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This hike gets it name from one of the last sections in the bush. It's an old cattle ranch road cleared by hikers and then used and helped to keep it open my Mountain Bikers. It's a 6 mile hike that begins in Waimanalo and crosses over Aniani Nui Ridge and then runs along the back side of the 3 Olomana peaks to the Pali Highway near Castle Hospital. To do this hike you'll need to station cars at both ends. The "high" point of the hike is the crest of Aniani Nui on Peak 858. Before getting into the hike pictures here is a map. Most of the hike is on State land, but a good portion in the middle is private property. This report doesn't mean YOU have the right to hike the whole thing.
After staging cars near Castle Hospital we car pooled to the end of Mahiku Place in Waimanalo where the hike begins on one of the Na Ala Hele trails.
Lots of people showed up. I believe someone said there were about 40 today.
In the beginning it was a tightly packed group. But by the end there was probably 45 minutes between the first and last to finish the hike. Good news, no one got lost at the many trail intersections.
After walking over a mile on the State trail we turned right and began climbing to the crest of Aniani Nui Ridge. Now and then we go a peak of Ahiki (peak 3) through the trees.
At the crest of Peak 858 the view makai was fantastic as you can see in this panoramas.
By the time we reached the crest of Peak 858 the 40 were in many different groups. As one group finished their rest they headed out making room for the following groups. Here is happy Farmer Jill w/a big grin on her face.
Down off the ridge we were in heavy dry forest for quite a while. Every now and then looking right one could see the three peaks of Olomana.
At one point we passed a small group of very large Royal Palms. I thought the mass of roots coming from the bottom of one was interesting.
At spots looking mauka you could see the Maunawili Pali captured in this panorama.
A good shot of peak 1, Olomana and peak 2 Paku`i.
At the lunch spot in the iron wood grove someone had glued a number of little toy soldiers to a branch. Huh?
An interesting set of roots on this tree.
Here is a Google Earth picture showing our path.
Here is a short You Tube video of the hike.
Link to the Hawaiian Trail and Mountain Club's Home Page