Waianae Water Works – October 28, 2012

It's been a while since I’ve been out on the trails! I had to get back into hiking again! On the HTMC agenda was Waianae Water Works. The last time I stepped foot in Waianae Valley was when I did Kawiwi to Waianae Kai with The Crazy Bastid and crew. Today’s hike would be a little easier.  

Leading the hike today was Waianae Steve. Everyone in the hiking community knows Waianae Steve, he creates and maintains the many networks of trails in Waianae Valley.

Being out of shape, I knew I couldn’t stay with the rabbits of the group. In addition, not being on the trails for a long time makes me appreciate the day spent hiking. I decided not to rush it today and go at a pace which I’m comfortable with. 

There were nearly 50 hikers that turned out for the hike. I saw many familiar faces. We all met at Waianae Steve’s house and car pooled to the trailhead. I jumped in Sensei’s car with DJ, Proo, & Alaina. I knew the entire group from previous hikes with HTMC.      

Waianae Steve created the Water Works trail by following an old plantation trail. He set up blue markers along the trail for hikers to follow. The route cuts across Kanewai stream many times and meanders around Waianae Valley. A little over an hour into the hike, we hit the first of 3 tunnels. I put my headlamp on and took out my flashlight as Proo and I waited our turn to explore the tunnel. It was spooky to say the least. The water was murky and knee high. Waianae Steve the prankster that he is, put those moving hand bowls on a platform in a crevice in lieu of Halloween. Luckily, I noticed it before it scared the shit out of me. The first tunnel wasn’t too long, but the cave seemed to enclose the further we went.

After the tunnel, we hiked more up the mountain encountering another tunnel and few waterfalls. According to Waianae Steve’s website (http://www.waianaecrider.com/Hikes/2011/13-WaterWorksw-Goonies/01.htm  the two waterfalls are Twin Pipe Falls and Mamake Falls. Both falls were flowing nicely. After the falls we walked deeper into the valley then encountered the last tunnel. This one was the longest one, 400 feet long (pictured on top of the page). The water wasn’t too deep. Proo and Alaina were following me into the tunnel as we explored it until its end. The tunnel had candles at the end of it, it looked like Steve’s lair, lol.

Going back, we followed orange markers to the Board of Water Supply Road. I was able to chat with fellow hikers and got to know more about them on a peaceful day in Waianae.