THE DEATH CURVE AT JUDD TRAIL

As the use of automobiles became more common, so did the tendency for speeding -- resulting in numerous auto crashes. And Hawaii’s many winding roads proved hazardous to the unwary driver... including the road that ran through Nu‘uanu, up to the Pali.

In the 1920s, improvements were made to that road. The road was widened to help ease some of the sharp curves. Today, at the fork of Nu‘uanu Pali Drive, if you veer left, you will be on Old Pali Road. Continue for about a half a mile and the road ends at a fence and a gate. The road was closed here and traffic was diverted to protect the area around Nu‘uanu reservoirs 2 & 3.

Following Nu‘uanu Pali Road to the right of the fork, the road takes a more meandering track as it now seemed to follow the topography and the path of the Nu‘uanu stream.

This winding road in Nu‘uanu once used by horses and carriages became a deadly turn that injured countless numbers of unwary motorists and claimed numerous lives.

Just above the hairpin curve at the lily pond and waterfall, numerous accidents occurred at a place the newspapers referred to as “the death curve.” As motorists sped down towards Honolulu from the Pali, they lost control at this sharp turn. In the opposite direction, coming from Honolulu, drivers would slow down as they drove through the twists and turns after the country club road and then, coming out of the hairpin turn and seeing a short straightaway, they’d step on the gas. In either case, bad brakes or failure to slow down, poor lighting in the area, cars crossing into the center of the road from the opposite direction -- there were as many reasons for crashing as there were accidents and deaths. When their cars careened out of control, they’d often either hit a tree or roll off the road into a 20 - 50 foot drop.

In 1931, the city began work to remove the “death curve” by reservoir number 2. This reservoir is commonly known today as Ginger Pond or “Jackass Ginger.” The newspaper reported that the sharp corner just above the horseshoe curve, was being trimmed about 15 feet to provide a wider turn. The entire road improvement was the result of intense flooding during a November rainstorm the year before and the need to widen the spillway and divert floodwaters into the Nu‘uanu stream. Construction of a bridge for traffic to go over the spillway was included in the project.

Driving up Nu‘uanu Pali Drive and, after coming out of the “S” turn, passing Ilanawai condos on the right, and then Poli Hiwa Place on left the road bends a little to the left and you come to a short, concrete bridge. On the left of the bridge is Reservoir Number 2. The spillway, in case of flooding, runs under the bridge. Just before the bridge is a shoulder area for parking and a clearing that leads to a hiking path.

Many people say that they get a weird sensation around that bridge and, at the start of the trail, they feel sick, or even panicked.

The sharp “death curve” that claimed so many lives and the new spillway created after trimming the road is now the start of a hiking area, popular with residents and visitors alike.

This is the beginning of Judd Trail.

DEATH AT THE BRIDGE

Although the traffic through Nu‘uanu Pali Drive was now lighter, there were still a few accidents resulting in injuries and even deaths.

On Memorial Day 1955, Shigeru Sakoguchi died in a crash just before midnight. His car smashed into the bridge at Ginger Pond after failing to make a curve above Morgan’s Corner.

But through our research, there were only two incidents that were thought to be suicide in the area, but neither of them were at “Morgan’s Corner.” They were further up the road at...

You probably guessed it... Judd Trail and Jackass Ginger pond.

SUICIDE AT JACKASS GINGER

Decomposed body found hanging at Jackass Ginger Pond

In June 1991, a badly decomposed body was found hanging from a tree just beyond the falls at Jackass Ginger pond. The body was thought to be the suicide of a homeless man from Date Street who was recently evicted. He reportedly disappeared three months before he was found.

But... that’s on the trail itself.

MURDER AT THE GINGER POND SPILLWAY A.K.A. JUDD TRAIL BRIDGE

Remember when I said that so many people say that they get a weird sensation around that bridge...

On September 13, 1986, the body of 26 year old Clayton D. Toshi was found hanging from the bridge located along lower Nu‘uanu Pali Drive near Jackass Ginger pond. A cable looped around his neck and tied to the bridge suggested he might have committed suicide. The whereabouts of Clayton’s car remained a mystery and no one could account for how he got to where his body was found.

Clayton Darwin Toshi, who lived in Kaimuki, was a sales clerk at Petland at Ala Moana Center. He was reportedly last seen leaving a nearby Keeaumoku Street bar alone on Tuesday, September 9th and his body was found hanging from the bridge around 7am Wednesday morning. Despite his bare feet and his hands being bound in front of him with a towel, police considered this to be a suicide. A notice was put in the newspaper that the police were looking for Clayton’s car, a 1982 Plymouth Sapporo two-door sedan. The car was silver with a black roof, hood, and trunk and highly polished, they said.

On Saturday, Clayton’s car was found. Airport parking attendants, making routine checks for overdue rentals and abandoned cars, had logged Clayton’s car as being parked before 5am Wednesday. They notified police that the car matched the description published in yesterday’s Advertiser.

Detectives said that Clayton’s wallet was in the car but his keys and other items were missing, heightening suspicions of foul play. Another request by the police was printed in the newspapers asking for any information on when the car pulled into the airport and parked.

On Tuesday, September 16th, one week after his death, police classified Clayton Toshi’s hanging as a probable homicide.

Nearly two months later, on November 11, 1986, police released a sketch of a man who may have been involved in the murder of Clayton Toshi.

Police said that Clayton was last seen by an acquaintance between 1 and 2am on Sept 10th, when Clayton and an unidentified Caucasian-looking man were seen entering Clayton’s car. It was parked on Kalakaua Avenue near Queen’s Surf.

The man was described as being in his late 20s to early 30s, about 5 feet, 10 inches tall, has a medium build, light-colored hair, and a fair complexion. He was wearing blue jeans and a light-colored long-sleeve shirt.

Nothing more was heard about Clayton Toshi except for a January 2nd, 1987 recap of the 22 Unsolved Killings on Oahu during 1986.

They say that a place will carry the psychic imprint of a person that died there. This may be a reason that area feels “creepy” or uncomfortable.

The next time you take a trip along Nu‘uanu Pali Drive or stop for a hike at Judd Trail, or even go for a swim at Ginger Pond, say a prayer for those who lost their lives there and the spirits that might be lingering.

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