Return to the Koʻolau Mountains

Full Video- Watch in 4k

I grew up on Oahu, and have spent a short lifetime hiking, camping and backpacking through the Koʻolau mountains.  I’ve documented things here and there on social media using my phone, but people have been telling me for years that I should start a real video channel– especially with the epic cooking I do. This first video has been a long time coming, and was plagued with almost a year of setbacks, but it’s finally here. It’s not perfect– I’m still learning a lot about video techniques and editing (teaching myself from scratch on premiere pro). Although I’m new to audio/video production I’m not new to being in the mountains. With over 20 years of experience backpacking and camping I’m very comfortable up in the Koʻolaus, and my goal with these videos is to document the experience of being alone up in the watershed and bring that experience to a wider audience. 

me

The weather for this hike/camp/cook was nice with lots of sun and lots of cloud cover. It’s rarely ever perfect on the mountain trails, but there was just the right amount of moisture to give grip to the dry and crumbly dirt. I’m completely out of shape from all the Covid weight I gained, but it wasn’t incredibly hard to reach the campsite. On this trail there’s a boy scout camp set up before the terrain starts getting difficult, and I usually like to take a rest there and assess my water situation. I use Nuun hydration tablets as an electrolyte supplement in my water while I do any kind of intense exercise. I first started using them when I would do long bike rides around Oahu, and I’ve found they make a big difference in how I feel. Doesn’t change the fact that I’m huffing and puffing the entire time I’m hiking. 

Nuun tablets and the TOPS Knives Backpacker Bowie

It’s hard to film and hike up a mountain at the same time, and I didn’t get as many action shots as I wanted. I have plans to incorporate a GoPro camera into my setup to get those good hiking perspectives. I’m using the Sony a7siii camera with the 16-35mm GM lens with the Peak Design carbon fiber travel tripod. Every time I want to get a shot I have to stop and set the camera up, hike up, hike back, break the camera down and reattach everything to my body and continue. I did my best, and while sweating profusely and huffing like a train I eventually made it to the campsite, thank the sweet lord. 

was a rough one

I have a lot of specialized gear and I’m going to do individual and in-depth reviews on each piece, so I won’t get much into that here. My gear list for this trip is as follows: 

Camera: Sony a7siii

Tripod: Peak Design Carbon Fiber

Mic: Rode VideomicNTG

Pack: Hyperlite Mountain Gear Southwest (Black)

Tent: Hyperlite Mountain Gear Ultamid 2

Cot: Thermarest ultralight w/ mesh

Inflatable Pad: Thermarest Uberlite

Cook system: Trangia 27 with billy pot and gas burner

Knife: Tops Backpacker Bowie

Sticks: Bamboo from da forest

Ultralight cutting board/table: Cascade Wild 

This is the first time I’m using the “Ultralight” cot, and let me tell you, it was a game changer. Say goodbye to the restless nights of sleep on the cold and unforgiving ridgeline. It’s extra weight, but completely worth it. I use a pyramid style tent and use my bamboo walking staff as a tentpole. I’ve found that it’s the best bang for my buck in the space to weight ratio. I don’t use any kind of floor cover or anything like that, gotta be one wit nature brah. The cot keeps me off the ground, so it actually works out nicely. 

The menu for this trip is my famous mountain beef stew, flavored with hunger, sweat and whiskey. I’m cooking on the trangia 27 with the gas burner attachment, my go-to cook system for most of my trips. I’ve been using the trangia system for years now and honestly nothing else works nearly as good in the high wind. It’s ultralight aluminum, super compact and energy efficient and without the trangia there would be no Mountain Stew. I have a blog post up (first in a series) about what it means to be “ultralight,” so don’t get your jimmies rustled if you’re a dirtbag ultralight purist gatekeeper. Anyway, Beef Stew. Always a classic, always the perfect meal after a long hike and a few warm beers. I love slow cooking up in the mountains, it’s one of my favorite things to do. Once I set up camp and got everything into the pot I kicked back, drank my beers and my whiskey and ate once I was ready.

Beef Stew plate with hot jasmine rice

In the mountains, once night falls it’s time to get into bed. I’m lucky this time, there wasn’t really any inclement weather. One of the first rules of being out here is to always expect heavy rain at some point, so I’m always prepared for it. The night went as smoothly as it could have, and I actually manage to get some sleep using my beloved ultralight cot. There’s always something magical about waking up in the late dawn of the Koʻolaus, the mist is still hovering and the clouds are still sticky with the cool morning moisture. The light is soft as it permeates through the ʻōʻhia lehua, shining and shimmering through the millions of water droplets that contribute to the Koʻolau mountain watershed. Itʻs a fragile ecosystem that is slowly declining. So, I wake up and have coffee and get the heck outta dodge. Another of my mountain rules: if you go up, you have to come back. 

Leave a site better than how you found it

Aloha, 

Cody