Oahu Hike Tales

Twenty years ago, on 6/20/1998, Patrick Rorie and I led an outing dubbed a "Super Hike," the first of its kind for the Hawaiian Trail and Mountain Club. Completing the by-invitation, members-only hike were Hiroshi Sakae, Ken Suzuki, Carole K. Moon, Lita Komura, Mike Algiers, Rob Geer, Wing Ng, Steve Poor, and Carl Crimbring. Dr. Torrey Goodman, a non-member (she plans to join soon) hiking on an unofficial status, was an energetic and welcome addition to our group. Ken, Carole, Lita and Wing wanted to begin a little earlier than the rest so they met me at the Waimano trailhead at 6:30 a.m. and I transported them to the head of the Manana trail where they began hiking at 6:45. It was raining in the mountains when they departed but skies were blue over Pearl City and further makai so we had hopes the weather bureau's prediction of brief morning showers followed by mostly sunny conditions would be correct. After seeing them off, I headed down Palisades and back to the en...

Of the craters on the island of Oahu, the most familiar to residents and visitors are Diamond Head and Koko Head. Fewer know about Ka'au, a small crater tucked against the spine of the Koolaus. Early on this late-October morning, I had the good fortune to join 42 energetic nature trekkers on a Sierra Club-sponsored hike to this beautiful geological landmark in the upper reaches of Palolo Valley. According to Hawaiian legend, Ka'au was formed as a result of an unsuccessful island-unification effort by the demigod Maui. While attempting to consolidate Oahu and Kauai into a single land mass, Maui saw his efforts end when the magic fishing line he had been using suddenly snapped. The huge hook affixed to his line sailed skyward, landing in upper Palolo and forming Ka'au Crater. Geologists tell a different story. In the scientific version of the genesis of Ka'au, the crater was formed from an explosive upswelling of volcanic material from deep within the earth's c...

Well, today was another postcard day on Oahu--clear skies, not a cloud touching the Koolaus, a wisp of a breeze, a pleasant nip in the air. And here I am, semi-laid up with a bothersome pain in my lower back. I give Pat Rorie a call at 7 a.m. to see what he's up to. According to Paka-lolo, he and Laredo "Rainbowman" Murray are bound for Aiea Heights to do the Aiea Ridge to Waimalu middle ridge hike. To say I was green with envy would be understating the truth. But Pat is kindly sympathetic, withholding his trademark laugh when I say I won't be joining them. A few years ago, before the hiking bug bit, I'd think nothing of spending an entire Saturday kicking back watching the tube, nibbling on munchies, and taking long naps. That's out of the question now, especially when confronted with days like today. I attempt to pass time by watching a basketball game on the tube and taking a nap, telling myself the rest will benefit my back. Ten o'clock rolls...

Mauna o Ahi ridge My wife and I hiked today (23 July 2005). Our original plan was to hike out in Hauula, but the weather out that way wasn't cooperative as we discovered when we drove out to Hauula Homestead Road at 9 a.m.  So, as big drops of rain pelted my white 'yota, we backtracked along Kam Hwy to Kaneohe, where the sky was overcast. Still not looking good for hiking. Hoping that the weather scenario would improve later on, we decided to attend a meeting of a group we are members of and then perhaps catch some better weather thereafter.  Yup, by 1-ish, the weather shaped up quite nicely, so we motored out to Hawaii Kai to hike in the back of Hahaione Valley. Jacque had never hiked in this area before, so she was excited about exploring new territory and getting a good workout. Ditto the latter for me, especially after having my heart problem (irregular rhythm) fixed via a catheter ablation procedure in mid-June at Queen's Medical Center where Jacque works. Happy ...

I joined Bill Gorst, Richard McMahon, Rich Jacobsen, Fred Boll, and John Hall for yesterday's WEHOT hike. Bill and I carpooled from Kaneohe and met the others at Kenny's Burgerhouse at the Kam Shopping Center in Kalihi at 9:00. We spent a few minutes talking story at Kenny's and I enjoyed an order of pancakes and drank a large-sized drink. At 9:20, we made the short drive over to Perry Street , at the end of which is DeCorte Park. The city has just completed a new parking lot at the park and our vehicles were the only ones there when we started hiking around 9:30. To get to the trailhead, we had to skirt around the left (mauka) end of a large, high fence that borders the park's basketball court and ballfield. There are a couple gates thru the fence but both were locked hence the left side skirt-around. Once around the fence, we walked along it for maybe 50 meters and picked up a trail that heads up a rocky segment of the hillside. Just above the trailhead, a hug...

One night while channel-surfing through the several dozen TV channels available to Oahu residents, I spotted a blurb about a Sierra-Club sponsored hike along the Ulupaina trail, a trek I hadn't heard about before. Curious, I grabbed my copy of Stuart Ball's _A Hikers Guide to Oahu_ and thumbed my way through it until I found a brief description of Ulupaina in the "Closed hikes" section. "A short loop hike in the foothills above Kaneohe" is all Ball said about it. The thought of a hike so close to home had me foaming at the proverbial bit. Pawing my way through a couple of maps I have, I found Ulupaina, with a trailhead along Kahekili Highway not far past Haiku Road. Thinking that I'd have no problem hooking up with the hiking group, I didn't bother (foolishly, in hindsight) calling the Sierra Club contact phone number to obtain info. Sunday, the day of the hike, arrived, and after packing my gear, my water, and a snack, I jumped...