Kipapa trail


On 4 August 2005, I did a long hike for the first time in a long time and survived. Good news. 

A bunch of us showed up yesterday to help work on the Kipapa Trail at the request of Nancy Hoffman from U.S. Fish and Wildlife. Let me see, who was there? my wife Jacque, Scott Villiger, Bart Mathias, John Hall, Bill Gorst, Charlotte Yamane, and Mike Fujita. We chatted about, among other things, some HTMC members' philosophical protests about working on Kipapa. 

Had a chance to take my wife's Honda CRV off-road for the first time. It was cool driving up the dirt road to the trailhead from Ka Uka Blvd. 

Before we shoved off to start work, Nancy told us that the first three miles of the trail were in good shape. The remainder had become overgrown and needed work. Plus, she wanted some of us to hike up to inspect a landslide that had swept over the trail near the summit. 

We started up the trail at 9am. Jacque, Scott, Bart, and I said we would head for the top to check on the landslide. Bart eventually stayed back to work on the overgrown section. So, with Jacque as the ramrod, we were three bound for the summit. 

Nancy was correct: the first three miles are in good shape. Never did ask who has been maintaining it. Whoever has been doing the work, good job. 

After an hour of hiking, the going got slower because of the overgrown nature of the trail. Jacque, a real trooper, stayed in the lead even after I repeatedly offered to get in front to relieve her of the web-eating, bush-bashing role. 

About 2.5 hours from the start, past the dry waterfall section and switchbacks beyond it, we came upon the landslide. It wasn't bad at all, and we determined that minimal work was needed to make the trail passable at that spot. In fact, the three of us had no trouble hiking over the washed out section. Jacque mentioned that there were other spots along the way that were more hazardous. Agreed. 

We summited at noon. Beautifully clear conditions with strong, cold, gusting winds. I had been to Kipapa summit at least a half dozen times before, always in a whiteout, so having a view was special. To windward was green-green Waiahole Valley and blue-blue Kaneohe Bay. To the north was the Koolau Summit. We could easily see the KST etched into the crest heading off to Puu Kaaumakua. 

To the south was the crest over toward Manana Ridge. I mentioned memories of the long, hard haul along the summit to Manana. 

"So are we going today?" asked my wife. 

 "Uh, not today," I replied. 

We spent a half hour eating lunch and resting. By 12:30, we were heading back down the trail. 

Just before 2, we stopped for a five-minute rest break at a clearing/camp spot just below a small puu that F&W has cleared for a helipad. A mile mauka of the helipad, we saw large stands of Australian Tea trees felled in a ravine, no doubt the work of F&W. 

Makai of the helipad, we began to see the clearing work of our crew. Though the trail hasn't been cleared "to-the-wall" it is now much clearer than when we began the day. Good work by the gang today. 

Did note some small patches of palm grass along the trail. Gotta keep that stuff in check else Kipapa will turn into palm grass heaven like the Halawa Trail. Don't want that. 

Jacque, Scott, and I reached the trucks just before 3:30. The sign at the trailhead says 6 miles. I question that. Kipapa might be as long as Waimano. Felt as long to me, anyway. 

At the trailhead, the others were there waiting for us. On the drive out, we stopped at a locked gate and my wife took that opportunity to pet and feed grass to a couple of horses. Uneventful rest of the drive out to Ka Uka. Back at the original staging area, I talked to Mike about his job for Oahu Nature Tours. Had visions of opening a company called Intrepid Hikes Oahu and charging folks $1000 a head for a guided backpack of the KST. With a rumbling stomach, I came back to reality and visited the Costco snack bar with Jacque for the obligatory $1.50 hotdog and all-can-drink soda (diet Coke, of course). 

Was a good day with my wife and friends in the mountains. 

 Mahalo ke Akua.

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