Kaua to Kolekole Pass

by kenji SAITO on September 25, 2022

Hiking Kaua to Kolekole Pass

Back on the west side for sunshine and rain showers. Equal parts. Met up with Chris, Lilyn, Quan and Tessa in Kunia to start our hike as the chickens and dogs announced our arrival.

Kunia

Kunia

Who let the dog out? Give me food or I’ll bark and/or bite. All five pounds of me.

Kaua Trail

Kaua Trail

We passed the 1959 Punahou Memorial Grove as the trail wound its way through the forest floor carpeted with kukui nut shells.

Kaua Trail

Kaua Trail

The sight and smell of a pig pseudo rat hanging on the fence made somebody’s day.

Kaua Trail

Kaua Trail

No rodents were harmed in the testing of this rat trap. The irony.

Kaua Trail

Kaua Trail

The pitch of the trail picked up as the kukui nuts were soon replaced with a thick carpet of leaves which at times made the footing slippery.

Kaua Trail

Kaua Trail

Lonely hearts rock.

Kaua Trail

Kaua Trail

Quan climbing towards the summit that was marked with steep climbs and ropes and webbing of indeterminate age.

Kaua Trail

Kaua Trail

Looking back at the central plains as we neared the top.

Kaua Summit

Kaua Summit

Group photo at the ti leaf marked 3,127′ summit, the third or fourth highest peak on the island. Depends on whom you ask.

Waianae Summit Trail (WST)

Waianae Summit Trail (WST)

We left the summit and some of the group decided to climb the fence instead of contouring. To each their own.

WST

WST

Going down the uluhe fern corridor sliced open by the fence line.

WST

WST

Dropping down the fenced ridge line as the twin obstacles started to get larger than life.

WST

WST

Going down the front way. Where is everybody?

WST

WST

The rest of the group decided to follow the webbing and contour their way down. To each their own.

WST

WST

Lilyn following the fence line back to the ridge.

WST

WST

Chris trying to see if he could climb down without using the fence.

WST

WST

In the end, everybody used the fence.

Gorilla Heads

Gorilla Heads

Climbing up the first and bigger of the Gorilla Heads. Visiting hours are open.

Gorilla Heads

Gorilla Heads

Push and pull gets the job done.

Gorilla Heads

Gorilla Heads

Lilyn pulling herself up and over the boulder.

Gorilla Heads

Gorilla Heads

Chris going down face first.

Gorilla Heads

Gorilla Heads

Lilyn coming down the steeper section of the obstacle. Maybe it’s just the angle.

Gorilla Heads

Gorilla Heads

No acting was involved in the taking of this photo.

Gorilla Heads

Gorilla Heads

Traversing to the smaller simian shaped rock. It’s all about angles and perspectives.

Gorilla Heads

Gorilla Heads

The group coming down the last Gorilla Head.

WST

WST

O Tannenbaum to be later corrupted to O Christmas Tree. The German song was originally written about a fir tree and later came to be adopted by the Christmas camp.

WST

WST

All that’s missing is the mistletoe.

WST

WST

Looking back at the twin rock formations. Visting hours are over.

WST

WST

The cactus are not your friend in the mountains. Look but don’t touch.

WST

WST

Making our way through the pine needle carpeted forest.

WST

WST

Somewhere in the mountains, it’s lunchtime.

WST

WST

Somebody wanted to join us for lunch or be lunch.

WST

WST

Quan lowering herself down the rocks before going back up.

WST

WST

Pushing through the tangled mess of overgrowth to reach the flat topped peak.

Pu'u Kanehoa

Pu’u Kanehoa

Come back so we can take a group photo!

Pu'u Kanehoa

Pu’u Kanehoa

Group photo at the 2,728′ summit, our second summit. No, we are not flashing peace signs.

WST

WST

Chris passing over a severly eroded section of the trail, where another side trail takes one down to Kunia if so desired.

WST

WST

Take my photo!

WST

WST

Me too!

WST

WST

The group scooting, straddling, climbing and walking over the narrow rock dike.

WST

WST

Sighting of the bearded moss hiker.

WST

WST

Looking for the trail in all the wrong places.

WST

WST

Dropping below the ridge line to contour around the boulders.

WST

WST

Trying to climb to impossible heights.

WST

WST

Following the fenced trail in white out conditions soon to be followed by Mother Nature’s sprinkler.

Pu'u Hapapa

Pu’u Hapapa

Okay let’s take our group photo and get out of this rain. Art, if you are reading this, this will always be the summit to me.

Pu'u Hapapa

Pu’u Hapapa

It was perfect timing as we hit the shelter just as the rain showers came down like cats and dogs.

Pu'u Hapapa

Pu’u Hapapa

We mulled over our exit options in the pouring rain, which were go down the loop trail which was longer but avoid the slippery rocks or go down the shorter but slippery way? Let’s throw some tupig on the barbie as we think about it.

Pu'u Hapapa

Pu’u Hapapa

Looking back at the helipad as another hiker enjoyed the solitude and showers all to himself.

WST

WST

We left our shelter and decided to go down the direct way to save on time and the rain started to slack off.

WST

WST

Chris standing on the slippery rock.

WST

WST

Going down the loop trail by mistake, until a distant voice recalled us to the more direct route.

WST

WST

The swirling clouds painted a surreal picture of our descent down to the lowest point in the Waianae Mountain Range.

WST

WST

Approaching the first of two notches on the trail.

WST

WST

Chris standing on top of the second notch.

WST

WST

Tessa climbing her way down the wet and slippery rocks.

WST

WST

Fighting against gravity. Pushing against gravity.

WST

WST

Are we in Machu Picchu or are we in Hawai’i?

WST

WST

Hiking our way down the side of the cliff.

WST

WST

Chris on the first notch with clouds soaking the ground and saturating the skies.

WST

WST

Double shaka, near sighted and far sighted.

WST

WST

The girls peering into the cloudy abyss.

WST

WST

Hanging like a koala on the paperbark tree native to Australia.

WST

WST

Last group photo at the scenic overlook as the weather cleared. Never fails.

Kolekole Pass Rock

Kolekole Pass Rock

Quan wanted a bigger stick.

All pau

All pau

The porta potties and hand washing stations were gone from the trailhead, so we started to walk down the rainy road as we had nothing else to do. Thanks to Aida and Art for picking us up at Kolekole Pass and Popeye’s and shuttling us back to our cars in Kunia.

GPS Tracks

GPS Tracks

Our hike covered 5.23 miles through the rugged terrain of the Waianae Mountains. Fun hike with good friends. Post hike meal at Thelma’s, where apparently Coke means Pepsi. I guess it must be my accent.

Photos taken by Chris Bautista, Lilyn Avendano, Quan Haberstroh, Tessa Bugay and yours truly. Not necessarily in order.

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. One should also always let somebody know of your hiking plans in case something doesn’t go as planned, better safe than sorry.

Leave a Comment

{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }

Aida Gordon October 19, 2022 at 7:33 pm

Let’s see if this works lol. Love the photos by Kole Kole…they look so dramatic with the fog and tain! There were twinsies that day…you and Quan, Lilyn and Tessa lol. Also love the Arcteryc jacket…wasn’t too navy after all but tealish.

Reply

kenji SAITO October 22, 2022 at 7:55 am

Aloha Aida,
Yup, surreal with all the clouds swirling around us as we made our descent.
Mahalo

Reply

Wahinee01 October 30, 2022 at 3:05 am

Oh wow! I forgot how beautiful is this side of the island.too . love the sound of the rain under that canopy tent. The dog is so cuteee. I wanted to take it home lol

Reply

kenji SAITO October 31, 2022 at 9:19 am

Aloha Tessa,
I think the dog is still running around, yours for the taking!
Mahalo

Reply

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