Olomana (mountain)
"Olomana" is a set of three mountainous peaks on the windward side of Oahu near Kailua and Waimanalo. While historically only the first peak was called Olomana and the second and third Paku'i and Ahiki (the least pointed peak) respectively, most people call the entire section Olomana. Geologically speaking, Olomana is an erosional remnant from within the caldera of the Koʻolau Volcano. Legend. In Hawaiian, Olomana means, "divided hill". According to ancient Hawaiian legend, Olomana was a giant warrior who ruled the lands on the Windward side of Oahu from Kualoa to Makapu'u. During this time Ahuapau, the  king of Oahu sent the great warrior Palila to battle Olomana, subsequently cutting Olomana in half. His upper torso was said to be in the Pacific Ocean near Kāneʻohe Bay leaving his lower half where Mount Olomana is today. According to the legend of Makalei, the peak Ahiki was named for one of Chief Olomana's favorite "konohiki" (headman), and the peak Pakui was named for the keeper of Kaelepulu fishponds. Hiking trail. The hike to the highest first peak is steep but not dangerous. There is a short climb required at the top with a rope in place to  use, to reach the summit with excellent views all around. Those who hike to the second peak are taking more of a risk and there have been accidents and helicopter rescues from this segment of the trail. The third peak is accessed on an extremely narrow crumbly ridge with a long unforgiving drop on both sides and deaths continue to accrue, as social media posts make it seem like a good idea to attempt this hike. It is not recommended to go to the third peak. Helicopter rescues are costly for the local fire department and even highly fit and  experienced hikers have fallen to their deaths on this part of the trail. Some of the more experienced hikers will challenge themselves by climbing without the assistance of ropes. This is not suggested as it is extremely dangerous. Accidents. Hiking Olomana can be hazardous especially in wet conditions between the second and third peak. In 2004 Jacqueline Turner, fell 150 feet but survived. Also on that day, another hiker, Mel Yoshioka, also fell while descending the backside of Olomana's second peak. He, too, survived. In April 2011, 44-year-old Ryan Suenaga, an experienced hiker, fell to his death  in this same area and in January 2014, 27-year-old off duty Honolulu Fireman Mitchell Kai fell to his death along the same section. In June, 2015 a 52-year-old retired Navy man fell approx. 200 to his death, making it the 3rd casualty in 4 years on Olomana. On April 1, 2018, a man was found 400 feet below the hiking trail. He was transferred by helicopter to a nearby park where he was pronounced dead.