Hiking Oahu’s Olomana Trail [VID]

I have heard from friends and my kid (whom I wanted to ground for life after she announced she’d been to the top & had pictures to show) that it can be a very exciting hike, but know it is also a very dangerous hike and not one to take lightly. I am a 10 year resident of Maunawili, and I have an incredible and completely unobstructed view of Olomana Mountain. It’s beauty can be deceptive. I can’t even count the number of times Search & Rescue has had to go out there risking their lives to save that of a hiker who was unprepared – be it from the steep incline, lack of water, lack of proper attire, a simple slip or the one thing that many people never think to factor in… the effect the weather might have on them.  Be it sun, rain or wind… conisder all of it.  The sun is extreme here, even when it’s overcast.   Use sunscreen even if you think you don’t need it.  You need it!  My husband is Hawaiian, born and raised… he almost always returns from golfing, burnt.  Sun is one thing, but most don’t know how quickly the weather here can change. It may be sunny and beautiful one minute and two minutes later it can be pouring rain (and at times EXTREME rain… the kind where your windshield wipers on high, if you were in a car, would be completely ineffective. The kind of rain that makes you pull over because you can’t see $&%@!)… you might see it coming, literally moving at you at a rapid pace (imagine cartoon rain) or it might come out of nowhere, with NO warning! Flash flooding is no joke and it’s not uncommon, especially in Maunawili… one of the wettest parts of the Island. Then there is the wind factor. It can get pretty breezy and the peak of Olomana Mountain, is verrry narrow. Not your typical mountain top that might spread out a little bit. You can almost straddle Olomana mountain.   Should you slip up there, pray you do end up straddling it, it will make S&R’s job easier to find you.  As well as get you out of there. That isn’t the typical rescue though, usually people aren’t easily visible and it takes a while to locate someone in the thick terrain.  And in the event you do need to be rescued…it will be via helicopter and keep in mind, they don’t use a basket… there was a tragic accident some years back during a mountain hiking rescue in  another part of the island, that curtailed that.  Now they rapel down a cable, attach you to them and then fly you about half a mile to Maunawili Park to drop you.  Okay, they’ll lower you.  Gently. 

 I’m sure most don’t plan on being thrill-seekers via  some of Oahu’s finest, but the reality is, many are.  I’m not trying to scare anyone, this is reality, that isn’t often spoken of.  I’m not even a hiker, but based on what I’ve witnessed it should be considered more than an “intermediate hike”.  Or perhaps what I’ve just stated should be posted at the beginning of the trail, so people are fully aware of the dangers as well as the beauty. 

If you go, enjoy!  The pictures I’ve seen are incredible.  The views are spectacular and nowhere else to be found.  But please… take your cell, a flashlight, plenty of water and wear something bright - as in NEON!  For God’s sake, don’t wear camoflauge or dark colors.  And leave the rubber slippers for the beach.  And if you don’t go, no shame… there are tons of other beautiful places that are up high, with incredible views, that are much safer.  The Pali Lookout.  Tantalus.  St. Louis Heights. 

Then there is always the Stairway to Heaven… 

Aloha

I have heard from friends and my kid (whom I wanted to ground for life after she announced she’d been to the top & had pictures to show) that it can be a very exciting hike, but know it is also a very dangerous hike and not one to take lightly. I am a 10 year resident of Maunawili, and I have an incredible and completely unobstructed view of Olomana Mountain. It’s beauty can be deceptive. I can’t even count the number of times Search & Rescue has had to go out there risking their lives to save that of a hiker who was unprepared – be it from the steep incline, lack of water, lack of proper attire, a simple slip or the one thing that many people never think to factor in… the effect the weather might have on them.  Be it sun, rain or wind… conisder all of it.  The sun is extreme here, even when it’s overcast.   Use sunscreen even if you think you don’t need it.  You need it!  My husband is Hawaiian, born and raised… he almost always returns from golfing, burnt.  Sun is one thing, but most don’t know how quickly the weather here can change. It may be sunny and beautiful one minute and two minutes later it can be pouring rain (and at times EXTREME rain… the kind where your windshield wipers on high, if you were in a car, would be completely ineffective. The kind of rain that makes you pull over because you can’t see $&%@!)… you might see it coming, literally moving at you at a rapid pace (imagine cartoon rain) or it might come out of nowhere, with NO warning! Flash flooding is no joke and it’s not uncommon, especially in Maunawili… one of the wettest parts of the Island. Then there is the wind factor. It can get pretty breezy and the peak of Olomana Mountain, is verrry narrow. Not your typical mountain top that might spread out a little bit. You can almost straddle Olomana mountain.   Should you slip up there, pray you do end up straddling it, it will make S&R’s job easier to find you.  As well as get you out of there. That isn’t the typical rescue though, usually people aren’t easily visible and it takes a while to locate someone in the thick terrain.  And in the event you do need to be rescued…it will be via helicopter and keep in mind, they don’t use a basket… there was a tragic accident some years back during a mountain hiking rescue in  another part of the island, that curtailed that.  Now they rapel down a cable, attach you to them and then fly you about half a mile to Maunawili Park to drop you.  Okay, they’ll lower you.  Gently. 

 I’m sure most don’t plan on being thrill-seekers via  some of Oahu’s finest, but the reality is, many are.  I’m not trying to scare anyone, this is reality, that isn’t often spoken of.  I’m not even a hiker, but based on what I’ve witnessed it should be considered more than an “intermediate hike”.  Or perhaps what I’ve just stated should be posted at the beginning of the trail, so people are fully aware of the dangers as well as the beauty. 

If you go, enjoy!  The pictures I’ve seen are incredible.  The views are spectacular and nowhere else to be found.  But please… take your cell, a flashlight, plenty of water and wear something bright - as in NEON!  For God’s sake, don’t wear camoflauge or dark colors.  And leave the rubber slippers for the beach.  And if you don’t go, no shame… there are tons of other beautiful places that are up high, with incredible views, that are much safer.  The Pali Lookout.  Tantalus.  St. Louis Heights. 

Then there is always the Stairway to Heaven… 

Aloha