Extreme Hiking Hawaii

There are some sketchy sections of the Koolau summit ridge and one of them is the segment from the Moanalua Saddle (reached via the Kulana’ahane trail from deep in Moanalua Valley) to Keahiakahoe and the top of the Haiku Stairs (aka Stairway to Heaven). [Photo at left is by David Chatsuthiphan]. Although not heavily hiked, this section has been done with some regularity in recent years and was documented quite well by David Chatsuthiphan @ Unreal Hawaii, who says... What a hike. We had the good fortune last weekend to be invited to hike the Moanalua Saddle to Haiku Stairs. The hike was lead by Marcus, an avid Oahu extreme hiker. He does this trail frequently and offered to lead us on it. Had he not been available to show us the way, I’m certain that I would not have attempted this trail. It’s very risky. One slip up and you would be tumbling down the mountain. Read more...

    View of Punaluu from Castle Trail As is my weekly custom, I phoned my hiking buddy Laredo Murray on Friday night to suggest a jaunt we could do the next day (Saturday, April 17th, 1999). Sundays are usually reserved for HTM trail clearing. I bounced some possibilities off "Rainbowman" including a combo of the Castle Trail and Ko'olau Summit Trail (KST). Curious as to how long Castle would take and desiring to experience both the lower and upper sections in one day (something I had never done before), I talked Laredo into joining me for the trek. Where we would end the loop was still up in the air (Waikane? Pauao Ridge?). Kent Bien made it a threesome. Read more...

In reading about the recent descent of Lanihuli to the Kalihi Saddle , it was clearly apparent that the lead hiker was Marcus Griego who recently reported the following: Since then, I've done quite a few more. Piliwale down the Notches. Kalihi Saddle to Lanihuli, no ropes. Free climbed down the door stop & pimple. He also indicated the following which included a query: I recently free climbed up the "back side" (of No Name peak) .The 60 foot wall (from Makaha Valley). Was wondering if anybody else has done it before me? Pictured above are the backside of NoName Peak from Makaha, with the topmost photo (by Dave Concepcion) being Marcus on the climb. I'm guessing Marcus is the first. Anyone know? In any case, congrats and good job.

The "hike" from the Pali Lookout to Konahuanui via the Pali Notches Ridge is now becoming pretty regular fare for hikers hence treks by Pete Clines and friends in Jan 2011 Dave Concepcion and friends in Feb 2011 (see video below)

Kaleo Lancaster and company have established a route to/from the apex of the Waianae Range (aka Mauna Kaala) via Bolohead Ridge, so christened by Waianae Steve Rohrmayr because of a extreme rockface on this "trail" that appears like the head of a hairless man. Perhaps this trail/route might be called Po'o Nia Ridge ( the Hawaiian translation for bald head) . Whatever the case, Bolohead/Po'o Nia has been done as documented by David Chatsuthiphan at Unreal Hawaii . The pic at left (taken by Nate Rubio ) is Kaleo climbing Po'o Nia. Congrats and good work, people!

View of windward Oahu from terminus of Poamoho trail   Kaleo Lancaster and friends recently completed an extreme hike from Poamoho to Schofield, which included that wonderful crossing along the Koolau Summit Trail between the Poamoho and Schofield termini. Kaleo's account begins as follows: Hiked from Poamoho Ridge to Wahiawa Heights last weekend. It was cold, rainy, muddy, and wild. In terms of beauty, not many hikes can touch this one. The route traverses some of the most remote and undeveloped terrain on the island of Oahu, with an incredible two mile walk along the Ko'olau summit trail. Exactly how awesome was it? Unforgettably awesome: in fact, the route is so awesome, that we all agreed to do it every year for as long as we're still alive and able to hike. Yeah, it's that beautiful. Read more from Kaleo .... To lengthen the hike and to avoid the need for vehicle shuttle, it is possible to make this into a big loop which starts and ends at the end of Californ...

As far as I know, Lanipo Windward (pictured above, photo by Jeremy Kreis) has not been done since HTMC legend Dick Davis descended this ridge back in the 1940s. But there is renewed interest in LW, especially by Jeremy Kreis (see pic above by him of the ridge), so it seems probable that an attempt will be made JK and friends in the near future. Be careful, folks!