a laugh about getting out on time. Later in the day that memory would not seem quite so funny. Our group of 4 set off at about 9:15 am heading for the Nuuanu lookout. We ran into a group of 3 hunters with about 8 dogs up there under blustery conditions. The summit of Kona was under dark clouds and we were hit with some sideways rain but the forecast was good so we continued. We actually got off trail initially and climbed up a steep and loose slope. The main trail was discovered after a minute or two and we were off. Made the summit of Kona 1 at about 11:45 am in the clouds. We reste...

Ryan Suenaga -- Staradvertiser photo This past weekend, Ryan Suenaga, 44 of Kaneohe, fell to his death on the approach ridge to Mount Olomana's third peak. A story about his life and his tragic end is in the Honolulu Staradvertiser. We are saddened that his life is ended and reminded how dangerous hiking in Oahu's mountains can be. In 2004, perhaps at the same spot, Jacqueline Turner, also 44 at that time and also of Kaneohe, fell 150 feet but miraculously survived. Also on that day, another hiker, Mel Yoshioka, also fell while descending the backside of Olomana's second peak. He, too, survived. The details of that event are chronicled. Mel Yoshioka and Jacqueline Turner, Olomana fall survivors On the same day that Suenaga fell, another hiker, Giovanni Acosta, also fell. Like Turner and Yoshioka, he survived and filed the following report: This morning I am fortunate to have awakened from my bed, even though I must say that it’s been an extremely soberin...

Twenty-five years later and in the same spirit of exploration/discovery exemplified by HTMC legends John Hall and Fred Dodge during their 1977 Kohala Ditch adventure, Mark Short and I traveled to the Big Island this past July 4th weekend to experience the region for ourselves. Of the Kohala Ditch Trip, Stuart Ball writes..."Kohala Ditch is a rugged loop trip in the windward Kohala Mountains of the Big Island. The route initially traverses several massive ridges and deep canyons with fast flowing streams. The return portion is along the coast where black sand beaches alternate with steep sea cliffs. Much of the trail follows an abandoned ditch, once used to channel stream water to a sugar cane plantation near Hawi." Pat Rorie -- Photo by Nathan Yuen Brief History:   17 miles in length, the Kohala Ditch required 18 months and 17 lives to complete, with opening ceremonies occurring on June 11, 1906. Japanese laborers comprised most of the workforce and they lived in ramshackle c...

Photo by Jason Sunada Hawaii hiking legend Dick Davis called the section of the Koolau Range from the Kalihi Saddle (which is above the Likelike Tunnels) to the summit of Pu'u Kahuauli (terminus of the Bowman Trail) as no-man's land. It seems likely, however, that Pete Clines and/or the most recent incarnation of hiking daredevils will give this a go and complete it. If and when that happens, I look forward to their report.