Beyond the Sandbox: Manamana

Green Kahana Valley

DATE: 19 June, 2010
TOTAL TIME: 4.5 hrs
DIFFICULTY: Medium-Hard
PARTICIPANTS: "Reef Shoes" Jason, "Loafer" Mike, "The Optimist" Jeremy, "Hangover" Lynnale, "Rambo" Jeremy, and Me
REHIKE VALUE: 7

Manamana did not live up to its name as the 'most dangerous' trail on Oahu. This trail doesn’t actually touch Pu’u Manamana, but winds around the vicinity. Sure, there were dangerous sections, but what ridge walk doesn't? Besides, there weren't that many. Probably more dangerous being an illegal immigrant running across the freeway in San Diego.

Left to right: "Reef Shoes" Jason, "Loafer" Mike, "The Optimist" Jeremy, Me, "Hangover" Lynnale, "Rambo" Jeremy

Climbing comes at you quickly and furiously

While the trail disappointed, the ridge drop-offs did not. Yes people, the drop-offs are freaking 'legendary' due to its 1200 ft vertical nature. At least the two foot wide ridges added some excitement. Not scary. Just beautiful. I was having a blast running along the ridgelines. Well, Jason crawled, but at least he completed it. Good job for someone with major vertigo problems.

Over the coming years, this 'safer bypass' will eventually erode, forcing hikers to climb directly over the rock

You fall, you die. No ifs, ands, or buts

Most of the trail turns into a retarded walk through thick vegetation and didn't clear up till you're almost down to the bottom. I will not hike the entire loop again. Hiking up to the top before the vegetation and back down with the Crouching Lion along the way is the alternate hike which deserves the high marks. We debated among ourselves about whether or not that rock formation actually looked like a crouching lion. I thought so. We agreed to disagree.

The vegetation only gets horrible from here

The Crouching Lion. Personally, I see it

I later found out that the actual Pu’u Manamana is the most dangerous trail on Oahu. It is said that there are five routes to climb it, but since no one has reportedly done it, I’m not exactly sure where this information came from. Sounds like a worthy challenge, but I’ll shelve that idea for now.