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Godek-Jaskulski Trail
Posted: March 29, 2010
I joined the Hawaiian Trail and Mountain Club (HTMC) to hike the Godek-Jaskulski Trail that climbs to the Koolau summit ridge from Moanalua Valley.
The Godek-Jaskulski Trail is named for club legends Chuck Godek (1928 – 2000) and Erwin Jaskulski (1902 – 2006) who pioneered this tough 11-mile roundtrip to the Koolau summit on the ridge that forms the left side of Moanalua Valley. Chuck Godek (on the left below) was an extraordinary climber. Except for the Kipapa-Manana secton of the Koolau summit ridge, Godek hiked the entire length of the Koolau Mountains – including the most treacherous parts – the Pali, Lanihuli, and Moanalua — which require ropes, pitons, and guts. In this photo taken on Manamana ridge in 1990, Godek attempts to climb the steep, crumbly, knife-edged cliffs of true Manamana, a feat neither he nor anyone else has completed.
Check Godek in 1990 (on left) and Erwin Jaskulsi in 1992 (on right), HTMC Archives
Erwin “Skipoles” Jaskulski (on the right above) was also a strong climber who would often scale the cliffs above the Wilson Tunnel. Living to the age of 103, Jasksulski set a number world records for the 100, 200, and 400 meter runs for men from 95 to 99 years old, and later, in the 100 plus age group. Jaskulski hiked with a pair of ski poles — hence his nickname — decades before hiking poles came popular.
Our adventure for the day started from behind the basketball court at the end of Ala Aolani Street where we climbed through forests of strawberry guava, kukui, and other introduced trees.
Backlit kukui leaves (Aleurites mollucans) caught my eye as I made my way up the ridge. This kukui specimen is unique in that its leaves are deeply lobed giving the leaves a long slender appearance.
Banyan trees were conveniently situated right where we needed to climb a series of rock faces. Tricia Higa exploits the roots and branches of a banyan tree to climb up the rock face. The trail climbed steeply and it did not take long to gain the top of the ridge forming left flank of Moanalua Valley.
After following a dirt road that services HECO’s electrical towers, we veered-off the road to follow the spine of the ridge. When we reached a grove of koa trees (Acacia koa) on a slope covered with uluhe ferns (Dicranopteris linearis), I was pleased how well the uluhe was cut back from the trail. Many thanks to the trail maintenance crew for a job well done.
After making our way up and down multiple pu’u (peaks) dominated by large cook island pines, Pete Clines, George Privon, and Cheryl Batangan caught up from behind and passed us on a section of the trail carpeted in soft green moss.
The light green moss — Leucobryum – is indigenous to Hawai`i and can assume several forms. Because bryophytes have no vascular tissue the plants can never grow large. Instead they grow close to the ground in mound-like clumps.
While making my way over the moss covered trail, I saw an unusual club moss — wawae`iole kalauau (Huperzia phyllanthus) — meaning “rat’s foot” which is indigenous to Hawai`i.
One of the scarier sections of the trail was little more than a foot wide with steep drop-offs. Smiling from ear to ear, Cheryl makes her way effortlessly over a knife-edged ridge with precipitous drops-off on either side. The only hint of danger is the thin rope she holds in her hand.
The ridge confronted us with multiple humps that became muddier and more overgrown the higher we climbed. When we neared the false summit near the end, I saw patches of another species of club moss — wawae`iole (Lycopodiella cernua) — before making the final push to the top.
When we finally reached the summit at about 2,700 feet elevation, clouds obscured much of the view. So we sat along the edge of the Ko`olau summit ridge and enjoyed each others company along the very edge of the mountain.
While we ate lunch, the clouds parted revealing magnificent views of the southern end of Kane’ohe Bay. We could see the marine air corp station on Mokapu Peninsula, tiny coconut island just off the shoreline, and light colored sand bars within the bay. I was even more thrilled when golden sunlight began to illuminate the lush green landscape below us.
Red lehua flowers bloom along the edge of Haiku Valley as H-3 curves gracefully along the edge of the valley 2,000 feet below. Pete Clines lead a handful of the more adventurous hikers along the Koolau summit ridge to the terminus of the State’s Kulana’ahane trail where they dropped down into Moanalua Valley to complete a giant loop. But I declined the invitation and made my way back the easiest possible route.
The easiest and fastest route back was to return part way on the Godek-Jaskulski trail and then to drop down into Moanalua Valley on a side ridge that leads to the start of the State’s Kulana’ahane trail.
When we reached the junction with the trail that drops down into Moanalua Valley, we veered-off the Godek-Jaskulski trail to descend a side-ridge dominated by strawberry guava that was carpeted in moss.
The return leg of our trek took us though groves of ohia trees with uluhe ferns in the understory. The ridge descended quickly and soon we were hiking out the old carriage road in Moanalua Valley.
While making our way back out the old road, I reflected on the great time we had hiking on charming moss-covered trails, seeing beautiful lehua flowers, and admiring magnificent views of Kane`ohe Bay and Mokapu Peninsula. What a great hike!
–
SOURCES
Native Hawaiian Plants, University of Hawaii, Department of Botany
That’s a tough mean hike Nathan. I could never make it that far so I really enjoyed and appreciated your great pictures from the summit. Thank you for sharing them with us.
Hey Richard,
Thanks! Hey I miss your photo pdfs… please start them up again!
Regards,
Nate
Nate, excellent pictures and naration. Unfortunately, I was not able to go on the trail clearing, as I cut my finger with my sickle couple of weeks ago. You did a terrific job with your pictures which showed me the beauty of the trail.
Thanks,
Mel
I always wondered about those guys. It’s nice to have some background info on our former club members and their achievements.
According to the USGS quads, it should be possible to cross over to ‘Aiea Ridge at the summit – did that look feasible from where you guys were?
Nathan,
Nathan,
Thank you for these beautiful photos and -as always- your great capturing of the footage (pardon the pun), providing the historical significance, documenting the details and surprises of the day’s events, as well as the various people and yours and their experiences and nature’s beauty all along the way! -Also, this happens to have the personal significance to me of being my last hike with the club prior to my injury and subsequent lame status!
So, thank you for capturing those fond memories!
See you on Easter Sunday, at the clubhouse for the HTMC-Annual Meeting/Centennial Meeting and the Official Centennial Club Photo!
-Enrique
Thanks Mel. Sorry to hear about your finger — hope its healing well so you can get back out on the trail!