Pu’u Kaua to Palehua Trail

This was a hike long in the making. It was over four years since I did this particular section of the Waianae Mountains. Time for another visit.

Thanks to Preston for dropping us off near the trailhead. We were somewhat confused as the entrance was blocked with private property signs, despite being informed that public access must be granted to the trails. Somebody didn’t get the memo.

Run softly and carry a big stick when barking dogs can be heard and not seen. Remember you don’t have to be the fastest, just not the slowest.

Most of us shed our outer layers of clothing due to the heat and humidity in the valley.

Switch backing our way up through the forest droppings. Short cardio climb to wake us up this particular morning. Works better than caffeinated coffee.

Looking for love in all the wrong places. Just look down. Photo by Cisco Quintanilla.

Watching the drifting clouds slowly blot out our views of Kunia and points beyond. Photo by Analyn Baliscao.

Analyn learned the hard way not to follow somebody too close, as Cisco accidentally kicked her in the face. To her credit, she just laughed it off and took it like a champ.

Stepping foot on the 3,127′ benchmark. No views for us at the socked in summit.

The air temperature dropped on the third highest peak and the layers came right back on.

We hit another patch of uluhe ferns and clidemia shrubs as we left the summit. Photo by Chris Bautista.

Sweeping views of the central plain that were diluted with the clouds.

Making our way down the ridge that were interrupted by pockets of exposed rocks. Photo by Chris Bautista.

Chris provided the drum roll as the others looked ahead to the main event ahead of us.

Looking back at the still socked in summit of Pu’u Kaua.

The rock climbing gym is now open for business. Membership dues of blood, sweat and tears. We can do without the blood donation. Photo by Cisco Quintanilla.

Analyn climbing her way down as Cisco watches.

Looking ahead to the elephant on the ridge.

Chris coming down the tricky climb. Photo by Analyn Baliscao.

Panoramic view of Lualualei Valley while I photobomb Analyn trying to figure out the best way to go down. Photo by Cisco Quintanilla.

We had to drop down and contour around a rock before scrambling our way over the narrow dike.

A different perspective of the dike. Photo by Cisco Quintanilla.

Climbing over another rock. This particular section of the WST has the most rock climbing. Photo by Analyn Baliscao.

Everybody looking for their next handhold and foothold coming up.

Cisco looks away as Chris attempts to give himself an organic circumcision. Photo by Analyn Baliscao.

Scrambling our way up and over. Photo by Cisco Quintanilla.

I’ll go this way … Photo by Chris Bautista.

… and you guys can go that way. Photo by Cisco Quintanilla.

We didn’t trust the tattered rope, so we used our own webbing instead to lower ourselves down. Photo by Chris Bautista.

Analyn passing through the short corridor of pine trees and structural remnants.

I took a quick bite and started my climb up the pass. Not going to lie. My third time and I was still nervous. Photo by Cisco Quintanilla.

After I had climbed my way to the crumbly top, it took quite a few times to lower the webbing to the rest of the group as the winds blew it everywhere except where it needed to land. I had to use my water bottle as a dead weight to deliver the webbing down. Photo by Analyn Baliscao.

Everybody taking their turns climbing up the 80′ crumbly cliff.

Half our group shot, as not everybody wanted to get too close to the edge.

Panoramic view from the top of the pass and looking out towards the now clear summit of Pu’u Kaua.

Walking on solid rock never felt so good. Photo by Chris Bautista.

Analyn enjoying the fenced views of the island’s largest coastal valley. Photo by Chris Bautista

Somebody didn’t learn from their earlier kick in the face.

Analyn straddling the fence as she makes her way over to the other side.

We were pleasantly surprised to find out that the trail was not as strangled and suffocated with uluhe ferns as previous hikes had been.

Cisco overlooking the brutal and exposed spur ridge that leads to the WST. Photo by Chris Bautista

We bumped into another group approaching the ti leaf planted summit. Group photo left to right: Clyde, Andie, myself, Analyn, Kim, Cisco and Chris. As luck would have it, they were willing to give us a ride back to our cars. Ask and you shall receive.

Leaving the 3,098′ white cliff summit. Photo by Chris Bautista

Chris walking down the picturesque stairs through a stand of ohia trees.

Thanks to Clyde Imada from Bishop Museum; who pointed out the numerous rare lobelia, violet and other native plants.

Contouring our way around the trail cut into the rock.

Analyn entering the boulder stacked passageway.

Coming out with no boulder rolling behind me. Photo by Analyn Baliscao.

Ferlino would climb this tree. Photo by Cisco Quintanilla.

We stopped on the trail and helped to clear out a patch of air plants, bag and carry them down the trail.

Looking out towards Nanakuli. Photo by Chris Bautista

Golden hour in the bamboo grove.

No champagne or crowns this time around. Congratulations to Analyn and Cisco for completing the Waianae Summit Trail in its entirety.

A big thanks to Andie who gave us a ride down the 5 mile plus road in her Kawasaki Mule and provided a brief historical and educational commentary about the place.

Great way to end the year and decade with an adventurous 10.84 mile hike and great friends. Post hike meal at Zippy’s as somebody didn’t want to spend more than $10 on dinner. Even though I’m pretty sure he dropped close to an Andrew Jackson for his food. Good times all around.

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: palehua, palikea, pohakea pass, pu'u kaua, waianae summit trail, wst