Ka'au Crater Big Loop

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Ka'au Crater Loop - April 15, 2017

Its been years since I've done Ka'au Crater. Aprille wanted to do it for her birthday. We had the perfect storm. It poured cats and dogs on Thursday and Friday. But on Saturday, it was forecast to be sunny. The day had promise. 

We met at 7:15am at the end of Waiomao Road. I got lost like I always do trying to find the trailhead. But I was still on time. Joining the hike would be Erik, Aprille, Darren, Jana, Bernice, Michelle, and David. We started at exactly 7:26am. 

The stream had good flow. We got to the first waterfall in one hour. We had to share it with a group of hikers. It sucks sharing it, so it was onto the next waterfall. The second waterfall is just as nice as the first. Another waterfall with good flow. We got to the third waterfall, it was pumping. We had a blast going up it. We took picture after picture. Erik got slow shutter with his filters. 

wf #1 good flow

At about 2 hours we hit the crater. Still till this day, I feel the crater is still one of the best sites on Oahu. Where else can you see a green crater? Only Ka'au Crater. 

Bernice in front of wf #2

Michelle on top wf #2

Michelle going up wf #3


It took about 3.5 hours to summit. Not bad of a time. We celebrated Aprille's birthday at the summit. We didn't communicate about the cake, so we each of us brought her something. The candles blew out as it was windy at the summit. My brownies were excellent only because I made it this morning. It was so moist.  

almost at the top of #3, had to eat a snack

near the top of Ka'au Crater


After about 30 minutes, we crossed the summit. The summit trail was wide open. People have been trampling on the trail and so it is wide wide open. The crossover was so fast that we hit the bailout rim in like 20 minutes. Going down the rim was so amazing. I don't remember it being so wide open. 

Birthday girl

We hit the junction and went down the ridge going back to the trail. It felt forever for some reason. As we exited, we had appreciate the most perfect day on Ka'au Crater ever.

Post hike meal was at Village Walk. Well Bernice, Jana, and Darren got Foodland Farms since they are on a diet. I had a huge bowl of ramen, can't remember the name as I'm writing this. Think Bernice loves Foodland Farms, she kept on saying I gotta go here. I can't remember what everyone else had. Its only Thursday as I'm writing this. My memory fades, time to make brand new ones. 

ramen

group photo 1

group photo 2

the Troy

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