Pu`u Ma`eli`eli - June 16, 2012

Initially planned to hit up Ka`ena Point and check out the bunkers and cave at the point with Brinton and Maria Johnson. Brinton informed me Friday night that he had a 2nd year anniversary surprise for Maria on Saturday so he wanted to do a sunrise hike. I was excited because I've been wanting to catch the sunrise from Pu`u Ma`eli`eli since Sommer and I and the Daw's did this hike earlier this year.  Now I had an excuse!

We pushed off from Hui Iwa Place in Temple Valley at 4:30 am. The trail to the bunkers at the top of Pu`u Ma`eli`eli is short but kinda steep. It only took about half an hour of hiking in the dark to top out. I thought there would be a crowd at the top but thankfully we were the only ones watching the sunrise from Pu`u Ma`eli`eli that morning.

Within a few minutes the sun peaked over the clouds.

The sunrise from Pu`u Ma`eli`eli was spectacular!

Rest of the pictures here:

Lanikai Loop - June 9, 2012

Couldn't sleep Friday night (just found out the day before the Sommer and I were expecting triplets!). At around 3:30 am Saturday morning I decided I wasn't getting any sleep so I might as well go watch the sunrise. Hopped in the car and headed out to Lanikai and the Ka`iwa Ridge Bunkers. When I got to the first bunker it was still pitch black but the first bunker was packed with pre-dawn hikers. I made my was to the less crowded second bunker and set up shop to film and watch the sunrise.

I had forgot to charge the batteries on my DSLR (because I wasn't really planning on hiking this morning) and my back up battery was dead (forgot to charge that battery, too). The battery in the DSLR died just after the sun peaked over the clouds on the horizon.

I decided to head up Ka`iwa Ridge and do the Lanikai Loop. The rising sun created dramatic lighting on the Ko`olau.

Click to view large.

I turned left at one of the forks in the trail and turned back towards Bellows and the end of Lanikai.

I dropped down from Ka`iwa Ridge to Po`opo`o Place at the end of Lanikai.

From Po`opo`o Place it's a simple walk along Mokolua Drive back to the start of the Lanikai Pillbox/Ka`iwa Ridge trail head.

Rest of the pictures here:

Pu`u Mai (Koko Crater) Sunrise! - Again...

June 2, 2012. Another pre-dawn trek up the tracks at Koko Crater in the dark to watch another beautiful sunrise! Pushed off from the parking lot at around 4:30 am. The first time I hiked up Koko Crater for sunrise I was the only person on the mountain and not a single car was parked in the parking lot when I arrived. This morning, when I arrived at 4:30 am, the parking lot was packed! There was a large group of 20-30 people waiting near the cars at the bottom, apparently waiting for more people to arrive before pushing off up the tracks! The sun hadn't risen and already the tracks were a highway... Thankfully the sunrise did not disappoint.

The rising sun slowly lit Hawaii Kai and Honolulu.

I caught the sun's rays just hitting Diamond Head, still too early for anyone to be at the top.

As the sun rose, Koko Crater cast a long shadow across Hawaii Kai.

I had set up camp in a little secluded area just past the crated area at the top of Pu`u Mai. While I was sitting there a pair of middle aged women came up to me and one stated without any plea for understanding that her companion needed to use the bathroom so I could leave now. She never asked or anything...her friend needed to use the bathroom and I was to move. Okay. Needless to say, I did not want to stick around to see that. As I was walking away two guys passed me heading to my hang out spot where the one lady was presumably using the bathroom. I may have failed to alert them to the reason I was leaving...whoops!

The top of the tracks were choked with early morning hikers. I made my was past the crowd and down the tracks. What a great way to start the day and the weekend.

I drove home, picked up Sommer to take her to work and then tried to replace some of the calories I lost on the tracks.

Rest of the pics here:

Konahuanui - K2 - May 28, 2012

On Memorial Day 2012 I hiked Konahuanui to K2 with Brinton Johnson. Six people started the hike in the pre-dawn hours, only the two of us made it to the top. Shortly after pushing off on the Kalawahine trail one member of our party decided hiking wasn't for him. He wussed out and luckily (for him) the rest of our party went back to their car and had breakfast and a lazy day instead. Brinton and I pushed on.

We made our way past Nu`uanu Lookout and onto the contour trail just as the sun peaked over the Ko`olau.

Thankfully the clouds blocked most of the sun and never really dumped much rain on us. We made our way to the ridge andthe steep climb up the three humps to the top.

At the top of the first hump, just past the really eroded section that dominates the ridge, someone had attached a small cache.

We left our names on the roll and made our way up the ridge.

Like many ridge on the Ko`olau, your steady climb is quickly rewarded...at least when the clouds play nice.

The ridge trail is badly eroded, especially at the steepest parts. Thankfully there are ropes to assist some of the more sketchy stretches.

I had forgotten how "exciting" the last bit of the trail is right before K2. There are a few sections where a slip up could spell disaster. Making your way slowly and with some thought should prevent any need to call HFD.

We finally reached the summit of K2 and soaked in the beauty of the Ko`olau and the view out towards Kailua, Maunawili and Waimanalo.

View Large

We decided against continuing on to K1.

Path along the KST to K1.

Konahuanui K1

From K2 we could see groups popping up at the Manoa Middle Summit and Awaawaloa (Wa`ahila Ridge/Mt. Olympus).

Manoa Middle Ridge Summit.

Awaawaloa/Wa`ahila Ridge Summit

We had a great view of the peaks of the Ko`olau.

Haiku Stairs/CCL Building

Lanihuli Summit

Wiliwilinui Summit

I could even spy on some hikers on the Maunawili Ditch Trail.

On our way back we reflected on the wonder of the Ko`olau and the great blessing to live so close to such beauty!

Rest of the pictures here: