This one was written up as a very difficult hike. We actually had a bit of hesitation based on some of the write ups we had seen posted. We carried two 75 feet rope sections with us just in case we found any points in need of new rope.
We parked at the hairpin turn on the Pali and jogged up Maunawili Trail to the trailhead for Piliwale. It’s a four way intersection about 1/2 mile or more along the main trail. You can’t miss it, as it’s marked and on a sharp corner. From here it is a very easy and safe climb to the notch. While the notch may look a little scary it is simple and very solid. Just go slow and have good points of contact for each step. I wore spikes based on a write up about the terrain higher up. Picture to follow will show the downside of spikes. Ouch!
Anyway after the Notch you start to climb a vertical or near vertical ridge that does get pretty thin in places. good news is it is roped well and has very solid footing. We did add some new ropes in places with rotted ones. Always be careful when you test ropes. I have had ropes break on me before.
The spine of rock climbs well over 1400 feet per Marc’s altimeter. Then you are lulled into a sense that you have beaten the ridge with ease. Well, it does get much safer but now you get to fight the mud. While not dangerous it is slow as you slip a lot. The spikes made it easy going for me. I don’t like spikes much as they cause some soil damage and could cause erosion, but on this section just climbing and slipping will do the same and maybe even more damage. Watch for the native snails and be thoughtful as some are endemic and endangered.
This was actually our last section of the Kololau Summit Trail. I had to go from K-1 to K-2 to complete the KST from one end of the island to the other (Makapuu to Pupukea). The climb to the summit took us just under 3 hours. K-1 to K-2 was about 15 minutes each way and once back to the K-1 clearing we took the trail down to the Nuuanu Reservoir. A word of caution…….don’t miss the steep right you have to take about 400 yards down this trail. It looks like the main trail goes straight, but this takes you to a dead end at a small waterfall. Make the right and stay on the ridge. It is steep at times but has ropes (we added a couple of sections) in all the steep places. It’s not like Piliwale, you might not like falling here but most places would result in a minor injury.. The trail will descend all the way to the falls behind the reservoir.
Take time and relax at the falls. The hike took just over 5:30 and I would say it was very dangerous but I din’t feel it that difficult. At no point did it make feel unsure about my ability to complete it. Hike on!
runningoahu 