Unwanted attention forced us to a different venue for today. Thanks to Jasmin for dropping Analyn, Cisco, Ferlino, Tene and myself off at the airfield that will soon fall back into the hands of the Army. Tick tock.

Trailhead

Starting our way up the salt encrusted trail.

Kealia Trail

Going up the 19 switchbacks where we saw hikers coming up and going down, some familiar and some not so familiar.

Kealia Trail

Looking down at the fish pond that was once the rock quarry used to build … Photo by Cisco Quintanilla.

Kealia Trail

… Dillingham Airfield, formerly known as Mokuleia Airfield. Photo by Cisco Quintanilla.

Picnic Shed

Group photo at the top of the trail where we sought shelter from the blazing sun, left to right: Ferlino, myself, Tene, Analyn and Cisco.

Water Tank

If he’s not hanging off something, he’s not happy. Photo by Cisco Quintanilla.

Kuaokala Trail

Heading up the hilly trail as it turned into the back of the sun.

Waianae Summit Trail (WST)

Following the fence line back down to the trail. Photo by Cisco Quintanilla.

WST

Walking the wide open jeep road bordered by itchy California grass.

WST

Chocolate milk reflections.

WST

Not quite the Energizer Bunny, but A for effort.

WST

Enjoying the fenced view of Makua Valley. Photo by Ferlino Carinio.

WST

Following the fenced level trail before it turned into a sloped trail. Photo by Cisco Quintanilla.

Moku

Cisco approaching the geodetic marker where we turned right to continue on the trail.

WST

Entering the 658 acre Pahole Reserve that protects the native ecosystem. Photo by Ferlino Carinio.

WST

Cisco making his way over the wooden fenced trail.

WST

Switch backing our way up through the tinkling markers for native plants. Photo by Cisco Quintanilla.

WST

The group skirting the new and improved snail habitat.

WST

Breaking out into the eroded open section to scenic views of Makua Valley.

WST

Resuming our hike on the surprisingly cleared trail.

Mokuleia Lookout

Our photo break at the benched lookout was as brief as the thought to drop down to the picnic shed and pluck the refreshing tangelos in season.

WST

Pulling ourselves up the hilly trail.

WST

The group cresting the top of a hill and making their way down.

Three Corners

Group photo looking out towards Mokuleia Valley.

Three Corners

Analyn and Tene perched on the fence with Makaha and Makua Valleys behind them. Photo by Ferlino Carinio.

WST

Pushing our way through the insufferable jungle of uluhe ferns and thorny thimble berry bushes. Photo by Cisco Quintanilla.

WST

We can see the road for the uluhe ferns.

WST

Tene dropping down the steep section of the fence line. Photo by Ferlino Carinio.

Ka’ala Road

Pounding the paved road, at least we don’t have to walk all the way up to marker #78. Photo by Ferlino Carinio.

Junction

Trading our short stay on asphalt for crumbly dirt and strawberry guava trees.

King Kong Ridge

Tene going down the steep section of the ridge with the assistance of webbing that carbon dating failed to determine its age. No wonder, it’s not organic. Photo by Ferlino Carinio.

King Kong Ridge

Looking ahead to the simian shaped rocks interrupting the forested spur ridge. Photo by Cisco Quintanilla.

King Kong

Perched on top of the not so terrifying head.

King Kong

Ferlino making his way down.

King Kong

Happy Easter, hoping our brightly colored plastic eggs were filled with TP and face masks. Photo by Ferlino Carinio.

King Kong Ridge

Contouring our way to the right where we slowly regained the ridge line.

Kahuna Cave

Approaching the back of the huge boulder that got deposited on the ridge. Photo by Cisco Quintanilla.

Kahuna Cave

Five and only five souls for our group photo by Ferlino Carinio.

King Kong Ridge

The bottle capped trees guided our way down through the strawberry guava tree line.

Makaha Valley

Passing the BOWS pumping station.

Kane’aki Heiau

Checking out the restored agricultural temple from a social distance.

Mohala I Ka Wai

Walking through the lo’i kalo (taro patch) meant to revitalize the lush valley.

Makaha Valley

Back on the road. Photo by Cisco Quintanilla.

All pau

Heading out of the valley where we killed time with strutting peacocks and thorny plants until Jasmin picked us up. Mahalo!

GPS Tracks

Our 15.4 mile coast to coast hike covered ridges, mountains and valleys populated with overgrowth, fences and spectacular views all around. A nice grinder hike with a fun crew. Post hike meal at L&L Drive Inn where shakes were not on the menu.

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.

Met up with Ben, Mitsy and Stuart at the end of Dillingham Airfield.

Trailhead

Time to start counting the 19 switchbacks to the top.

Kealia Trail

Chasing the rainbow. Hope you can swim.

Kealia Trail

Looking out towards the country towns of Waialua and Haleiwa. Photo by Ben Hinders.

Kuaokala Trail

We soon crested the top of the cliff, passed the picnic bench and picked up the uphill trail.

Kuaokala Trail

Stuart checking out the artwork from topside.

Kuaokala Trail

Ben charging the tree lined trail.

Kuaokala Trail

We go this way? Follow the signs.

Kuaokala Trail

Which sign do we follow?

Kuaokala Trail

Who’s holding the gate open for me? Ding dong, chivalry is dead.

Kuaokala Trail

Climbing up and over a rocky section of the trail.

Kuaokala Trail

Mitsy about to sample the colorful forest fungi. Registered nurse standing by. Photo by Stuart Krempin.

Kuaokala Trail

Taking the easy way down. Photo by Stuart Krempin.

Kuaokala Trail

The group coming down the cloud wrapped trail.

Kuaokala Trail

King of the Hill. Photo by Ben Hinders.

Kuaokala Trail

The clouds blurred the scenery, while the whipping wind rustled through the trees on our trail hike. Atmosphere.

Kuaokala Trail

We chose to not take the higher road.

Kuaokala Trail

Leaving the picnic shelter behind us.

Junction

Another trail for another day.

Kuaokala Trail

Looking down into Keawaula Beach, as the earlier views of Makua Valley were blotted out by the rolling clouds.

Kuaokala Trail

Why did the snail cross the road? To join the chicken on the other side of the road.

Kaena Point

Hiking on the less traveled road.

Kaena Point

Nothing to see here. Mooove along.

Kaena Point

Where the trail meets the road.

Kaena Point

End of the road.

Kaena Point

Group photo left to right: Stuart, Ben, myself and Mitsy.

Kaena Point

Life imitating art. Which one is the real golf ball? Which one is the real goofball?

Paragliders

These two pilots were getting some serious air thanks to the blustery winds spilling off the ridge.

High Five

Hang time and time to press the flesh. Just don’t kick me. Photo by Stuart Krempin.

Kaena Point

We took our leave of the summit as we passed numerous remnants of manmade structures dating back decades.

Kaena Point

Ben making his way down the ridge.

Kaena Point

Mitsy and Stuart picking their way amongst the assorted boulders that decorated the trail.

Carrion Flowers

Nothing like the smell of rotting flesh to perfume the air. Photo by Ben Hinders.

Kaena Point

Making our way down to the first bunker. Photo by Ben Hinders.

Kaena Point

Bunker life.

Laysan Albatross

The original paraglider. Photo by Ben Hinders.

Kaena Point

Stuart and Mitsy approaching the vent for the second bunker.

Kaena Point

More bunker life. Hot as heck.

Kaena Point

Standing on the last bunker. No whales sighted. Photo by Ben Hinders.

Kaena Point

Dropping off the ridge as we ran across other hikers near the base. Photo by Ben Hinders.

Kaena Point

Cave life. Steaming sauna.

HFD

Walking the fenced trail out, we saw the yellow fire department helicopter landing on the ridge. We found out later that one of the paragliders crashed into the cliff. Wishes for a speedy recovery to the pilot.

Kaena Point

Mitsy leaving behind the Kaena Point Natural Area Reserve.

All pau

Thanks to James for picking us up and shuttling us back to our cars. The 9.43 miles of trail melted away due to the mostly flat terrain and fun company. No post hike meal as everybody had places to go.

Note: I have been made aware the 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.

We drove all the way to the North Shore to hike Kealia trail which starts at Dillingham Airfield. There were already several cars waiting at the gate at the end of the runway when we got there, as they don’t open until 6:30am. 

Kealia Trail

We pulled into the parking lot by the control tower that was quickly filling up already. As we walked to the trailhead that is right across the parking lot, we passed some Boy Scouts that were just waking up and taking down their tents.

Falling rocks

There are 19 switchbacks going up the face of the mountain. This all made for slow and steady climbing on the trail that was littered with boulders of all shapes and sizes, I guess that’s what the earlier sign meant by “falling rocks.”

Picnic table

The picnic table marks the end of Kealia trail. We stopped for a spell to gulp water down and chowed down on power bars.

Kuaokala Trail

From here on we were hiking on the red dirt roads of Kuaokala Trail. We turned right at the first junction which soon led to the Kuaokala Public Hunting Area. Didn’t see any pigs or goats. We turned left at the next junction and another left at the T-junction. We kept to the right at the last junction which led to the lookout.

Lookout point

We made it to this lookout and discovered that somebody had driven their Mercedes SUV all the way up to this point. There was also a campfire pit with a bunch of bottled water next to it. We found out later that somebody had staged it there for a hiking group that was coming from the Kaena Tracking Station side. Now that’s planning!

Makua Valley

We took the trail to the right from the lookout and soon had a nice view of Makua valley which is used by the military for live fire training exercises. Needless to say, it is not advisable to hike down into the valley.

Kaena Tracking Station

It was also at the point in the trail that we met the hikers from the Kaena Tracking Station. They offered to give us a ride back to the airfield if we wanted to follow them back, we thought about it but decided to just go back the way we had come. On second thought, we should have took them up on the offer as who knows when the next time we would be able to visit the Kaena Tracking Station?

Mokuleia and Haleiwa

Coming down the switchbacks, we had sweeping views of Mokuleia and Haleiwa. We also saw skydivers, hang gliders, ultralights and glider planes floating around the airfield. The hike took us about four hours to complete.