Hiking Trails on Oahu

Kalena – October 30, 2011 *this hike is closed to the public, check with U.S. Army Garrison Hawaii Facebook Page for information. After doing Malaekahana to Laie yesterday, who would of thought I had enough left in the tank to do another hike. Just like the Lanihuli hike, if one’s spirit is willing the mind and body will follow. With Michelle and the kids in the Big Island this weekend, I had time to myself. My body was sore from Malaekahana to Laie, especially after 8 hours of hiking, Throw in a party for my Aunty Nene’s brother that evening and a lack of sleep, well Sunday’s hike better be easy. Which hike did I choose the day after Malaekahana to Laie, how about KALENA? Holy crap. The KALENA hike. Listed in Stuart Ball’s book as an expert hike, Kalena is not for the Acrophobes. There is plenty of exposure, so if you are uncomfortable with exposure, this hike is not for you. As I write on, you will get a better description of how difficult this hike can be to the non-experience hiker...

  Malaekahana to Laie – October 29, 2011 This was on my to do list for a little while now. By completing this loop, it will cross off two hikes on my checklist. This hike was planned a few weeks ago. I met Nate on the Heleakala hike with the HTMC. While coming down from Heleakala, we talked about doing this hike. Nate, who got into hiking a few months ago wanted to pad his hiking resume. I called Nate early in the week to give him the plan. We were to meet at Haleiwa Beach Park at 6:30 am and start Malaekahana ridge at 7 am. We would hike Malaekahana ridge, then at the junction go down the mountain to Malaekahana falls, then go back up and continue Malaekahana ridge till its summit, then cross the KST (Koolau Summit Trail) until we hit Laie’s summit, then go down Laie to my car. Though this was the first time we would both do this hike, I wasn’t worried. If you don’t pay attention to the jargon above, then it breaks down to ridge -> valley -> ridge -> ridge -> ridge. Th...

  Ahuimanu – October 22, 2011 I wanted to do this hike with my kids a few months ago with the HTMC. That Saturday passed and I kept this hike in the back of my mind. Ahuimanu is a short 2 mile loop foothill hike in the town known as Kahalu’u. Very little elevation is gain and it’s a great hike for the family and kids. We headed towards H3, onto Kahekili Hwy. and turned left onto Hui Kelu Street. I parked on the side of the street and looked into a vacant area loaded with what seemed like impenetrable brush. I figured that this should be the trailhead. To the right of the thick brush was a concrete wall. I told the kids to stay back while I walked on the concrete wall, the stream was right below me. Adjacent to the wall was the trailhead. The drop from the concrete wall was considerable, so I knew the kids wouldn't be able to do it. I thought to myself, how can I get across the stream to the trailhead? I walked back to the kids and decided to lead us into oblivion. The kids and...

  Heleakala – October 16, 2011 Heleakala, not to be confused with Haleakala on Maui, is the ridge that separates Nanakuli and Lualualei Valley. I joined the HTMC today, the coordinator was the personable Bob. Trailhead directions were near Haleakala Avenue. I parked on the side of the road in a residential neighborhood and met everyone near a house. The HTMC trailhead is between two houses. We waited for a few minutes, were debriefed, and headed towards the ridge to Heleakala. I led the charge.  The initial climb up the ridge was tiring. My legs were getting tight in a hurry. Bob laid pink ribbons on the trail two weeks before. I followed those ribbons until I gained the crest of the ridge. from the residential neighborhood There were no trees in sight. The ridge was exposed. The sun was beaming down. I started to sweat like crazy. There was also a section where a brush fire destroyed part of the area not too long ago. It smelled like burnt grass when I entered the area. In ab...

  Konahuanui - October 10, 2011 It came to me in a dream the night before.  Konahuanui are the twin peaks that dominate Nuuanu valley.  I wanted to do this hike in the summer when it was clear as glass.  But for some reason, there was another hike that called me.  Konahuanui's first peak stands at 3,150 ft and its second peak stands at 3,105 ft.  (also known as K1 and K2).  The hike to its summits is physically demanding. I started the day at 6:30 am, headed towards Tantalus and to the Kalawahine parking lot.  The plan today was to hike on Kalawahine, then onto Pauoa Flats to the Nuuanu Overlook, then onto Konahuanui.  I estimated the entire hike would take around 6 hours. The hike to the Nuuanu Overlook was quick, 50 minutes.  From the overlook you can see the tower where a week ago a man died from jumping off the 100 foot tower and did not resurface.  The initial climb up the ridge was brutal.  Being in Disneyland for a week ...