Hau'ula Uka to Waipilopilo - July 2, 2014 

Two years ago this was the infamous blue ice hike. On that day, Merv, Sensei, and I went up to Three Ribbons Pu'u, Daniel bailed down Waipilopilo, while Merv and I went up to the Hau'ula Loa terminus. I remember finishing the hike at 2 am. Senseil left us lunchables and juice at his house after the hike. Merv, tired I guess, took the blue ice and didn't return it to Sensei.

Two years later, we revisited part of Hau'ula Ridge which we will call the Blue Ice Hike in honor of Merv stealing Sensei's blue ice pack. The goal today was to start on the Hau'ula Loop, take the junction to Hau'ula Uka, trail clear mainly uluhe and clidemia, get up to Three Ribbons Pu'u, leave the geocache with blue ice, and return via Waipilopilo ridge which eventually intersects back with the Hau'ula Loop trail. 

The crew today was an all OAG crew ~ Sensei, DJ, and I. We started near 8:30am on Hau'ula Loop. Sensei asked us if we wanted to see "the cliff", so we took a short trail to a cliff overlooking Hau'ula Town. This view is magnificent, way better than the Ehukai Pillboxes, and may even rival the Lanikai Pillboxes as well. We continued on Hau'ula Loop intersecting the Hau'ula Uka Ridge trail. 

We started clearing the trail right away. It took a lot of energy, but we got a lot done. After 4 hours, we were beaten and decided to bail on the clearing and tackle the rest of the ridge to Three Ribbons Pu'u. At this time we immediately found out that the trail was swallowed up by uluhe. When the uluhe connects, it becomes difficult to pass. We took a while. Being completely exhausted with minimal fluids, we topped out at Three Ribbons Pu'u near 3pm. The top of Three Ribbons Pu'u is very underrated and will continue to be underrated for a while. The hiking community just doesn't know. Why underrated? Choke, no pun intended, native plants at the pu'u and near the pu'u. Here is the list of what I know and believe me there are way more natives - hoawa, naupaka, lehua, iliahi, koa, and some type of lobelia. I took out the geocache with blue ice inside and put it on an octopus tree at the Hau'ula Loa junction. After writing down the coordinates for Merv, we took a long break up there. The place is serene. 

After the break, we packed up ready to go down Waipilopilo Ridge. This ridge has potential. Its gentle, but exposed, there are critical shade spots all along the ridge making it accommodating to hikers. However, on this day the trail was swallowed up by uluhe and clidemia. We figured that no one has done this ridge in quite some time, evidence shows the uluhe connecting. We bushwhacked for over an hour. Luckily the ridge is gentle, very little ups and the descent was not too steep. 

Sensei and DJ pushed through and we got to Hau'ula Loop. We felt relieved. After only 20 minutes, we exited Hau'ula Loop and gave each other high 5's. DJ and Sensei had soda, I was so thirsty. I rarely drink two cans in a row, but did today.

This hike is good. If it gets cleared, it would be awesome. Two ridges, tons of native plants, views, quiet, no hiker traffic ~ what more can you ask for.