Mountaineering Club Fall 2026 and Spring 2027
Participation waiver link at the bottom of this page
WELCOME TO ‘OHANA SPORTS MOUNTAINEERING CLUB!
If you are interested in doing group hikes and learning more about safely navigating further into nature - you’ve found the right place. This is a free community education club. We are looking forward to going into nature with you!
Some hikes will have age or physical prerequisites to ensure everyone on the hike is physically capable of completing the hike safely. Everyone is welcome to start the longer hikes and will have a turn around that makes the hike a shorter distance.
You are responsible to get yourself to the starting location. Participants under 14 years of age must have an assigned adult with them for all education and hikes. The attached sign-up/waiver/commitment form must be completed by each family before participation. If you have older teens participating and you are not, please still complete the form as a family with them and at least one of their guardians. https://ohanasports.org/mountaineering-waiver
You do not need to commit to more that one hike and you can pick and choose which ones you participate in. We are trying to keep the format so anyone wanting to participate in hikes can do so!
Fall 2026 and Spring 2027 Hikes and Mountaineering Education:
November 21st - 10am Kaloko Jurassic Trail, of Makahi St.
Discussion Topic: What to pack for a hike
All ages welcome!
December 27th - 7am Mauna Kea Summit Trail from Visitor Center (14 miles 4500ft elevation)
Completely weather dependent, we will not hike in a storm or if there is a chance of a storm. Will move to a different location if bad weather is predicted. Some days on the mountain can be beautiful this time of year or it could snow and blizzard. For 13+ only, hikers or those not wanting to summit will turn around as a group - no one hikes alone.
Discussion Topic: Cold weather hiking education while we acclimate for 45 mins to an hour at the visitor center (a group could do a partial hike too and not do the whole hike).
To do the summit hike you need to have recent physical training and know you can hike at elevation, with water/food/supply weight for 10+ hours. This hike is for advanced hikers only.
January 23rd - 8am Koai’a Corridor trail (Kohala Mountain)
Discussion Topic: First Aid Basics
Everyone welcome!
February 6th - 8am Pu'uWa'aWa'a Area Explore -
Kileo summit for those able - 2000' to 6000' - so 4000' elevation and 16 miles total - might mountain bike some of it depending on who commits
Discussion Topic: Navigation training for first 1-2 hours. Navigation group will return to vehicles and then those wanting to summit Kileo will go on.
First 1-2 hours for everyone, full hike for intermediate and advanced hikers only.
March 27th - 7am Kona Coastal Hike - Probably Kahakai State park to Makalaweana and return - will decide course and distance after participants commit.
Discussion Topic: Hot weather training
Everyone welcome!
April 24th/25th - Backpacking to Waimanu if possible (15+miles round trip - hike in Sat, out on Sunday) https://camping.ehawaii.gov/camping/all,details,31720.html
Advanced hikers only
The Mountaineering Waiver:
https://ohanasports.org/mountaineering-waiver
Meet Your Educator:
Tara Brown is a mountaineer, endurance athlete, and outdoor educator dedicated to building confidence and self-reliance in the backcountry. With years of experience leading multi-day expeditions and designing survival curricula for youth, Tara combines technical expertise with a passion for wilderness discovery.
Key Highlights & Experience
Expedition Leadership: Team Captain for a 5-day Tasmania Adventure Race; led 3 backcountry expeditions into Halapē; completed a 80-mile, 12,000ft gain backcountry hike/bike trek into Elfin Lakes and Furry Creek.
Peak Summits: Mauna Loa via ’Āinapō Trail, Longs Peak (multiple summits & bike-to-summit challenge), Mt. Sneffels, and iconic international treks including New Zealand’s Routeburn and parts of Queen Charlotte Track.
Technical Training & Endurance: 5-day Training in technical canyoneering; multi-time Spartan finisher (including 5th place Age Group, Oahu Super) and Olympic-distance triathlete, First Aid and CPR certified
Youth Education: Designer of custom survival education programs for elementary students, focusing on navigation, safety, and wilderness skills.
