Waimano Hiking Photos

The following photos were taken by me, (Nathan Yuen) on Sunday, March 15, 1998 during a hike with the trail-clearing crew of the Hawaiian Trail and Mountain Club to the Ko'olau Summit Ridge by way of the Waimano Trail.

Much of the initial portion of the trail parallels an abandoned irrigation ditch that periodically enters about a dozen or so tunnels which are bored into the rock and permit the ditch to carry water around geological features that would otherwise interrupt the flow. Ranging from 50 feet to 1500 feet in length, some of the dark black tunnels are completely dry while others are wet and muddy. Here is a dry tunnel through crumbly red rocks that is high enough to stand-up in. Here is another somewhat moist tunnel where the camera flash reveals a greenish-yellow thingie growing on the roof. The roots of trees have also penetrated this tunnel.
As we hiked further into Waimano and crossed two of the streambeds that meander across the valley floor, we noted that except for where the deepest pools reside, the streambeds of Waimano are completely dry! Only the hardiest of small fish swim in the remnants of once mighty pools. Others reported seeing prawns in this pool as well. Here are shots of an impenetrable hau tree tangle and a wild orchid growing near the pool.
Pushing forward, we ascended through a series of switchbacks which provided a fabulous view of the Waianae Mountains off in the distance. Continuing along the trail, the top of the Koolau Summit Ridge became visible..
Meandering our way through several folds in the mountains, we finally reach the summit! Here is a photo of the Northern end of Kaneohe Bay with the off-shore island of Mokolii (Chainaman's Hat) just off the coast. In this photo you can see the incredible shades of azure, aquamarine, and deep blue amongst the many sand bars, fishponds, and off-shore islands of Kaneohe Bay.
Bounding with energy, Dayle Turner climbs even further up to explore the route along the Koolau summit ridge that leads from the Waimano Trail to the Manana Trail (Dayle will lead a super-hike starting from Manana crossing over to Waimano along this very route this summer). In this second shot of our hero in orange, you can see the scar of a landslide on the windward-facing side of the Koolau summit ridge.
Overlooking lush green Waihee Valley the cool summit breeze felt refreshingly against our faces. Shortly after arriving at the summit the, wind began blowing a large cloud bank towards us. Within half-an-hour the clouds rolled in completely obscured the once magnificent view.