Kuli`ou`ou Ridge - April 21, 2012

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Solo hike up Kuli`ou`ou Ridge. This trail was a easier than I expected, harder than Mariner's Ridge but easier than Hawai`i Loa Ridge. I got lucky when I drove up, a car was just pulling out of the last parking spot at the end of the road! I had front row parking!

The trail follows a BWS road for a few yards before heading to the right and up the ridge.

The ridge trail veers off to the right of the valley trail and ascends on a series of gentle switch backs.

The trails is initially rocky and dusty before switching to the needle pines typical on many trails.

The trail gains the ridge and passes some great campsites on the way to the shelter and picnic tables about two-thirds of the way to the top. It took me about an hour to get to the shelter.

At the shelter a couple hikers passed me and one mentioned that the "fun" part begins after the shelter. I was expecting a grueling trail of steps like Hawaii Loa or Wiliwilinui. The trail after the shelter is steeper and there are steps, but the final push to the summit is relatively easy.

When the trail levels out you're almost pau!

The view from the top is breathtaking.

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From the summit I could see people at the top of Koko Crater.

I didn't see anyone at the Mariner's Ridge summit.

I hung out at the summit to make another timelapse video before heading down the way I came.

GPX here:

Rest of the pictures here:

Tantalus Ramble III - April 7 Loop

On April 7, 2012 I headed up Tantalus for another ramble and a nice 5.41 miles loop in the hills above Makiki. I started on the Manoa Cliffs trail, up the Pu`u `Ohi`a Trail, down the old telephone road from Pu`u `Ohi`a, down the Nahuina Trail, accross the Makiki Valley Trail, and finally up the Moleka Trail back to the start of the loop at the Manoa Cliffs trailhead.

I quickly made my up the Manoa Cliffs trail and past my 1995 Eagle Scout project.

The Ko`olau at the back of Manoa Valley was clouded over, but still pretty.

At the Pu`u `Ohi`a junction I headed left up to the top of the Tantalus crater. The State has cleared a large section of bamboo that had previously lined the trail.

I headed down the old Telephone Road to the Kalawahine trail head.

Headed across and down the road to the Nahuina Trail.

The Nahuina Trail is short and leads to the junction of the Makiki Valley Trail and Kaneaole Trail (which leads down to the Nature Conservancy in Makiki).

Cross a little bridge and before you know it you're at the junction of the Makiki Valley, Maunalaha and Ualaka`a Trails.

Continued on the Makiki Valley Trail until it reached the Moleka Trail junction. Headed up the Moleka Trail, through some bamboo, under some nice homes, and back to my car at the Manoa Cliffs trail head.

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Tantalus Ramble Part II

On March 31 2012 I headed up Maunalaha Trail and connected to the `Ualaka`a Trail and topped out at the Pu`u `Ualaka`a State Wayside and lookout. Maunalaha is relatively uninteresting. It's a moderately steep climb to the `Ualaka`a Trail junction.

 

 The trail offers virtually no views or scenic lookouts.

 

At the end of the trail there is a junction with the Makiki Valley Trail and the `Ualaka`a Trail. I headed right on the Makiki Valley trail which connects further down the trail to the `Ualaka`a Trail.

 

 

 The Makiki Valley Trail crosses Tantalus Drive then descends to Pu`u `Ualaka`a Park and the lookout.

 

Along the was a swing setup. The swing had a beautiful view of Diamond Head.

 

The trail to Pu`u `Ualaka`a Park was lined with tall trees.

   

At the park the views of Manoa, Kaimuki, Waikiki, McCully and Diamond Head were magnificent.

 

 I returned to Maunalaha Trail on the `Ualaka`a Trail. I passed this interesting skirt on one of the tall pine trees.

 

From there it was back to the Makiki Valley/Maunalaha Trail junction, down Maunalaha Trail and back to my car.

Rest of the pictures here: