Hike Schedule • Safety and Ecological Rules

LIKEHIKE gang usually meets on the designated Sundays at 9:00 a.m. in front of Hilo Hattie’s in the Ala Moana Shopping Center. Be sure to check the individual outings for other meeting times and places. Hikers should bring lunch, a canteen of water, and rain gear. Hiking boots are appropriate footwear, but walking shoes are generally okay. We hike to experience the natural environment, so please turn off or mute your cell phone and avoid making casual calls while on the trail.

Hikers joining the group for the first time must call Ed at (808) 455-8193 (before 9:00 p.m. HST) or send e-mail to Ed for information about the hike.

By its very nature, hiking can be hazardous. The hike leaders will point out the major dangers of each trail, but each hiker is responsible for their own well-being and safety. All hikers must read and agree to follow the Safety and Ecological Rules.
 

General Trail Ratings
Easy	2 miles in length or less and has less than 200' elevation gain/loss
Moderate	2 to 4 miles in length or has less than 600' elevation gain/loss
Moderately Difficult	4 to 6 miles in length or has less than 1,000' elevation gain/loss
Difficult	Greater than 6 miles in length or has less than 1,000' elevation gain/loss
Very Difficult	6 to 8 miles in length or has between 1,000' and 1,500' gain/loss
Strenuous	Greater than 8 miles in length or has greater than 1,500' elevation gain/loss

 LikeHike Schedule thru August 2012 

Saturday, May 5
Lanikai Hills — Full Moon Hike
Trail Rating:	Elevation Gain:	Total Distance:	Return to Thomas Sq.
Moderately Difficult	800 feet	2 miles	Around 10:30 pm
We meet at Thomas Square for car pooling at 5:00 p.m. We will hike up Lanikai Hills in the early evening, and have a picnic dinner on top. Bring a pupu or light snack we can all share. As we dine we will watch the full moon rise out of the deep blue Pacific. The wind can be quite cool at the summit in the evening, so it might be wise to bring a jacket or a cuddly friend. It will still be light going up, but a flashlight will be needed for the descent. Moon rise is at 7:00 p.m.

Sunday, May 20
Godek-Jaskulski Ridge Loop
Trail Rating:	Elevation Gain:	Total Distance:	Return to Ala Moana:
Strenuous	2,000 feet	6.6 miles	Around 3:00
This hike, also known as Kapukaki Ridge, begins at the park in Moanalua Valley. It is named for Chuck Godek (1928 – 2000) and Erwin Jaskulski (1902 – 2006). Click here to read more about this amazing duo. The trail climbs steeply up the left side of the valley to the ridge separating Moanalua and South Halawa Valleys. There are some dangerous sections with steep drop-offs with narrow crumbly rocks. We will have lunch on the ridge while we rest and enjoy the great views. We will not go all the way to the Koolau Summit but descend a side ridge down to the beginning of the Kapukaki Trail in the bottom of the valley.

Sunday, June 3
Kayaking Kailua Bay
Trail Rating:	Elevation Gain:	Total Distance:	Return to Ala Moana:
Difficult	0 feet	6 miles	Around 5:00
Meet at Kailua Sailboards and Kayaks located at 130 Kailua Rd. at 9:00 a.m. It’s not hiking, but we will explore a part of the island we don’t often get to. We plan to kayak out to Popoia (flat island) and to the Mokulua Islands, so some kayaking experience is desirable. Bring lunch, plenty of water, sun screen and sun glasses. Contact the hike leader at least a week in advance for reservations. There is a cost involved if you have to rent a kayak. While on the island, we will hike around to the back side and check out an exciting cove. Bring tabis or hiking shoes for the walk around the rough rocky coast. This “dry” run is required for those going to kayak the Na Pali Coast on Kauai.

Sunday, June 17
Maunawili Contour (Ko‘olaupoko)
Trail Rating:	Elevation Gain:	Total Distance:	Return to Ala Moana:
Very Difficult	600 feet	9 miles	Around 4:00
Join us on this trail that winds along the contours behind Maunawili Valley. It was built by the Sierra Club in cooperation with other hiking clubs, outdoor groups and the DLNR over a three year period. Once known as the Ko‘olau-poko Trail, it allows for great views of the windward side as it snakes it’s way in and out of narrow gulches just below the pali. Along the way we will stop for lunch at a sunny overlook. Time permitting we will explore one of the narrow valleys that lead to the bottom of the fluted pali. We will start on one end and hike to the other — that means we will have to do a car shuttle. Bring lunch and plenty of water. This hike allows time for hikers to talk and get to know each other.

Sunday, July 1
Mokoli‘i Island (Chinaman’s Hat)
Trail Rating:	Elevation Gain:	Total Distance:	Return to Ala Moana:
Moderate	125 feet	1 mile	Around 3:00
Instead of hiking, we will swim to our destination point. Off the point from Kualoa Beach Park, the island has a terrific open water beach and a steep hill to climb (bring shoes for the climb). From the top, one gains a lovely panoramic view of the green windward coast. Everyone must know how to swim well, and have a flotation device. A solid flotation device like a boogie board is recommended. It avoids the risk of air leaks and forcing you to make a long swim back to shore. Snorkeling might give you a different view of the swim. Be sure to bring plenty of water and sunscreen. We will have a potluck lunch on the island so bring something to share. There will be plenty of time for socializing while we are on the island.

Thursday, July 12, to Tuesday, July 17

Kayaking the Na Pali Coast — Island of Kauai

We are going to do it again! We will be staying three nights in Kalalau, and two nights at Milolii; so the trip will be six days and five nights. We will be leaving on a Thursday and returning to Oahu the following Tuesday. Kayakers may want to go over to Kauai the previous Wednesday or stay on Kauai on Wednesday after the trip. The trip is for experienced kayakers, or those willing to get adequate experience before July. Click here for more information about the trip.

Sunday, July 29
Kaipapau Valley
Trail Rating:	Elevation Gain:	Total Distance:	Return to Ala Moana:
Very Difficult	930 feet	8 miles	Around 5:30
Meet at 8:00 a.m. Come and enjoy the best valley hike on Oahu — Kaipapau Valley. The trail does not involve any ridges or long climbs, but it will involve crisscrossing the stream a lot (30+ times) and eventually rock hopping in the stream for about the last mile. The valley is very much like some of the other valleys in the area — very narrow with towering walls hundreds of feet in height. There are the dangers of flash floods and rock falls, but the reward is at the 90-foot waterfalls. It will shower us as we swim in the most pristine, crystal clear pool on Oahu. European modesty. Besides the usual things, hikers should bring mosquito repellent and an extra energy bar for this long hike.

Sunday, August 12
Palolo Valley
Trail Rating:	Elevation Gain:	Total Distance:	Return to Ala Moana:
Difficult	1,150 feet	4 miles	Around 3:30
This trail leads into lush Palolo Valley where a number of waterfalls and small pools are found. The second falls has some good sunning rocks and is a great place for a snack. If it is a dry day we will continue a short way further up the valley to the third “falls.” It’s a steep cascade of about 300 feet and is very dangerous when wet. It drains Kaau Crater bog, which is why the water looks like tea. We will scale the cascade and have lunch on the crater rim. The adventurous may climb all the way up to the Koolau Summit. We will then hike part of the way around the crater and return to the trailhead via a side ridge.

Sunday, August 26
Pu‘u o Kila
Trail Rating:	Elevation Gain:	Total Distance:	Return to Ala Moana:
Strenuous	1,500 feet	6 miles	Around 5:00
This trail is a great loop high points in Kahana Valley. It starts by crossing the dam in Kahana Stream and follows the valley loop trail in reverse. But instead of dropping back down to the stream and completing the loop, we will continue up the ridge to Pu‘u o Kila. The climb to the peak gets steep near the end, but we will be rewarded with some nice views. After lunch we will head down a different ridge into the valley to cross the stream at a refreshing pool. We will rejoin the “regular” loop route in the valley to complete our own loop. Those that are acrophobic might want to skip this hike. Bring plenty of water, sunscreen and mosquito repellent.