Kaena Point to Kolekole Pass

We spent Veteran’s Day Weekend camping and hiking in the Waianae Mountains. Big shout out to Alexis for driving Stuart and myself to the end of the island to start our hike.

Trying to tie my shoe laces in the wee hours of the morning with makapiapia still in my eyes. Thanks to Alexis for taking my trash back with her. Pack in, pack out. Photo by Stuart Krempin.

We followed the railroad track remnants along the coastline to the base of the ridge.

Passing the second WW2 bunker on our way up the darkened ridge.

Somebody left the lights on. Photo by Stuart Krempin.

This place has been around since statehood. Photo by Stuart Krempin.

We crossed paths with gun toting hunters and their pig sniffing dogs on the trail.

Back on the road again. Photo by Stuart Krempin.

We had a quick breakfast at the picnic shelter before setting foot back on the trail.

Sunlight breaking over the trail. Photo by Stuart Krempin.

Following the signed junction as we made our way up the slight, rocky incline.

Drinking in our early morning views. Better than a cup of coffee to get you jump started.

Stuart standing on picture rock.

Following the fence line down.

Stuart passing through the sun beams on the trail.

Veering off the beaten trail to gain higher ground.

Contact with the ubiquitous fence line that increasingly dominates both mountain ranges.

Taking temporary leave of the fence line as we followed a thick half buried communications cable.

Passing the geodic marker as we turned right on the trail.

Entering the protected habitat of rare endemic fauna and flora.

Treading carefully with exaggerated facial expressions.

Soaking in the raw character of the Waianae Mountains.

The Waianae Mountain’s answer to the KST Boot Junction.

Stuart following the fence line down amidst the backdrop of fluted ridges cascading down into Makua Valley.

Passing the Mokuleia trail junction.

Panoramic view from the Mokuleia lookout. Photo by Stuart Krempin.

Stuart doing his part to keep the rodent population in check. Pesticide free.

Pulling ourselves up the steep incline one fence hold at a time.

The overcast cloud conditions kept the notorious Waianae heat dialed down.

Dropping down to the lowland forest with an abundance of sprawling spider webs.

Looking ahead to Three Corners. Almost there. Just a couple more ups and downs.

Looking into the bomb blistered valley. Photo by Stuart Krempin.

Have machete in hand, will bushwhack.

Looking out towards the Mokuleia coastline and the windmills pinwheeling in the distance.

Stuart pushing up the last hill towards the summit of three valleys.

Valley views of Makua, Makaha and Mokuleia were actually in evidence today.

Short and suffocating trek on the ridge that connects to Ka’ala.

Stuart dropping off the uluhell infested ridge and onto the road.

Somebody was talking about a 20 minute walk up to the top. Photo by Stuart Krempin.

Hairy balls road.

Approaching the defunct radar station that is now home to an active cellular communications tower.

End of the cloud soaked road.

We made it to the shelter at 1430, just before the raindrops started to fall. Perfect timing.

Stuart strung up his tarp to keep most of the wind blown rain from our sleeping accommodations. Sleeping on concrete buffered by an air mattress never felt so good.

Rain tucked us to sleep and woke us up. It was going to be a wonderful day. Reverse psychology doesn’t seem to work in the mountains.

Stuart on the boardwalk.

Looking for the ridge in the cloud and rain soaked bog. Photo by Stuart Krempin.

Making my way down the slippery boulder section. Photo by Stuart Krempin.

Stuart preparing to take his “leap of faith” between the moss slicked boulders.

Looking back at the rocky edifice made even more surreal by the grey rain clouds.

Isometric exercises in the mountains. Photo by Stuart Krempin.

When nature gives you water, just open your mouth and drink up.

Stuart being swallowed up by the unchecked overgrowth on the trail. Where is that machete? Shortly after this section, I was torn between a difficult decision on whether to render immediate aid or take a picture of what was actually transpiring. I picked the first option, which was to remove a branch of thimbleberry thorns that had somehow gotten lodged in Stuart’s eyelid! Believe it or not.

Pushing our way up the rain soaked ridge. Photo by Stuart Krempin.

Stuart crossing over the notched ridge.

Dropping off the ridge and contouring to regain the ridge. Photo by Stuart Krempin.

Missing the views at the 3,504′ summit, but not the rain. Rain, rain, go away. Nursery rhymes don’t seem to work up here. Photo by Stuart Krempin.

When you’re looking for your bite valve and it’s sitting on your shoulder strap. Luckily glasses weren’t involved as well.

The ridge widened at some sections with pockets of pine trees.

Wind milling my way up the ridge in a futile effort to keep warm. Photo by Stuart Krempin.

Looking out at sexxxy ridge to our right as it dropped off into the murky clouds.

Walking in the clouds on the narrow rock dike. Photo by Stuart Krempin.

Descending down from Pu’u Ku Makali’i on the rain slicked rock dike as we heard intermittent booming guns from the ranges below us.

Entering the forested section which helped to keep some of the rain at bay.

Watching the clouds drift over bunker pocked Lualualei Valley and the forbidden miniature mountain.

Spotted a me not so horny invasive critter that has made themselves home in the mountains. Photo by Stuart Krempin.

Stuart dropping down to the lowest point in the Waianae Mountain Range.

We followed a set of overgrown steps into the valley floor that was littered with bright yellow colored bags, and decided not to let curiosity get the better of us.

Let’s not dawdle through these parts.

Hiking in the rain the entire day and with no let up in sight and another rainy day forecasted for the next day, we decided to throw in the towel for safety and comfort reasons and made our way down the road, passing the now silent ranges.

You never know what one will find in these abandoned WW2 bunkers.

This is my rifle, this is for fighting…

… this is my gun, this is for fun. Thanks to Mitsy for picking us up on base.

Our abbreviated two day camping hike covered 21.83 miles through the wild flavor of the Waianae Mountains. It was still an amazing adventure with a good buddy. Post hike meal at Outback Steakhouse. Thanks to Mitsy for putting up with our carnivorous appetites.

Note: I have been made aware that some hikers have been using my blog as a hiking guide and getting lost on the trails. Please note that this blog was made to document the hike for the crew(s) that did it. That is why some of my comments will seem to have no relevance or meaning to anybody outside of the crew(s) that hiked that trail. My blog was never meant as a hiking guide, so please do not treat it as such. If you find inspiration and entertainment from these hikes, that is more than enough. If you plan on replicating these hikes, do so in the knowledge that you should do your own research accordingly as trail conditions, access, legalities and so forth are constantly in flux. What was current today is most likely yesterdays news. Please be prepared to accept any risks and responsibilities on your own as you should know your own limitations, experience and abilities before you even set foot on a trail, as even the “simplest” or “easiest” of trails can present potential pitfalls for even the most “experienced” hikers.

Tagged as: kaala, kaena point, kalena, kolekole pass, kuaokala trail, makaha valley, makua valley, mokuleia, mokuleia valley, puu ku makalii, sexxxy ridge, three corners