-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
After "pooping out" Sunday I wanted to do a long, but not overly hard hike today. The Wai`anae Ramble is about 6 miles and only the first mile is anywhere close to being hard. Gene, Stanka and I did it and we can report the trail is in very good conditions. There was very little blow down along the way and all the ropes/hoses put up by unknown hikers seem to be holding up OK.
The only problem was the additional ribbons placed along the trail by someone. This trail is a loop and can be hiked in either direction. It is well marked w/YELLOW markers. Someone felt the need to add about 75 pink ribbons many tied to the same trees w/the yellow markers. I REMOVED them all.
Wai`anae trails are all color coded and odd ball colors along the trail are not needed, they just add to confusion.
Here is a panorama taken of Wai`anae Valley from the ridge between Wai`anae and Lualualei.
From the same ridge this peak is Kamali`i. I found the name in the old book "Sites of O`ahu". It would be a real challenge for rock climbers if the rocks were hard enough to support that sport. Good thing not, it's much more peaceful here w/out a lot of rock climbers hiking the trais.
Just another view of the valley from a different location along the trail.
There are few places along the trail w/views like those above. But there are many other sights along the trail. The vegitation although almost 99% exotic is still beautiful and always changing. There is a section that the local hunters call "Bird Nest" because of the dozens of Bird Nest ferns growing there. This is a native plant known in Hawaiian as Ekaha.
Link to the Hawaiian Trail and Mountain Club's Home Page
Link to Island Trails by Kaleo Lancaster