We'll meet just after dawn at the Manana trailhead at the top of Komo Mai Drive above Pearl City, leave most of our vehicles there, and drive over to the head of the Kipapa Trail which is in the general area of the Mililani cemetery and Kipapa Gulch off of H-2. We've hiked Kipapa earlier this year and can attest to its length and wildness. Save for some use by hunters in its lower section, Kipapa sees very little human traffic.
Feral pigs are the trail's main users.
When we reach the summit of Kipapa, we'll hope for clear conditions. During our trek in June, the summit was completed socked in by clouds and we were denied superb views of Waiahole and Waikane Valleys, Pat's beloved Ohulehule, and much of the windward side. Pat did Kipapa solo in August and he enjoyed these views. But views aren't the main agenda for our outing. Our intention after reaching the Kipapa summit is to proceed south for two miles on the Koolau summit to eventually reach the summit of the Manana trail which we'll descend back to our cars and civilization.