Konahuanui Hike PhotosThe following photos were taken by me, (Nathan Yuen) on Sunday, March 8, 1998 during a hike to the top of Konahuanui, the highest point on the Koolau Mountains.
Towering over the east side of Nuuanu Valley and the very back of Manoa Valley, Konahuanui is often caressed by swirling clouds. Created when moisture laden air is forced high into the atmosphere by the tradewinds blowing up against the mountains, the Koolau Summit Ridge is a spawning grounds for many clouds over Oahu. Here is a picture of the twin peaks of Konahuanui after climbing a little more than half-way up.
As I began the final ascent to the top of Konahuanui, a large cloud bank was blown over the summit and began spreading-out on the Honolulu-side of the Koolaus like a low dark ceiling.
From my vantage point near the summit, here are pictures of Waikiki and Downtown Honolulu, bathed in sunlight while the mountains are covered in dark ominous clouds.
So dynamic is the weather at the summit that entire cloud systems can form and dissipate in a matter of minutes. Here is a picture of the Koolau summit when I first reached the summit of Konahuanui. Here is another picture of the same section of the summit from a lower different vantage point about 10 minutes later.
Here is a picture of Lanihuli with a wispy cloud emanating from it's summit. Here is a picture from a much lower vantage point of Lanihuli and Nuuanu Reservoir illuminated by the sun during a brief break in the clouds.
Here is a picture of the trail as it meanders through a bamboo forest at the junction of the Pauoa Flats and Aihualama Trails. Here is a picture of the bamboo canopy from below.