HTMC Hike Records 1922-1924
Lo and behold you’ll never know what treasures can be found in the archives at the Hawaiian Trail and Mountain Clubhouse. Just last Wednesday I came across a handmade scrapbook titled: “Newspaper Clippings from May 15, 1910 to July 3(?), 1912 & Hike Records from Aug. 5, 1922 to Nov 15, 1924.
The title appears to be written in pencil and the pages are heavily faded and foxed. It’s notable that the newspaper articles are dated approximately 10 years prior to the Hike Records.
I highlighted four Hike Records mainly because they depict hikes and activities we no longer do. Photos of each are below and I apologize for the random order they are in. As you scroll through the photos, you will find one called: Decoration Day, Mango Grove! Oh how I wonder where this mango grove was located! What were the decorations and what were they for? There were six members in attendance and they each signed their names on what appears to be a scrap of paper!
Next is a hike record from S. Halawa Gulch on June 15, 1924.This record is typed, probably by the secretary, Zarel Jones, who was in attendance. Nineteen people enjoyed this hike. I would guess that S. Halawa Gulch is on the diamondhead side of North Halawa Gulch. If anyone has any information regarding hiking in S. Halawa Gulch, please email me at booksrec@htmc1910.org. Thank you!
The third Hike Record is titled “Manoa Caves” and it is from Sept. 16, 1922. What, accessible caves in Manoa? When I googled “Manoa Caves” however, I learned that there are caves in lower Manoa by Varsity Place called “Moili’ili Karst”. It’s possible that the hikers explored these water filled caves. Again, anyone with information can share it with me and the club through the email above.
The fourth and last hike record of interest is dated December 24 and 30, 1922. Three activities are listed on this one hike record: A Wilhemina (Lanipo) Hike, “Coasting” on Ti leaves, and a luau on Dec. 30, 1992 with 100 people in attendance.
Now to highlight a short article titled: “Ukulele Patrol Initiates Victim, Party Went over Mountain Ridges from Manoa to Kalihi, Pauoa Flats” and dated August 7, 1911. Obviously written by someone with a keen sense of humor, a second name is given to hikers in the article: “Holo Ala E” which translates to “run away”.
Thel article states that “The patrol met at the house of Trail-finder Gilbert Brown, up Manoa valley; the Castle Home Trail was scorned and the patrol went up a trail Brown claimed he had cut up the mountainside to Tantalus”. I couldn’t find any information about Gilbert Brown’s house, but I did find information on the Castle home. (Castle being the family of Samuel Northrup Castle who came to Hawaii as a missionary but left the mission to develop Castle and Cooke.)
This information was found on the website https://core.ac.uk. The photo of the home below is also from the website and depicts “The Castle home about 1902-3, after the carriage road was built.” This Victorian Gothic home is located in lower Manoa and there is no trail up to Tantalus from that area now! The trail that the Ukulele Patrol took likely began further back in Manoa Valley. The group crossed Pauoa Flats and descended into Nu’uanu Valley by the C.M. Cooke Trail. If this rings a bell, it’s because the HTMC website, under History, states that: “Mrs. C. M. Cooke cut a trail from the Pali Road across the dam of the Nu’uanu Reservoir and up the side of Nu’uanu Valley to the Lookout (2). (Most of this has since disappeared, although portions of it have recently been found.)”
The article also mentions “Hildebrand glen” (it should be Hillebrand), located near Oahu Country Club in Nu’uanu, as an “exquisitely beautiful bit of tropical scenery.” Hillebrand was a doctor as well as a botanist.
Ultimately, we do not know what route the Ukulele Patrol followed from Manoa Valley to Kalihi. Many trails have come and gone! It makes one wonder which trails will be in use 100 years from now!
Happy Hiking!
xx