Poamoho Trail to Laie Trail

Back to the muddiest section on the KST to help another friend connect his dots. Photo by Katie Bingham.

A big thanks to Edgar for driving Art, Katie, Tessa and myself up the mud caked jeep road. At one point, we thought we might either have to get out and walk or push. Photo by Art Young.

We all answered the call of nature in our own ways as we started on the trail.

So far, it was just another day on the same graded trail that we have hiked countless times. Photo by Katie Bingham.

We turned around the bend and it became a totally different day and trail. Photo by Art Young.

Looking down straight to the stream. Photo by Art Young.

Didn’t there used to be steps around here? Photo by Art Young.

The landslide had wiped out the trail down to the rock in some sections. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

Crossing the loose and unstable topsoil on the trail. Photo by Katie Bingham.

Another perspective looking back at the mass wasting on the trail.

Katie going up what I call the drainage ditch.

Finding our way over a massive blowdown that was covered with a carpet of uluhe ferns. Photo by Katie Bingham.

It wasn’t Art’s size, so he returned it to its rightful owner. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

Mother Nature had scarred the side of the ridge as she took everything down in her path. Trees, stones, dirt and plants got pushed down to the stream. Photo by Katie Bingham.

Art crossing over the new trail. Photo by Katie Bingham.

Standing on the exposed rock. Photo by Katie Bingham.

This was by far, the most devastating rupture that the landslides did to the trail. Photo by Art Young.

Katie contouring her way around the massive landslide.

Tessa scrambling her way across the slippery slope. Photo by Art Young.

Katie threading her way through the last major blowdown.

Art stepping carefully on the fallen trees as he made his way across. Some of us weighed more than the others. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

Working my way around some trees to make my way across to some other trees. Photo by Katie Bingham.

Art traversing the last landslide on the trail.

I was sure glad that we were off the maintained trail and hiking the unmaintained portion of the trail. Well, that’s what the sign said.

Heading into the gulch to go over the stream crossing.

Approaching the cloud soaked and wind blasted summit. Photo by Katie Bingham.

The clouds soon cleared, but the winds stayed behind. Good enough for photographic opportunities.

Leaving the 2,520′ summit behind us for mud soaked trails and spectacular ridge, valley and coastline views. Photo by Katie Bingham.

Unlocking the gate that set us free on the KST, but not the snails. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

Art contouring below the fence line on an old landslide. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

Misty mountains. Photo by Art Young.

Art standing on the historic KST carved out of the mountains in the 1930s overlooking the Leeward ridges and the Waianae Mountain Range. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

Tessa pushing up the hill to reconnect to the fence line. Photo by Art Young.

Art and Tessa approaching the intersection where the old and new trails meet.

Following in Art’s deep footsteps through the muddy spots on the trail. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

Catch me if you can.

Going down the fence line as it followed the convoluted landscape. Photo by Art Young.

Approaching the iconic boot junction. Soon to be replaced by the more iconic slippah. Photo by Art Young.

Some of us got booted off the sign.

Going over the fence line.

Crossing the spongy ground to get to the other side. Photo by Art Young.

Standing on the fence to get a better view of the valleys below us. Photo by Katie Bingham.

Enjoying a more expansive view further up the fence line. Photo by Art Young.

Looking at Opae’ula Cabin in the distance. Photo by Katie Bingham.

Going down the fence line down where we soon detoured and followed the trickling stream bed to explore a waterfall. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

Nothing to write home about … Photo by Art Young.

… but good enough to take a photo. Photo by Art Young.

We kept to the left to stay on trail. Go to the right to see more waterfalls. Photo by Art Young.

Huh. What the hell. Oh my gosh. Disgusting. It was disgusting. Level inflection was maintained throughout. Photo by Katie Bingham.

Is this the beginning or the end?

Pushing through the overgrowth on the mud soaked trail. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

You know it’s getting serious when somebody puts on their gloves, the mud was deep. Photo by Art Young.

The fence sprawl has gradually spread throughout the mountains. Photo by Katie Bingham.

I was too hungry and cold to smile at the camera. Slurping down a hot bowl of pho was priority on my list. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

Katie coming up through a corridor of moss encrusted trees.

Looking at another massive landslide on thankfully another ridge with a small gurgling waterfall besides it. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

How long have I been hiking with this stick?

Art making his way on the somewhat narrow trail masked with overgrowth and pitted with false holes and tripping roots, branches and vines.

Tessa skirting around the scenic-less rock, but gave it a hug nonetheless. Photo by Art Young.

Spotting a waterfall coming out of the mountains. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

Meandering our way through the KST. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

Another waterfall spotted running off the side of the mountain. This is probably the most waterfalls I have seen on this section of the KST. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

Art climbing his way out of the notch. We are almost there! To the cabin that is.

Looking at a waterfall coming out of the landslide. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

We soon regained the fence line which meant we were close to the cabin. Locked? Unlocked? Photo by Tessa Bugay.

Disgusted much? Photo by Tessa Bugay.

Some of us didn’t handle our approach down to the cabin as gracefully as the others.

No liquor was consumed in the production of this photo.

Outside the cabin that had a new door and fresh paint.

The traditional mud race upon leaving the cabin. Art enjoyed the fruits of victory, while I enjoyed the spoils of the pungent mud. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

Spotting our last waterfall on the nearby ridge. Malaekahana Falls? Photo by Tessa Bugay.

Art making his way on the trail that was covered and carpeted with cascading uluhe ferns.

Aida, Dale, Cisco, Hana, Jenn, Lilyn, Quan and Sally had hiked up the Laie Trail, frolicked in the waterfalls and ended at the summit. While waiting for us, they celebrated a past birthday.

Sloshing through the bowl shaped depression. I was so over the mud. Photo by Art Young.

Trying to beat the clock as the group didn’t want to wait one minute past the hour. Photo by Quan Haberstroh.

Celebrating a future birthday.

#15. Pouring my traditional celebratory champagne over Art to congratulate him for completing his last section needed to finish the Ko’olau Summit Trail which spans from Makapu’u to Pupukea. Welcome to the club. No secret handshake, just an empty champagne bottle to mark your induction.

Group photo left to right: myself, Katie, Aida, Quan, Tessa, Art, Lilyn, Sally and Cisco.

Taking our leave of the 2,240′ summit. Photo by Art Young.

Working our way down the muddy trail. Photo by Sally Chow.

Brushing our way on the uluhe carpeted ridge line.

You guys call this a landslide? Photo by Art Young.

Flanking the side of the steep cliff. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Somebody was overly optimistic in saying we could get down within 90 minutes. You’re the forgetful hiker and not the fast hiker. Photo by Lilyn Avendano.

We became night marchers in more ways than one, from this point down to the road. Photo by Aida Gordon.

The Hawaiian version of bread crumbs. Photo by Sally CHow.

Exiting the trail where we passed one farmer who was surprised to see us, possibly thinking we were poachers. Shout out to Cisco and Quan for driving us back to our cars in Mililani. Most of us just wanted to crawl into a shower and hit the sack, so no post hike meal today.

Our 15.5 mile hike had an unforgettable beginning and a memorable finish through the Northern Ko’olau Mountains. Congrats again to Art for completing the KST.

Note: DLNR has shut down Poamoho Trail as of March 15, 2021 due to trail conditions.

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.

Tagged as: boot junction, cline memorial, ewa forest reserve, koloa cabin, koolau summit trail, kst, laie summit, laie trail, papali junction, poamoho summit, poamoho trail, rabbit hole