Kaena Point to Pu’u Kaua

Met up with Analyn, Anne, Chris, Cisco and Ferlino to labor our way in the mountains this weekend. Thanks to Jasmin for waking up at an ungodly hour to drop us off.

Walking in the footsteps of the trains that once circled this part of the island.

Making our way up the rocky ridge line.

The pill boxes have eyes. Photo by Cisco Quintanilla.

Is it time to use the red light or the white light?

Too early for tee time. Photo by Chris Bautista

Silhouetted against the morning sky. Photo by Anne Fai.

Nothing to see here. Mooove along.

We were able to capture her in slow motion due to the absence of motorized vehicles. Photo by Ferlino Carinio.

Leaving the road behind us.

Chris looking out at the Waianae coastline.

Sun out. Sunscreen on. Photo by Cisco Quintanilla.

Branch to mouth. No middleman here.

Enjoying the broad and flat jeep road while we can. Photo by Chris Bautista

Looking out from the tree lined trail. Photo by Chris Bautista

We put our packs down for photoshoot #1.

Looking across the tree topped ridge lines. Photo by Anne Fai

Stepping down the eroded rocky section.

Back on the jeep road, with a communications tower seen in the distance. We have four bars.

Chris taking a nap on the trail. We have four zzzz’s.

Looking into the historic valley that has yet to be scrubbed free from her military scarring.

Entering 685 acres of protected native fauna and flora.

Break time. Photo by Ferlino Carinio.

Trying to get the synchronization down for photoshoot #2. Photo by Chris Bautista.

Back to our regularly scheduled program of hiking.

We came down the ridge hoping to pick some juicy Tangelos. Our stomachs were sorely disappointed.

The KST has its boot and the WST has its glove. Photo by Cisco Quintanilla.

Time to go from vertical to …

… horizontal. Photo by Analyn Baliscao.

Lunch break with views. Some of us were too tired to take in the views. One was never too tired for photoshoot #3. Photo by Ferlino Carinio.

Dropping down to the road that winds its way to the highest point on the island.

Swinging over the fence line. Photo by Ferlino Carinio.

Singular, not plural. What happens when you don’t clear the fence. Photo by Chris Bautista

The road was extremely punishing this time around. Frequent breaks were the order of the day.

Free water. Just bring your own bottles. Filter optional, but highly recommended. Photo by Chris Bautista

The end of the very long road.

Setting up camp at the highest point on the island. Photo by Chris Bautista.

Communal dining while Cisco and I snored the night away. Photo by Ferlino Carinio.

Jumping for air at our 4,025′ camp spot. Our morning departure was slightly delayed by photoshoot #4. Photo by Chris Bautista

Stepping foot onto the boardwalk that winds it way through 1,100 acres of moss covered trees and native plants.

One can’t escape the mud in here, it’s inevitable.

One can’t seem to escape the fence line as well.

Leaving the bog and heading down the muddy ridge.

Slipping my way down the rocks. Photo by Chris Bautista

Study in concentration. Hand there. Foot there.

“Landshark” bipalium searching for its prey. Photo by Anne Fai

Put your backs into it and tell the photobomber to pitch in as well.

What? Take a picture, it’ll last longer.

Back on the fence line. Photo by Anne Fai

Melts in your mouth, not in your hands. I think its the other way around. Photo by Anne Fai

The attack of the terrifying inch worm with its looping gait. Pull out the magnifying glasses for this one and use your earplugs.

Climbing in and out of the gap. Photo by Chris Bautista

Ferlino climbing up a short and steep rocky section.

Heavenly, as in the clouds, views at the second highest peak in the island. Photo by Ferlino Carinio

We left the 3,504′ summit to go down the overgrown ridge that soon yielded to eroded patches of ridge line populated with pine trees.

The smell of garlic shrimp seemed to be coming up from the valley or was it simply the collective stink of the group?

We finally got a view. Better late than never. Photo by Analyn Baliscao.

Mount Ka’ala and Pu’u Kalena also cleared up for our viewing pleasures.

We wrapped up photoshoot #5 and went down the spur ridge.

Say hello to my little friend. Photo by Chris Bautista

Going up the dike and … Photo by Analyn Baliscao

… coming down from the dike. Photo by Analyn Baliscao

We left the ridge and headed down towards the manmade pass that was blasted out of the mountains in the mid-1930s.

Cisco looking at the crumbly pile of rocks that makes up the forbidden mountain.

Watching the clouds lazily drift across the mountainous landscape as we made our way down.

Sliding our way down the raw and red terrain that lives up to its name. Photo by Ferlino Carinio

The lone surviving toy soldier. There could be other survivors out there.

We could smell the fried chicken and hear the carbonated soda fizzing or was I just hallucinating?

Enjoying ice cold soda at the lowest point in the Waianae Mountains. Shout out to Matt for bringing us the refreshing beverages and Louisiana chicken.

I guess red beans and rice can be explosive.

Setting up camp and preparing for photoshoot #6. Drone photo by Matt Vidaurri

All the greatest American and Filipino hits were being sung tonight.

The karaoke gang migrated to somebody’s tent to have her join in, but she was busy washing herself with the extra water.

Our morning departure was once again slightly delayed by photoshoot #7.

Heading up the densely packed tree lined trail.

Going up the corridor of paperbark trees.

Matt at the top of the trail before it dips back down into the notches.

Taking in the views. Photo by Matt Vidaurri

Looking back at the West side. The best side.

Cisco climbing out of the notches.

Mother Nature has a good sense of humor or some peoples minds are in the gutter. Photo by Matt Vidaurri

Cisco and Matt on their way to the summit of Hapapa.

This spider web was not even catching the dew drops, let alone any appetizing bugs. Location, location, location. Photo by Matt Vidaurri

Group photo at the squared 2,883′ summit left to right: Ferlino, Cisco, Matt, myself, Anne, Chris and Analyn. We sat down for photoshoot #8.

Leaving the fifth highest peak on the West side.

Following the fence line through the ridge line.

Finger food. It goes down slowly. Photo by Matt Vidaurri

Making our way down to the rock edifice that dominates and straddles the ridge line.

Climb or contour? Photo by Cisco Quintanilla

Protruding rocks provided temporary relief from the cloying overgrowth.

Time to fly the drone again for the last time and our final photoshoot of the hike.

Headed towards the most overgrown section of the WST.

It was still hard, even after three days. Somebody should go see a doctor. Photo by Cisco Quintanilla.

Bushwhacking our way through overgrowth …

… upon more overgrowth. Photo by Matt Vidaurri

Climbing out of the overgrowth as the clouds started to roll in towards the mountains. Photo by Chris Bautista

Making our way to the two obstacles known as Gorilla Heads or Kryangles. Photo by Matt Vidaurri

O Christmas Tree. 113 days left. Photo by Chris Bautista

Chris going up the little head. Photo by Matt Vidaurri

Cisco at the top. Photo by Matt Vidaurri

Chris dislodged a couple loose rocks climbing his way up the big head.

The grey clouds started to dislodge rain upon us as made our way up.

Ferlino bringing up the webbing on his way up.

Matt climbing his way down the backside.

Climbing our way up to the interrupted fence line.

Looking back at the rain showers sweeping the Waianae Mountains.

Matt muscled his way up the slick section of rocks and threw webbing down for the rest of us.

Slippery when mossy.

Contouring our way through the overgrowth as we avoided …

… the old vertical fence trail. Photo by Matt Vidaurri

Climbing up the near vertical fence as it cut a swatch through the tangled mess of uluhe ferns.

Time and weather were not on our side, so we made the difficult decision to descend from the 3,127′ summit.

Leaving the third highest peak on the island.

Clouds clearing over agricultural lands that are slowly being developed into farm lots, off-grid and often unregulated housing.

I should have brought my cardboard box, or at the very least my spikes. Photo by Anne Fai

Chris riding the timber log ride at Kunia’s Berry Farms.

Dimming the lights as we walked down the road past the slowly growing trailer village filled with a chorus of barking dogs.

Our 26 mile three-day hike that was filled with laughs, great views and good company; came to an abbreviated end in the farmlands of Kunia. Thanks to Lee for picking us up and bringing chilled Coca-Cola. Post hike meal at Zippy’s. You can’t go wrong with oxtail soup, unless it’s too expensive and then you fall back to the Zip Mein.

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: kaena point, kolekole pass, kuaokala trail, kunia, lualualei valley, makaha valley, makua rim, mokuleia valley, mount kaala, pu'u kaua, puu hapapa, puu kalena, puu kanehoa, three corners, waianae mountains, waianae summit trail, wst