Pupukea to Poamoho Trail

I decided to spend another camping weekend in the mountains, but on the KST this time around. Thanks to Lonnie for dropping Ani and myself off at the start of our hike.

No other hikers on the trail this morning, except …

… a friendly dog walker and her domesticated charges.

Enjoying the mountain shade until we curved around the road and greeted the morning sun.

Practicing my flood evacuation procedures. Photo by Ani Lagpacan.

Going off the beaten road and onto the beaten path.

Pushing off to start the official beginning of the Ko’olau Summit Trail.

Making our way down the tree lined trail.

Ani passing the separated and solitary ohia trees on our way to the small clearing at the top.

Taking a short break at Pupukea Summit.

Watching the windmills slowly pin wheeling at the Kahuku Wind Farm.

Welcome to the jungle. Please keep your hands, arms and legs on the trail at all times. Photo by Ani Lagpacan.

Is there a machete or sickle inside that leaky Tupperware container? Nope, back to pushing our way through the dense overgrowth which pulled, scratched and poked us six ways to Sunday.

Shouldering our way through the Windward side of the trail. Photo by Ani Lagpacan.

Halfway there and my arms were already on fire. I should’ve worn long sleeves as this was not my first rodeo on this trail. Slow learner.

Fighting gravity and the overgrowth as we pushed our way up the hill.

Ani enjoying every minute on the overgrown trail. Lovin’ it. Maybe I was thinking of a Quarter Pounder with Cheese Value Meal instead.

Service in the mountains. Does your body and soul good.

Watching the waves wrap around Laie Point before dropping down to contour on the Leeward side of the ridge.

Ani pushing her way through the dense thicket of uluhell ferns and trees.

Can we just camp here? Absolutely, positively not.

Pushing on the Windward side of the ridge in a futile attempt to make the cabin before nightfall.

Ani making her way out of the bowl shaped depression.

We made contact with the beginning of the fence line and the rain just started dumping on us. Then the sun went away as well. Good times.

Climbing over the fence only to find that the cabin was locked tighter than a drum. We ended up pitching our tent on the porch in the driving rain.

Early morning bowel movements. Air freshener not included nor needed.

Mahalo for the porch hospitality.

Ani climbing over the fence to get back on the muddier trail. The mud pits that she heard so much about, she was about to experience it first hand.

Contouring the carved trail on the Windward side as the sun and rain took turns bathing us.

Hawaiian rainbow arcing from the mountain to the sea.

Passing through a section of moss blanketed trees.

Ani sloshing through the mud trail.

Back on the exposed Windward side of the ridge line.

What happened to the 10 minute break? It’s only been two minutes! Sorry, I went to public school.

Opening soon at a mountain near you. Fresh off the bone.

Ani going through the gated fence that would take us to the other side of the fence.

One of four wooden KST signs on the trail.

Following the fence to the smelly sock post.

The ridge soon began opening up with wrap around never-fails-to-disappoint views of Punalu’u and Kahana Valleys.

Looking back at Pu’u Piei through the constricted views afforded by the narrow ravine.

We can see the boot for the fence.

Let’s not miss the bus at Poamoho. Leaving at 1500.

Ani finally got her whole 10 minute break at the boot junction.

Background views of Manamana and Kanehoalani. Photo by Ani Lagpacan.

Are we on the right trail?

Did we lose the fence?

Are we on the right trail?

We followed the outer fence line that shadowed the ridge.

Hanging on the outside of the fence until we had to switch to the inside of the fence.

The fence line soon ran into a blockade of trees and overgrowth which shunted us to the original trail.

Yes, we are on the right trail. Please play another record. Photo by Ani Lagpacan.

This section of the KST affords the most bucolic views to be had from the mountains.

Time to get off the fence line and join the crowd waiting for us at the summit.

We arrived at the summit around 1415, which gave us ample time to guzzle down the carbonated beverage and manapua that Chris so graciously brought us.

Postcard perfect view of Punalu’u and Kahana Valleys. Thanks to Brian and Chris who met us at the summit; along with Andrew and Josh, two mainland welders from our work place. There were also two other hikers who happened to be visiting the summit as well, Jacey and Miles. Photo by Ani Lagpacan.

Group photo at the 2,520′ summit; left to right: myself, Andrew, Brian, Miles, Jacey, Josh, Ani and Chris.

People had places to go and Japanese food to eat, so we took our leave of the summit. Chris the Sherpa, lightened Ani’s burden by shouldering her backpack on our way down.

Andrew and Josh fared suprisingly well in their sneakers on the muddy trail.

Jacey and Miles making their way back on the graded trail.

Ani at the trailhead. But wait, we’re not finished yet.

We still had to contend with and endure the bone jarring, head bashing 4×4 ride back down the five mile jeep road. Thanks Brian.

Our two day camping hike through the muddiest and overgrown sections of the KST covered just shy of 24 miles. Amazing adventure with an awesome buddy, who also doubles as a broken record player. Post hike meal at Alley’s Restaurant. Dinner on Ani. Mahalo! Thanks to Brian for picking us up at the trailhead and Chris for taking us back to our cars. A slice of pecan pie from Lonnie’s party ended our day.

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: black junction, hina, koloa cabin, koolau summit trail, kst, laie summit, maleakahana junction, poamoho ridge trail, poamoho summit, pupukea, pupukea summit