Wailupe Loop

Overview

This little-known loop is one of the club’s more challenging hikes, involving steep ups and downs and a narrow summit crossing. Your reward will be a variety of native plants and panoramic views of the windward coast.

Elevation Gain: 3403 ft.

Trail Conditions: Steep drop-offs, overgrown and narrow trail.

Trail Features: Summit view, native plants.

Trail Route: Loop.

Native Plants: ‘Ohi’a, koa, ie’ie, ha’pu’u, alahe’e, ko’ko’olau, maile, lama and kopiko and uluhe.

Moku & Ahupua’a: Kona & Waikiki.

Hawaiian Name Meaning: Lupe = kite and Wai = water (kites were flown only in prescribed places; this was one of them).

Hawaiian Legend: One of the gods was traveling down the Maunalua coastline collecting ‘awa from a Kuliouou grove and mixed it with water from the coast. There were two lizards who protected the grove and lived on the ko’olau summit, their names was “Lupe.”

Historic Information: HTMC members Gerald Leao and David Denison created this loop in 1997.

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