Extreme Hiking Hawaii

Probably the first time the traverse from Kolekole Pass to Pu'u Kalena to Mauna Ka'ala to Kamaohanui to Waialua has been done.  The doers were Jeremy Kreis, Matt Church (left, below), and Jonathan O'Hagan (right, below).  The deed was done in July 2011.  Here is Jeremy's summation of the outing, along with some pics he took. Connected the three highest peaks on the island. Original plan was to follow Ka'ala East to Kamaohanui, and then go down Kalena. We had access problems so we started at Kalena instead. Got lost in the Ka'ala Bog so we had to climb a tree to find the FAA Installation. The descent down to Kamaohanui was not what I expected. There is a fence about halfway down, and the climb to Kamaohanui was not very exciting. At the summit, we were debating about where to go down, and, unfortunately, Ka'ala East did not happen. That jagged ridge will have to wait. We followed a fenced ridge down to Waialua instead. Came out on Farrington Highway

This was another one of those “Nate-inspired” adventures.  Back in April (2011) he shared with us an archived account of a group of HTMCers from the early days (1911) descending into Maunawillifrom the top of Kaau Crater.  They reportedly went top-down using ropes, and endured several scares and injuries along the way.  Nate found reports of a couple more descents, but no ascents.  We (me, August, Duc) were game to check it out.  Using a VERY old hand-drawn map that Nate provided, along with careful studying of the topo maps, I had an idea for which ridge it might be.  However, being so obscure and not standing out from its neighbor ridges, we would need great visibility (no clouds on the summit) to guide in on the powerline towers that conveniently mark the summit.  But getting there would prove more difficult then we imaged.  As it happens, a dragon lives on this ridge and fiercely guards against visitors.  See photo below.   Back-story : The “dragon thing” originated during fatig

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!