Kolekole Pass to Pohakea Pass

by kenji SAITO on June 10, 2023

Hiking Kolekole Pass to Pohakea Pass

It was that time to connect the shortcut and hope it doesn’t turn out to be another long day.

Kolekole Pass

Kolekole Pass

100% ID check. Thanks to Edgar for dropping us off at the lowest point in the Waianae Mountain Range.

Kolekole Pass

Kolekole Pass

Going up the wooden steps.

Kolekole Pass

Kolekole Pass

Who wants to be on the chopping block?

Kolekole Pass

Kolekole Pass

We have our first victim, I mean volunteer.

Kolekole Pass

Kolekole Pass

This must be the way.

Kolekole Pass

Kolekole Pass

Our first group photo of the day in the meadow and certainly not our last.

Hapapa Trail

Hapapa Trail

Why take the contour when you can take the middleman out of the picture and go straight up?

Hapapa Trail

Hapapa Trail

Enjoying the morning view. Just needed a cup of coffee.

Hapapa Trail

Hapapa Trail

Hello from the other side.

Hapapa Trail

Hapapa Trail

Scrambling out of the notch.

Hapapa Trail

Hapapa Trail

Looking back at the group on the second notch.

Hapapa Trail

Hapapa Trail

Slowly gaining elevation as we hiked up the ridge.

Hapapa Trail

Hapapa Trail

The sunbeams were trying to fight the clouds and the clouds were winning.

Hapapa Trail

Hapapa Trail

Following the fence line to the top.

Hapapa Trail

Hapapa Trail

Passing through the tent shelter.

Pu'u Hapapa

Pu’u Hapapa

In the clouds at the 2,883′ summit.

Waianae Summit Trail (WST)

Waianae Summit Trail (WST)

Traversing the fenced ridge line with far reaching views of the largest coastal valley on the island. Crossing unstable fences can lead to involuntary castration. Jockstrap optional.

WST

WST

Looking back at the red and white striped twin guy masts that stand over 1,500′ tall and were built in 1972.

WST

WST

Craning my neck upwards to get a better perspective of the spire rock.

WST

WST

Thomas traversing over one of the elevated rock dikes on the trail.

Pu'u Kanehoa

Pu’u Kanehoa

Breakfast club at the 2,778′ knob.

WST

WST

Headed into one of many small clumps of trees on the ridge line.

WST

WST

CJ approaching the Christmas tree.

Gorilla Heads

Gorilla Heads

Going up the smaller of the rock formations and the one that closely resembles its name.

Gorilla Heads

Gorilla Heads

Climbing up the rock formation whose bark is worse than its bite.

Gorilla Heads

Gorilla Heads

Thomas would agree.

Gorilla Heads

Gorilla Heads

Can you see the gorilla for the mountains? I’m not talking about Aileen.

Gorilla Heads

Gorilla Heads

Swinging over the backside.

Gorilla Heads

Gorilla Heads

It helps to have long legs.

Gorilla Heads

Gorilla Heads

Scooting our way down.

Gorilla Heads

Gorilla Heads

You put your left foot out. You put your left foot in. And you climb it down. You do the Hokey Pokey. And you turn yourself around. That’s what it’s all about.

Gorilla Heads

Gorilla Heads

CJ scrambling out of the simian shaped rocks.

WST

WST

Thomas caught between a hard rock and a wobbly fence.

WST

WST

Somebody sprained their ankle around here. Nothing that a little duct tape can’t fix.

WST

WST

We don’t need no stinking webbing.

WST

WST

Group photo on the slanted rocks.

WST

WST

Pushing our way through the insufferable overgrowth.

Pu'u Kaua

Pu’u Kaua

Lunch at the the 3,127′ grassy area that is the third highest peak on the island.

WST

WST

Climbing our way down through the insufferable overgrowth. Deja vu.

WST

WST

Breaking out into the relatively open ridge line that was dotted with barrels and jugs of non-potable water.

WST

WST

All smiles as we left the fence behind us.

WST

WST

Traversing the ridge line that is dominated by these wind swept trees.

WST

WST

Passing through the split rocks.

WST

WST

Checking out my built-in ventilation.

WST

WST

Just follow the rope on the way down. Easy peasy.

WST

WST

Aileen climbing her way down the rock.

WST

WST

Some went high …

WST

WST

… others went low.

Pohakea Pass

Pohakea Pass

Looking over at the crumbly cliff that has been tamed with questionable webbing.

WST

WST

Contouring off the ridge line.

WST

WST

Just here for the views and the photos.

WST

WST

Sliding our way down through the narrow crack.

WST

WST

All the dots are connected. All is right in the world of hiking.

Pohakea Pass Trail

Pohakea Pass Trail

Leaving the ridge line to head down into the valley.

Pohakea Pass Trail

Pohakea Pass Trail

Missed me by that much.

Pohakea Pass Trail

Pohakea Pass Trail

We soon joined up at the junction where we had come up from the mosquito infested valley back in April.

Pohakea Pass Trail

Pohakea Pass Trail

Knock! Knock! Who’s there? Hike. Hike who?

Pohakea Pass Trail

Pohakea Pass Trail

The trail going down seemed wide open at first and then it just disappeared into head high itchy grass, rocky under footing and scattered blowdowns.

Pohakea Pass Trail

Pohakea Pass Trail

We finally emerged from the overgrowth to the jeep road that was literally two steps away from the route we had taken up to the ridge line in April.

All pau

All pau

Thanks to Doug for picking us up at the end of the road. Small world.

GPS Tracks

GPS Tracks

Our scenic stretch of the Waianae Mountain Range covered less than six miles with a great group. Post hike meal criteria was that the place served the daily dietary staple of the people of ancient Mesopotamia. Chili’s fit the bill.

Photos taken by Aileen Agustin, CJ Mendiola, Thomas Barrett, 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.

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