Puu Ma Eli Eli / Kahaluu Bunkers

Ordering our lunch bentos

Walking along the Hwy to the trailhead
We had to climb thru this bush to acsess the opening of the trailhead, there is no marker but FYI after walking along side the Hwy climb over the first guardrail to your left thru the bushes and then you will see the clearing shortly after
This is the trail clearing after you get thru the bushes
Theres alot of Wild Orchid here and very jungle like
Berries
Hybred wild fern


Some Guava Trees

Damaged Markers
Facecutting grass




Inside the buncker with flash, Yes I felt brave enough to go in a take a picture, but its really dark in here



Kaneohe Bay
neighborhood below
The trail clears just a little





Not sure what this is but it has a Coast Gaurd marking on it
Noni growing wild


Wild Orchid
Removing the stickys out on Kam Hwy heading back to our car
Some bottled Guava Jam
The Guava Brew
Yesterday we did a hike out in Kahaluu. We wanted to actually do two hikes but because of the load of Guava we carried back out we decided to keep it simple and to get our bag of Guava home in good condition.

We started out from Ewa yesterday at about 8:30 am and headed over the H-3 out to Temple Valley. We reached our checkpoint at about 9:40 am and started ascending a 700 foot overgrown hilly trail.

I must admit so far this is probabley the showstopper for me as far as unmaintained trails go. By the way the grassy areas are head level and above, its clear to see that this trail is rarely used. Along the way to the Bunkers which would be our final check point we found ourselves climbing under alot of trees that block the trail way with obvious owl nest's and also walking thru face cutting grass. I would highly recommend wearing knee high pants and long sleeves for this trail and to have a pair of sunglasses handy. Stupid me thinking this hike to be grade school took along my $200 Steve Maddens which now thinking back if I had dropped them my husband would truely have an ulcer. Also because of the downpour over the weekend, there was alot of insects in certain areas thru this hike. We came across a clearing where my husband found a couple of MaryJane plants and really paid it no attention. We somehow got lost off the main trail and ended up down someone elses trail which eventually led onto a private fenced property. We managed to regain acsess back onto the Puu Ma Eli Eli Bunker trail after about 45 minutes. And continued to proceed up the rigid montain side. Some areas really call for you to haul ass up hill. But Ive been thru worst and so really I feel the ascending could be done by a child or inexperienced hiker. We reached the first buncker shortly after 11:45 am and proceeded towards the 2nd and final bucker where we took an 1/2 hour break for lunch. I was able to catch video & photo's thru this hike but still wish my camera girl had been along because I know Ive missed alot of great photos.

After lunch we proceed back downhill and it took us about a good hour or so to reach the front entrance. Along the way I asked my husband to pick some guava so that we could make some Jam. We managed to pick 5 lbs which yield about 12 / 2 cup jars full of finished product which I will use for my breakfast toast & gift giving to my neighbors.

All in all its a great hike for any outdoor person looking for a jungle like experience. We came across one clearing which I found remnants of an old campfire for cooking , so Im sure people have spent the night here.

Upon reaching my car I noticed alot of stickys on my pants which took about another 1/2 hour to remove and I eventually ended up flying my socks at a nearby trash can at the TIMES Supermarket right down the road.

All in all it was a great day, and Im so glad I was able to bring some Guava back home with me. Ive been on several hikes where I just walk past the fruits most of the time without thinking twice. This is probabley the first and last time I will do this hike but Im glad to say Ive done it. We completed the hike at about 1:15 pm or so but only because we got lost on the trail. Overall I would rate this to be about a 3 mile hike which shouldnt take more than a novice hiker 2 hours non stop to complete.

Directions: Turn Left by Kahaluu McDonalds on Hui Iwa Street in Temple Valley and park along side the townhomes. DO NOT park in Temple Valley Shopping Center THEY WILL TOW YOU. Proceed out to Kam Hwy and upon reaching the Hwy take a left along side the Hwy itself continue for about a good 70 yards and you will need to climb over the first set of gaurd rails to acsess the entrance. The trail cannot be seen from the road but you will soon notice it after climbing over the gaurd rail and proceeding thru the bushy grass. Continue on to the top of the trail always keeping left. There are many junctions along this trail and alot of the ribbons are out of sync. So pay close attention otherwise you will end up like me sidetracked for 45 minutes. Aloha

Waahila Ridge Aug 2009

Sxy with Kalei
At the car getting ready to tackle this hike
Yuri and Kalei
Safety first check those laces ladies
Trailhead

Starting up the trailhead

On one side is Palolo & the otherside Manoa
Mountain Berries

Climbing the second slope, it was cool for a bit here, but all good things must come to an end

Narrow Area
Tree Rott
Looking at the parking all the way in the distance "Thats Fricken Far"
When boiled and cleaned I was told by SXY is better than salad greens
Having lunch at our grassy plato
Daimondhead and Waikiki from a distance

SHAKA SXY
The upper trail enter at your own risk

A bit after the grassy plato you will come to a trail fork, take the higher one to continue on to Mt. Olympus, the lower trail will continue on to Konahuanui which is the trail to the top of the twin summit where views of Windward side are the most beautiful on a clear day.
Yours Truely

Kalei & Yuri so adorable

As long as Ive known SXY she always makes sure to carry the items most cherished
A stunning natural archway
SXY on a staircase
Greg & Mika coming out of a different trail
Cabanas exactly like Aiea Loop Trail and very clean too
Alot of Pine in the parking lot, theres also cabanas for picnics
Park information
Ms. Sxy exiting the park entrance

Waahila Ridge

I would like to Thank SXY for always being on time and always waiting around for people to show up. Somehow you always think you got things organize and later learn that no matter how organize you might think you are. SHIT HAPPENS.

And thank you Ramie for the awesome fruit platter. Every thing was fresh and delicious. For the sushi and SXY for the musubi's. Sorry I forgot the Maui Onion Dressing.


Ive been up to this park before for a family party, and really nothings changed. Clean, Breezy, alot of pine trees and of course the sweet smell of forest. So we started off ascending for about the first 30 minutes it seemed , Im talking cardio in its finest. My shirt was wet by the time we took our first break. The terrain is very green and the trail is very clean, wide in many areas and very very well maintained. There is a couple of areas where you really need to put your ass into it and if your like out of shape YOU WILL FALL I can almost garantee it. In certain areas it brought me back to a recollection of a hike I did alone one morning ( Aiea Loop Trail) and must commend the park care takers for keeping the trail very managable. ~Thumbs Up~ to the park keepers. There where many pretty native flowers along this path. And SXY even brought a mudslide which looked pretty recent to my attention over in the valley next to ours. I came across alot of Vai` ve "Guava" along the path and only now am regreting I didnt pick some to make some Jam. I love fresh Gauva Jam. But its okay because Im pretty sure when me and the Hui tackle our upcoming hikes , well come across it again.

So we actually climbed two hectic slopped areas before reaching a pretty leveled off area that we could take our time. The views of Waikiki and Daimond Head were very clear today. Thank the heavens for that. We did get rained on a few times, but it was actually a blessing. It felt really good when the breeze would brush by.

We reached the plato where the trail forked and decided not to continue because of the rain and also being foreworned by some guys who were on their way back from Mt. Olympus that the clouds were already covering the mountian. And really we wouldnt be able to see anything. Also he remarked that the air was thinnig out on them near the peak. So we had lunch ... rested for about 30 minutes on the comfortable grassy plato and headed back to the trail head. Sxy and I would like to do this hike again and complete it to the end. My recommendations for this hike is a bikini top, capri pants with thin material for cooling off, and if doing the entire hike about 4 small bottles of water per person. You will sweat and need to replenish your electrolytes.

All in all when I checked the time on my car clock , it would take about 3 1/2 - 4 hours for a complete round trip. And I can also confirm that the remainder of this hike on to the mountain peak is in fact an 8 hour hike total. After all if you do reach the top of Mt. Olympus, it is the highest peak in the Koolau's.

Again thank you hiker family for making this a awesome experience, also to little Kalei & Yuri for trailguiding us.

Ms. Sxy just notified me that she'll be camping this week , I may join her for a couple days to size up some trails out in the Hauula area. Besides the Big Dog wont mind as long as he can fish. Yes just what Ive been waiting for.

Directions: Drive to the top on St. Louis Drive, take a right on Peter St. and a left on Ruth to the logged entrance.