Koloiki Ridge Hike
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Beginning your ascent, you will notice the large and beautiful water feature of the Experience at Koele’s 9th hole. Many years ago a series of reservoirs were located here to catch the run-off for the old Koele Ranch. Hugging the left path, you pass the famed signature 17th hole. To your left and up the hillside is where the golfers tee off (be aware that you are in the line of golfers and that at any time someone may be teeing off). To your right the fairway drops below and into Ka’iholena Valley.
Beginning your ascent, you will notice the large and beautiful water feature of the Experience at Koele’s 9th hole. Many years ago a series of reservoirs were located here to catch the run-off for the old Koele Ranch. Hugging the left path, you pass the famed signature 17th hole. To your left and up the hillside is where the golfers tee off (be aware that you are in the line of golfers and that at any time someone may be teeing off). To your right the fairway drops below and into Ka’iholena Valley.
Ahead and across the golf cart path, a trail marker can be seen as your enter a tall stand of Norfolk pine trees. Nicknamed the “Cathedral of Pines” because of its resemblance to a gothic church, it would be worth a minute of enjoyment.
Continue through the trees and follow the path until you come to a chain linked enclosure. Skirt around the right of the fence and head up the hillside into the fern patch marked by a trail sign. A well used horse trail begins h
At the crest of the trail is a low lying pass in the ridge with power lines crossing overhead. Once you have reached the top of the pass, follow the trail down into a forest of thick Waiawi (a type of guava) trees. You are now inside Hulopo’e gulch.
Shortly you will come across an abandoned road that was once a service road for the tunnels that carried drinking water from Maunalei Gulch to Lana’i City. Turn left and follow the dirt road down through the gulch. Be aware of branches and pot holes under the forest leaves. Keep your eyes and ears focused on the many deer that roam here. The barking deer warn others of approaching danger.
The dirt road down the gulch will intersect the Munro Trail (a jeep road). At this point, you are about half way and have completed the hardest part of the hike. That is not to say that Munro Trail is without its challenges. In winter months, or after any heavy rain, the Munro Trail can become a muddy mess. Turn right on the Munro Trail.
This is Kukui Gulch. It gets its name from the many Kukui (candle nut) trees that grow there. The beginning of the gulch is marked by a patch of Awapuhi melemele or Yellow ginger plants. The next hundred yards of the Munro Trail becomes part of the gulch wash and can be quite muddy
Rounding blind curves with large boulders and giant agave plants to your right side, you begin a straight-away. Now start looking for the first left turn – approximately 50 yards from this curve.
A trail marker at this turn-off points the way through a tunnel of low thicket branches that will lead you to the ridge of Koloiki
Coming out of the trees, the trail opens to vast vistas of the rugged north side of Lana’i. Continue along the trail and you will enter a small stand of Norfolk pines on the hill ahead. MOLOKA’I – To your left, across the choppy seas of the Kalohi channel is the island of Moloka’i. Its southern shorelines are dotted with more than 70 Hawaiian fishponds, evidence of advanced aqua culture technology, found nowhere else in the Pacific.
NAIO GULCH – To your left is Naio gulch. Its name may have derived from the Naio tree, prized for its scented wood. The wood is yellow in color with a scent closely resembling the rare “iliahi” or Hawaiian Sandalwood. Deer may often be seen feeding on the other side of Naio gulch.
At this spot, you are at the end of the trail and standing on the Koloiki Ridge. Enjoy the incredible view and the cool tradewinds.
MAUNALEI GULCH – Looking seaward, Maunalei is the widest valley to your right. Ancient chants tell of the clouds bringing the misty rain of Kane to feed its streams. Bordered with a forest of Ahakea trees, this was the chosen place for the cultivation of Kalo or Taro, the Hawaiian staple food. Today, a service road can be seen at the bottom of the valley leading to a pump house. As a watershed preserve, it is a source of drinking water and is restricted to access.
MAUI – To your right, across the calm waters of the ‘Au’au channel, is the island of Maui. The West Maui mountain range of Mount Pu’u Kukui protected the home of ancient Hawaiian Ali’i or Kings at Lele, or what is today called Lahaina.
KOLOIKI RIDGE –Koloiki Ridge extends toward the ocean like a finger, separating Naio Gulch (on the right) and Maunalei Gulch (on the left). The two gulches come together before entering the coastal waters.
This is a map from an old brochure that we worked on years ago. I did all the photos for the brochure as well as placed the signs. The trail is, basically, the same... but the present trail sign numbers are not the same as shown here.
