Poamoho Trail to Castle Trail

by kenji SAITO on March 17, 2019

Hiking Poamoho Trail to Castle Trail

May the road rise up to meet you. May the wind always be at your back. What better way to spend St. Patrick’s Day than in the verdant mountains of the Ko’olau’s? Now if we only had a Patrick with us. Photo by Ani Lagpacan.

Poamoho Road

Poamoho Road

Met up with the group at Allison’s house where we then shuttled to the trailhead, where Chris inspected a Volvo parked on the side. Safe but no 4×4 capability. Let’s just wait for Olivier.

Truck selfie

Truck selfie

Somebody wanted a group photo on the bumpy road, so I fished my GoPro out of my backpack and obliged with this very clear and detailed picture.

Stranger danger

Stranger danger

You can’t sweet talk us lady, you’re still not riding in the cab with us.

Trailhead

Trailhead

Hunters were unloading their dogs near the trail sign, so we stayed back just in case any of us reeked of swine stench. Group photo by Olivier Rojas, left to right: Chris, Allison, Laredo, Ani, Janell and myself. Mahalo to Olivier for the ride up the jeep road.

Poamoho Trail

Poamoho Trail

Laredo peeled off his jacket, so my brain finally registered that rainbow man was hiking with us.

Poamoho Trail

Poamoho Trail

Heading into the gulch.

Poamoho Summit

Poamoho Summit

We were greeted at the 2,520′ hump with piercing sun beams and suspended pollution particles that muted the mountains and valleys below us.

Poamoho Summit

Poamoho Summit

Hanging a right at the Cline memorial to begin our trek on the KST.

Ko'olau Summit Trail (KST)

Ko’olau Summit Trail (KST)

Opening the gate to where the country is still country. Photo by Ani Lagpacan.

KST

KST

Contouring below the fence line as the views continued to stay with us. Photo by Chris Bautista.

KST

KST

Some of us took the fence line while others took the original KST, but we all ended up in the same place.

KST

KST

Laredo opening the gate for the ladies.

KST

KST

Following the trail as it bended its way through the mountains.

KST

KST

Making our way through the rolling terrain dotted by ohia trees in varying states of decay and growth.

Boot Junction

Boot Junction

I always wondered who left the boot here?

KST

KST

No fence sitters here. We all know where we are going.

KST

KST

Panoramic view of the mountains and valleys below us. Photo by Ani Lagpacan.

KST

KST

Leaving the fenced meadows behind us. Photo by Chris Bautista.

KST

KST

Hiking on the fenced periphery of the native plants. Photo by Chris Bautista

KST

KST

Chris spotted a native lobelia jutting out from the side of the cliff below us, its isolated existence shelters it from close contact.

KST

KST

One of many short ups and downs, helped or hindered by the fence line? Photo by Chris Bautista.

KST

KST

The girls crossing over another gate in the fence line. Keep to the left to our destination. Keep to the right to explore.

Opae'ula Cabin

Opae’ula Cabin

Looking at the four star hotel in the distance.

KST

KST

Janell’s baptism by mud. She took it like a champ.

Junction

Junction

Somebody doesn’t look too happy.

KST

KST

Hopping over the gate to continue our hike on the muddy trail. Photo by Ani Lagpacan.

KST

KST

The group meandering their way through the mountains.

Papali Junction

Papali Junction

Time to leave the KST.

Mud pits

Mud pits

Some of us chose to cling to the fence, while others gave the gift that keeps on giving a wide berth.

Castle Falls

Castle Falls

We hopped the fence to catch a glimpse of the waterfalls that always seems to be flowing.

Papali Trail

Papali Trail

Checking out the coastline views.

Castle Junction

Castle Junction

Going off the reservation or was it the other way around? Photo by Ani Lagpacan.

Castle Trail

Castle Trail

Allison and Laredo coming down the trail who were easily identified by the bright white shirt and bare skin.

Castle Trail

Castle Trail

Janell snacking on the leaf base of the ubiquitous uki grass.

Castle Trail

Castle Trail

Heading down into the hanging valley. Photo by Ani Lagpacan.

Castle Trail

Castle Trail

Passing through a clump of moss-ified trees.

Castle Trail

Castle Trail

The trail down was peppered with miniature landslides and blowdowns that textured the terrain.

Castle Trail

Castle Trail

Random trail meetings. Photos by Chris Bautista.

Kaluanui Stream

Kaluanui Stream

Standing in the stream that collects and cascades down multiple waterfalls before terminating at Kaliuwa’a Falls.

Kaluanui Stream

Kaluanui Stream

Stream life.

Kaluanui Cabin

Kaluanui Shelter

I wonder if this shelter is built near the original redwood framed tin roofed cabin that was established in the 1930s?

Kaluanui Cabin

Kaluanui Shelter

Sheltered life.

Castle Trail

Castle Trail

Leaving the stream as we climbed up the trail.

Castle Trail

Castle Trail

Making our way out of the hanging valley.

Castle Trail

Castle Trail

Walking underneath a stand of moss-ified trees.

Castle Trail

Castle Trail

The fence line has continued its migratory spread and shows no sign of slowing down.

Castle Trail

Castle Trail

Passing through the notch on our way down.

Castle Trail

Castle Trail

Bushwhacking our way down the Pig God trail.

Castle Trail

Castle Trail

“The finest view on the island if it doesn’t rain, only it always rains.” 1946 HTMC schedule. Today it didn’t rain. Photo by Allison Banks.

Castle Trail

Castle Trail

We cut out a lot of the vegetation choked switchbacks by going straight down a spur ridge. Photo by Ani Lagpacan.

Castle Trail

Castle Trail

Looking back at the notch in the mountains.

Castle Trail

Castle Trail

Somebody’s skin seemed impervious to all that clawing and intrusive overgrowth.

Castle Trail

Castle Trail

Looking for a four leaf clover in all the wrong colors and genus.

Castle Trail

Castle Trail

The ridge eventually petered out and returned us to the overgrown switchbacks.

Castle Trail

Castle Trail

Crossing over one of multiple boulder strewn runoffs from the mountain.

Castle Trail

Castle Trail

Tree huggers are proliferating on these trails like so many strawberry guava trees. Photo by Ani Lagpacan.

Castle Trail

Castle Trail

Heading down into the valley that once was golden colored from all the rice paddies that were once tilled by Chinese immigrants.

Punalu'u Valley

Punalu’u Valley

Speak softly and carry a big stick, especially when there are loose dogs running around and you go down the wrong road. Photo by Chris Bautista.

All pau

All pau

Janell doing her best impersonation of a speed bump. Many thanks to Jasmin and Quan for picking us up.

GPS Tracks

GPS Tracks

Somebody’s dream hike covered 14.2 miles through verdant mountains, muddy trails and lush valleys. Fun hike with a great group. Post hike meal at El Chile Relleno where they still give unlimited chips and salsa.

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.

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