Upper Kaluanui Valley and Canyon – November 2011

Much apologies for the delay for those of you who follow my blog regularly… As soon as I returned from the November California trip, I was thrown into several adventures, of which made it difficult to finish the 9 posts from Lowe Trail, Yosemite and Joshua Tree.

The day after thanksgiving, I was fortunate enough to attend an amazing hike to Upper Kaluanui Stream and Valley. For those of you who are unfamiliar with Kaluanui (not Mariner’s ridge) Watershed, it is a valley located in windward Oahu.

We (Nathan Yuen, Clayton Kong, John Braum, and Baron Yamamoto) began our journey in the early AM in Hauula and headed up one of the many ridges that summit the Koolaus in this area.

After a several hours, we were high in the mountains and looking back on an arduous, overgrown ridge.

Along the way were several native plants that Nate described and documented. The above was a rare, flowering lobelioid.

We soon junctioned the “mauka-end” of Castle Trail, that meandered down into Upper Kaluanui Valley.

Reaching the stream was definitely a morale booster, after such a strenuous ridge hike. A well-deserved break was in store, as we dropped our bags on an elevated area on the far-side of the stream.

Some of us were looking forward to a gluttonous meal, but I was more excited about popping some boddingtons pub ale… as well as changing out of my sweat-laden clothes.

After filtering / treating several gallons of drinking water for the crew, changing footwear (I brought studded tabis) and dumping our unnecessary gear, we were off to do some mild-canyoneering downstream…

Rock-hopping for about 45 minutes lead us to the first series of falls (~50ft), of which we contoured “right” to get down.

We took a moment to appreciate it’s size, but we knew there was much more in store downstream… and that we were on a tight schedule.

As we continued down stream, the scenery was more and more beautiful. The riffles and pools were filled with clear water, straight to bed-rock at the bottom… Streams of lower habitat quality are often high in suspended sediment and organic matter littering the bottom.

I also noticed 100s of 1000s of Opae kalaole (Atyoida bisulcata), a Native Hawaiian Shrimp known for it’s extraordinary ability to climb and association with high water quality environments. This is by far the largest population I have ever seen on Oahu, and I was actually astonished that there were several “size classes” present. This likely meant that there were several generations of shrimp post-larvae and juveniles that had made it up the numerous stepfalls (up to 800 feet) to complete it’s amphidromous lifecycle from the ocean. Moreover, Lower Kaluanui Stream does not always connect to the ocean and depends on increased frequency and durations of rainfall to be continuous to the ocean.

We encountered a couple more smaller falls before the canyon streambanks began to narrow and the wind started to pick up; we knew that there was something great in store…

A series of 3 – stepfalls with heights 15ft, 40ft, and at the time “unknown;” with large pools below them…

Though we had gear to accommodate roping down the undercut 40 ft waterfall, getting unnecessarily wet in cold / windy weather was not the most logical of options. Thus, we decided to contour…

…and head down to the bottom of the third falls the safer route… This choice also allowed us a clear of view of the size / magnitude of the last falls from a distance.

Upon reaching the bottom, we were treated to a large, 70 ft waterfall with a huge pool scoured out beneath it.

…and just beyond the large falls was a series of smaller falls and pools, which terminated at another ~50 ft falls.

Unfortunately, this was the end of our journey as time was not on our side. Despite feeling like we had the resources and gear to go further, we still had a long journey back upstream and out of the valley.

Mahalo nui loa to Nathan Yuen for organizing this amazing hike!!! Glad to meet new friends Clayton and John as well… I aspire to come here again soon and make it further down stream… hopefully to look over the 800 ft waterfall!

The series of stepfalls in Upper Kaluanui Valley is by no means an easy place to get to. If you plan to get in and out in one day, you will probably have to anticipate a grueling 12-hour (+) hike. Most of the adventure does not require rope, but we brought several hundred feet of rope / webbing (5 of us combined) just in case. Long-sleeved shirts and pants are highly recommended, as well a spare, dry shirt. Bring at least a gallon of water, and a method of treating stream water (filter, tabs, UV pen, etc). Bring a bunch of food as well, as you will be burning 1000s of calories on this one… or just in case you get stranded. Thus, you should also bring a headlamp and a rain jacket (or something else that will keep you dry/warm). More questions? Just ask…

To see more photos from this adventure in a Photo Gallery, Click Here or visit Nate Yuen’s, HawaiianForest.com site. Mahalo nui for visiting and come back again soon!