Nuuanu-Judd – August 19, 2012

About 11 years ago, Shell and I tried Nuuanu-Judd from the Kalawahine trail or Pu'u Ohia trail. What ensued was an 11 hour ordeal. Our inexperience hurt us really badly. Everything that went wrong did. The result made us quit hiking altogether.

Over the last 11 years, the events that unfolded on that day came in segments through thought and daydreaming over the years. I can’t remember the really specific details, but am able to recall some of the events. This is what I could remember.

In the summer of 2001, we started on Kalawahine and got to Pauoa Flats. From there we went onto the Nuuanu trail. We were hiking for a while now and weren’t used to long hikes. As we hiked on Nuuanu, there was a point near a clearing where Shell wanted to turn around. But the hike back looked so far, that we decided to press on. We missed the critical switchback that would take us down Nuuanu, and ended up bushwhacking a trail on the ridge. Knowing that we were lost already, we tried to bushwhack our way down to the bottom of Pauoa Valley which took about 1 hour. With no luck, we went back up to the ridge line. I remember feeling disoriented and panic set in. We continued to bushwhack until we got to the backyard of someone’s house. I remember the guy sitting down and becoming startled when he saw us. He was very unhappy, but heard our story. We begged him to let us through. Though he resisted, he eventually let us go through. We walked on the road to the bus stop. When the bus picked us up, we asked the bus driver if he knew the route to the top of Tantalus. He said the bus does not go there, but stops at the bottom of the hill. Shit, we thought. That is not good. I remember it was 6:30pm already and the sun was already set. Shell and I made the grueling walk up Tantalus in the pitch dark. With Shell tired, we made a decision for her to sit in the dark and wait for me to retrieve the car. I ran up Tantalus. After 1 minute, I died out and walked up. Finally at about 8:15pm, I made it to the car, drove down to pick up Shell.

That hike turned us off from hiking. When I got back into hiking in 2009, I resisted doing Nuuanu-Judd, still traumatized from the events that took place years ago. However, as I got more experienced, Nuuanu-Judd was back on the radar. I wanted to do this hike with Shell which I would dub the, “redemption hike”. But we didn’t get to it. Meanwhile, the kids were getting older and stronger, handling longer distances. Today, I decided it was the day to do Nuuanu-Judd with the kids.

Though they resisted, this hike was going to be done. Instead of starting at Kalawahine, we followed Stuart Ball’s book and started on Judd. As we got out of the car, a family asked for directions to Manoa Falls. I chuckled saying that Manoa is a few valley's over. After hearing what we were going to do, they immediately changed their plans and wanted to do Judd. I welcomed them to join us. I decided to show them Jackass Ginger Pool. As we went, I took a wrong turn at the junction doing Judd in a counterclockwise direction. Oops, some hiking guide I am. I know it’s been a while, but doing Judd wrong is a little embarrassing. I mean, it can get confusing, but is well within my guiding abilities. We ended up at Jackass Ginger and the family got to see it. I tried to direct them back to the trailhead via some verbal directions, and then we went to find the Nuuanu Junction.

Going up Nuuanu was simple, but not for the kids. They were already tired. It took us about 1 hour up Nuuanu, hiking on 18 switchbacks, and then contouring Pauoa Valley. Not a bad sight. While contouring Pauoa Valley, déjà vu hit me as we were at the clearing where Michelle wanted to turn around. I remember it so vividly now. We pressed on, getting to the woods and hitting the Nuuanu-Pauoa Flats Junction. I wanted to go to the Nuuanu Overlook, but the kids wouldn’t have it, so we turned back.

Going back was fast. Jared led at a quick pace. We were nearing the 3 ½ hour mark already, when we hit the critical switchback going down Nuuanu. In 2001 we missed the switchback and bushwhacked a trail on the ridge. This time there was a sign pointing to the switchback which Malia pointed out. Another hour of hiking and we were done.

I do say that Judd is sort of confusing. Next time I take someone on this hike, I have to memorize the critical junctions or else I would lead them astray. Today was redemption. I wish I did this hike with Shell, but oh well, save that for next time.