Mount Ka’ala (Evelyn)

by kenji SAITO on July 1, 2018

Hiking Mount Ka'ala (Evelyn)

We hiked to the highest point on the island today to visit a post-WW2 wreckage as gloomy weather derailed the original plan to saddle up. Thanks to Jasmin for dropping us off deep in Waianae Valley.

Trailhead

Trailhead

Is this a slipper optional hike?

Waianae Ka'ala Trail

Waianae Ka’ala Trail

Heading deep into the valley, streambed was bone dry. No waterfalls today.

Waianae Ka'ala Trail

Waianae Ka’ala Trail

Rooting up the trail. Photo by Ferlino Carinio.

Three Poles Junction

Three Poles Junction

Is it time to shed the slippers yet?

Three Poles Junction

Three Poles Junction

Group photo left to right: Anne, myself, Ferlino and Analyn.

Waianae Ka'ala Trail

Waianae Ka’ala Trail

Who said you can’t be in two places at the same time? Photo by Analyn Baliscao.

Waianae Ka'ala Trail

Waianae Ka’ala Trail

Looking ahead to the steep climb ahead of us to the top. We only had to climb up roughly 1,425′ more of mountain to make it to the top.

Waianae Ka'ala Trail

Waianae Ka’ala Trail

Reflecting towards Waianae Valley on the first boulder section.

Waianae Ka'ala Trail

Waianae Ka’ala Trail

Taking the ladder and ladder-less way up on the second boulder section. Photo by Anne Fai.

Waianae Ka'ala Trail

Waianae Ka’ala Trail

Pitching up the steep rocky climb to the summit.

Waianae Ka'ala Trail

Waianae Ka’ala Trail

Who needs hiking shoes? Not Analyn.

Mount Ka'ala

Mount Ka’ala

Hikers in the bog. Photo by Ferlino Carinio.

No hat, no salute

No hat, no salute

Somebody is not getting a salute today.

Lunch break

Lunch break

Most people get leg cramps, a few get mouth cramps. I heard they can be pretty painful. Photo by Ferlino Carinio.

Mount Ka'ala

Mount Ka’ala

After lunch, we skirted the barbed wire fence surrounding the FAA tracking station to go exploring down a ridge.

Mount Ka'ala

Mount Ka’ala

Descending from the 4,025′ flat topped mountain towards Waialua.

Ridge

Ridge

Making our way through the moss encrusted ohia trees as we followed the fence line down.

Ridge

Ridge

Looking out towards the North Shore.

Ridge

Ridge

Anne hopping over the fence.

Trail

Trail

Bushwhacking our way through suffocating ginger plants and prickly thimbleberry bushes as we tried to pick up the trail.

Trail

Trail

Stepping on history as we followed the trail of wreckage that soon lead us … Photo by Ferlino Carinio.

B-24

B-24

… to the crashed remains of the B-24 bomber “Evelyn.”

B-24

B-24

Exploring what remains of the plane that crashed on July 30, 1945 at 0910. Unfortunately, the eleven crew members did not survive the impact and were retrieved the next day and buried with full military honors.

B-24

B-24

Leaving the crash scene. Photo by Ferlino Carinio.

Trail

Trail

You go that way and I’ll go this way. Photo by Ferlino Carinio.

Ridge

Ridge

Pausing after the short, steep and humid climb back up to the summit.

Mount Ka'ala

Mount Ka’ala

Up. Down. Across. Repeat. Photo by Ferlino Carinio.

Mount Ka'ala

Mount Ka’ala

A poorly coordinated dragonfly interrupting somebody’s photo session. Photo by Ferlino Carinio.

Mount Ka'ala

Mount Ka’ala

Group photo overlooking the central plain of Wahiawa and points beyond.

Mount Ka'ala

Mount Ka’ala

Circling our way around the tracking station.

Mount Ka'ala

Mount Ka’ala

Our last group photo at the top before taking our leave of the summit of “the awakening.” Photo by Analyn Baliscao

Waianae Ka'ala Trail

Waianae Ka’ala Trail

Coming down from the highest mountain on the island.

Slip'n'Slide

Slip’n’Slide

Where are those cardboard boxes when you need them?

All pau

All pau

Slipper in. Shoe out. Mahalo to Jasmin for coming back to get us, despite Makaha not being Waianae. Fun group hike that explored a different side of the tallest peak on the island. Post hike meal at Pho My Vi, the best phocking rice noodles on the Windward side. Or that’s what I was told. Can’t believe everything you eat.

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.

Leave a Comment

{ 32 comments… read them below or add one }

Loretta July 2, 2021 at 7:00 am

Hey you’re trek looks amazing. I’ve been to Mt Kaala but never found the plane wreck. Can you give me tips on how to get there please?

Reply

kenji SAITO July 6, 2021 at 10:54 am

Aloha Loretta,
I’ll shoot over an email. Hope it helps.
Mahalo

Reply

Kevin December 20, 2022 at 10:51 am

Hi Kenji,

Great pictures of one of my favorite hikes! Would you mind sending any tips on how to get to the plane wreck to me as well? I would like to pay my respects.

Mahalo,
Kevin

Reply

kenji SAITO December 20, 2022 at 11:09 am

Aloha Kevin,
I’ll send an email your way shortly.
Mahalo

Reply

Justin Conant December 24, 2022 at 7:04 am

Aloha! Loved your blog! Would definitely love help finding Evelyn as well! Mahalo!

kenji SAITO December 30, 2022 at 11:07 am

Aloha Justin,
I sent you directions a couple days ago.
Mahalo

Jacob August 5, 2021 at 9:35 am

This hike looks spectacular! Is there any chance that you could mark out where the wreck is? I’ve been trying to find it by satellite photos but can’t seem to find it. Any help/recommendations would be awesome????

Reply

kenji SAITO August 8, 2021 at 4:18 pm

Aloha Jacob,
I sent you some directions via email. Hope it helps.
Mahalo

Reply

Dallas Thomas August 12, 2021 at 11:02 pm

Could I receive the directions or coordinates to this?

I have been multiple times, and have never found Evelyn. Great post, it looks like a lot of fun for y’all!

Reply

kenji SAITO August 16, 2021 at 12:11 pm

Aloha Dallas,
I will email you the general directions. I just had some friends that paid a visit to the plane, they said it was heavily overgrown with the thorny bushes. Not a walk in the park for sure.
Mahalo

Reply

Brandy October 5, 2021 at 5:18 pm

This hike looks fantastic! I loved reading about your trip. Can you give any tips for finding Evelyn? Any help would be so appreciated.

Reply

kenji SAITO October 24, 2021 at 10:55 am

Aloha Brandy,
Thanks. After gaining the summit of Ka’ala, you go to the left of the radar tower compound until you will eventually run into a fence that goes down a spur ridge towards Waialua. Follow the fence line down and the last time we did it, we could see the plane as we descended down the ridge and then you will basically have to hop over the fence and bushwhack your way to the plane. Hope this helps.
Mahalo

Reply

Toni Serritelli October 12, 2021 at 5:23 am

I have lived on the island for about 2 1/2 years now and have done many hikes. This one is on my bucket list. Would you be so kind to send me any information you could on the “Evelyn”.
Mahalo

Reply

kenji SAITO October 24, 2021 at 10:56 am

Aloha Toni,
Please see above.
Mahalo

Reply

Candace November 20, 2021 at 11:17 pm

Hi can you share the maps for direction going to the plane wreck pls? Thank u

Reply

kenji SAITO November 28, 2021 at 9:11 pm

Aloha Candace,
I sent it to you. Hope it helps.
mahalo

Reply

Chandra Robison December 25, 2021 at 4:35 pm

Hey,

I’m hiking Mt. Ka’ala monday. I was wondering if you can provide a little more detail about the route to the plane? I’ve seen lots of your posts on Oahu hiking Community.

Thanks,

Reply

kenji SAITO December 26, 2021 at 10:26 pm

Aloha Chandra,
Sent you some directions. Hope it helps.
Mahalo

Reply

Thomas Horner December 31, 2021 at 1:26 pm

Hey Kenji, Love following your posts, I’m heading to Mt. Ka’ala on sunday and would love to try to find Evelyn, any tips or maps you ca give me would be super helpful!

Reply

kenji SAITO January 1, 2022 at 9:41 am

Aloha Thomas,
Emailed you some directions, hope it helps.
Happy New Year!

Reply

Nick Luchsinger January 5, 2022 at 12:35 am

Hi Kenji,

Thanks so much for documenting this! Really interesting hike. I plan to summit Mt. Ka’ala in a couple days, if all goes well. Would be amazing to visit “Evelyn” while up there–if you see this in time and you’re willing to share coordinates or any navigational tips, it would be a huge help.

Mahalo,
Nick

Reply

kenji SAITO January 6, 2022 at 4:35 am

Aloha Nick,
Thanks. I emailed you the general directions yesterday. Hope it helps.
Mahalo

Reply

Ryan March 9, 2022 at 10:09 am

I love the hike and its history, thank you for sharing this. I really want to find the plane wreckage. Can you give me tips and direction on how to find the plane please?

Reply

kenji SAITO March 14, 2022 at 11:04 am

Aloha Ryan,
I will email you tonight.
Mahalo

Reply

Clay July 17, 2022 at 4:43 pm

Can you email me too please!!!!???
Thank you

Reply

kenji SAITO July 20, 2022 at 12:46 pm

Aloha Clay,
I will email you the directions tonight. Stay safe and have fun.
Mahalo

Reply

Dan O’Leary September 12, 2022 at 1:18 pm

Hey guys is there any chance I could be sent the directions to the plane wreck j plan on hiking the mountain this weekend and hope to be able to get to the plane it would be highly appreciated.

Reply

kenji SAITO September 18, 2022 at 9:40 pm

Aloha Dan,
Sorry only saw this now. Did you find it okay this weekend? If not and you still need directions, LMK.
Mahalo

Reply

Ernie More September 25, 2022 at 6:53 pm

Hello, I think your directions are pretty clear but if you have GPS or map routes you can share I would appreciate it! Thanks, –Ernie

Reply

kenji SAITO September 26, 2022 at 10:24 pm

Aloha Ernie,
Sent it your way. Have fun.
Mahalo

Reply

Sean Gabriel September 12, 2023 at 2:05 am

Aloha Kenji,

I have been researching instructions on how to get to “Evelyn”, can you please share them with me?

Mahalo! Maybe I will see you on the trail one of these days!

Reply

kenji SAITO September 16, 2023 at 9:16 pm

Aloha Sean,
It’s been awhile, but basically once you reach the top of ka’ala, you go clockwise around the fence that surrounds the radar installation until you hit another fence that is going down towards the central plain. follow it down for about 30-45 mins, if the overgrowth is not too bad, you should be able to spot the plane as you make your descent, if not, you might have to do some bushwhacking. hope this helps. Hope to see you on the trails one day!
mahalo

Reply

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