Kolekole Pass to Palehua

by kenji SAITO on December 6, 2015

Hiking Kolekole Pass to Palehua

Today was the day to polish off the last chunk of the Waianae Summit Trail (WST) for the second time around. Joining me today were Chris, Justin, Ryan and Thessa. Mahalo to Matt for dropping us off at the crack of dawn at Schofield Barracks. Photo by Thessa Bugay.

Trailhead

Trailhead

Nobody but us early hikers on the trail. Photo by Justin Hirako.

Trail

Trail

The trail has been considerably cleared and marked from the last time I was here. It’s like Disneyland. Without the lines. Well, if you come early.

Kolekole Pass Rock

Kolekole Pass Rock

Hiking infractions are dealt with harshly on military bases. You have been warned.

Bench

Bench

We stopped at the meadow and looked out towards Lualualei Valley and the blinking antenna lights.

Notches

Notches

Looking up at the notched ridge silhouetted against the twilight sky.

Trail

Trail

Chris and Ryan making their way up the paperbark tree lined hill.

Notch

Notch

Maybe this was the cliff hazard the sign had warned us about earlier?

Notch

Notch

Justin looking out at Pu’u Ka’ilio and Lualualei Valley.

Notch

Notch

Thessa climbing her way out of the big notch.

Trail

Trail

Impromptu group photo.

Notch

Notch

Ryan making his way over the notch.

Notch

Notch

Justin climbing his way out of the smaller notch. Photo by Justin Hirako.

Looking back

Looking back

Leaving Kolekole Pass, the lowest point in the Waianae Mountain Range, behind us.

Panoramic view

Panoramic view

Click here for the larger image.

Sun beams

Sun beams

The sun poking through the thick clouds over the Wahiawa plain and Pearl Harbor.

Slide trail

Slide trail

The fastest way to get down to the valley. Not recommended.

Puu Hapapa

Puu Hapapa

Group photo by Justin Hirako at the 2,883′ flat topped summit, left to right: Ryan, Thessa, Justin, myself and Chris.

Trail

Trail

After a short break, we resumed our hike by following the fenced ridgeline.

Leeward view

Leeward view

Looking back towards the rest of the rugged Waianae Mountain Range. Spectacular scenery all around.

Central view

Central view

Despite the heavy cloud cover, we could see all the way out to Diamond Head. I’ll say it again. Spectacular scenery.

Trail

Trail

Multiple choice: Is Ryan a) stretching b) scratching his back or c) reaching for his gopro.

Trail

Trail

The ridge overgrowth started to get out of hand.

Chef Boyardee time

Chef Boyardee time

Who brings canned food on a hike? Justin. That’s who.

Trail

Trail

Looking down at the large rock formation straddling the ridge.

Trail

Trail

We contoured to the right of the towering rock edifice.

Trail

Trail

The jumbled and scattered boulders helped to break up the overgrowth.

Pu'u Kanehoa

Pu’u Kanehoa

Thessa enjoying the view from the 2,778′ summit.

Trail

Trail

Chris hiking through the overgrowth.

Central view

Central view

Looking out towards Lualualei Valley, the birthplace of the island of Oahu.

Looking back

Looking back

Typical ridge hike composed of short ups and downs.

Trail

Trail

Scattered rain and rolling clouds helped to cool us down on the overgrown ridge.

Trail

Trail

The cool weather soon evaporated. At least we got our views back.

Ladybug

Ladybug

A seven-spotted lady beetle looking for lunch.

Panoramic view

Panoramic view

Click here for the larger image.

Gorilla Heads

Gorilla Heads

We soon came across the rock formations known as “Gorilla Heads” or “Kriangles.”

Gorilla Heads

Gorilla Heads

Looking back at Pu’u Kanehoa.

Gorilla Heads

Gorilla Heads

Ryan, Thessa and Justin making their way up the first and smaller gorilla head.

Gorilla Heads

Gorilla Heads

Chris climbing up to join me at the top of the second and larger gorilla head. Photo by Ryan Leano.

Gorilla Heads

Gorilla Heads

Ryan and Thessa making their way up. When it was Justin’s turn, he dislodged a good sized boulder coming up. Stuck. Nothing that webbing can’t fix.

Gorilla Heads

Gorilla Heads

Climbing down the backside of the larger gorilla head. Photo by Chris Bautista.

Gorilla Heads

Gorilla Heads

Justin and Ryan making their way down.

Gorilla Heads

Gorilla Heads

What goes down… Photo by Justin Hirako.

Trail

Trail

…must go back up.

Looking back

Looking back

Leaving the Gorilla Heads behind us. It was fun.

Puu Kaua

Pu’u Kaua

Group photo by Justin Hirako at the 3,127′ summit.

Puu Kaua

Pu’u Kaua

Another group photo by Justin Hirako at the third highest peak on the island.

Trail

Trail

Back on the fence line. We could see Pohakea Pass in the distance.

Looking back

Looking back

Leaving Pu’u Kaua behind us.

Trail

Trail

Chris and Ryan making their way down the ridge.

Trail

Trail

We didn’t have to worry about overgrowth from this point. It was going to be climbing up, over and around small and big rocks.

Trail

Trail

Up and …

Trail

Trail

… over.

Trail

Trail

Scrambling out of the small saddle.

Trail

Trail

Climb or contour?

Trail

Trail

Thessa looking back at Ryan and Justin making their way around a tree. Tight squeeze.

Trail

Trail

Chris climbing down the roughly 20′ rock face.

Trail

Trail

A short stretch of pine trees separated us from the pass.

Pohakea Pass

Pohakea Pass

We meet again. Somebody had left their yellow rope at the pass. What the heck? Photo by Ryan Leano

Pohakea Pass

Pohakea Pass

I climbed up from the base and tugged on the rope to check out the condition. Photo by Thessa Bugay.

Pohakea Pass

Pohakea Pass

The rope quickly jerked and snapped, leaving me with a dangling rope. Luckily I didn’t have my weight on that rope. Rope left behind by others may look comforting as a form of assistance, but they are exposed to the elements 24/7 and intermittent abrasion. Conversations heard at the base “It’s not worth it mann.” Back and forth shuffling. “Let’s take the snapped rope and go back down the valley.” Photo by Justin Hirako.

Pohakea Pass

Pohakea Pass

I secured my webbing at the top and threw it down to the waiting crew. NEXT!

Pohakea Pass

Pohakea Pass

Looking for a helping hand. The top of the pass was crumbly. Dirt crumbly.

Sunset

Sunset

I alternated between watching the sunset and the crew making their way up the pass. Two great views.

Pohakea Pass

Pohakea Pass

Conversations from the bottom to the top of the pass. “Who’s watching the webbing?” “I am! Your life is in my hands. HAHAHA” I always like to punctuate my replies with a hearty and reassuring laugh to build confidence in people climbing up a crumbly cliff. Hanging by a webbing. Literally. At one point.

Pohakea Pass

Pohakea Pass

The sound of music.

Pohakea Pass

Pohakea Pass

The hardest part of the WST behind us. Group photo by Justin Hirako.

Trail

Trail

Hiking by head lamps.

City lights

City lights

Taking a well deserved break. Loads of bushwhacking through knee to waist high uluhe ferns lay ahead of us. In the dark. Photo by Ryan Leano.

Palikea

Palikea

We reached the 3,098′ summit marked by ti leaf plants. One hour left to the road. Photo by Justin Hirako.

Palehua

Palehua

Too dark to look for native snails and happy face spiders. Photo by Justin Hirako

All pau

All pau

Trail meets the road. The long five mile Palehua road. Luckily we had a ride.

GPS Tracks

GPS Tracks

The hardest segment of the WST covered 13.03 miles of bushwhacking, rocky ridges and cliffs and spectacular scenery. Fun hike with a great crew that didn’t bail. Cough. Almost. Post hike meal at Zippys. Eat then sleep.

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{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }

Thessa February 10, 2016 at 8:42 am

Thank you for another awesome adrenaline rush hike Kenji! Great write up as always!

Reply

kenji SAITO February 10, 2016 at 9:23 am

Aloha Thessa,
Thanks for the company and joining me on our second climb up the pass. Up for a third time? Haha.
Mahalo

Reply

Ryano Leano February 10, 2016 at 10:14 am

I was thinking about it and I’d actually do it again! I was hella tired, didn’t even know how you guys had the energy to go eat after. And who thought about bailing? Wasn’t me ????????????????????????????…. ***Bails Out***

Reply

kenji SAITO February 10, 2016 at 10:36 am

Aloha Ryan,
Thanks for coming and not bailing out! haha. You want to do it again? Going to do the WST in one shot in May. LMK!
Mahalo

Reply

Arnold February 22, 2016 at 7:08 pm

Awesome write up! I gotta start traversing the WST someday. Hard to find people that would wanna tag along with me. :(

Reply

kenji SAITO February 22, 2016 at 7:45 pm

Aloha Arnold,
Thanks! Yup, the WST offers stunning scenery and challenging terrain that’s a tad different from the ones you find on the KST. You also got access issues at certain points. Let me know if you need info.
Mahalo

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