We returned back to the West side to tie up some loose ends and with a 4×4 ride to boot.

Kaena Point

Star Trek meets Spaceballs. Thanks to Barry for driving Art, CJ and myself up to Peacock Flats.

Kaena Point

Tracking space debris since Statehood.

Kuaokala Trail

Enjoying our ride on four wheels and not two feet.

Cyanea Superba

When not one but two of the rare Hawaiian lobelioid are closer than you think.

Mokuleia Trail

When a good natured scare that walked up from the Mokuleia side is mistaken for a botanical berry.

Waianae Summit Trail (WST)

Can you see the spiderweb for the pine tree? Photo by CJ Mendiola.

WST

Look! Up in the mountains! It’s a peak! It’s a cabin!

WST

When it’s easier to climb up a tree than get down from one.

WST

Climbing over the fence line to get a better look at the valley below us.

Makua Valley

10 seconds to spare for the group photo, left to right: myself, Art, CJ, Chris and Quan.

WST

Passing the enclosed habitat for endemic shelled gastropods. Photo by Art Young.

Pahole NAR

One of many fence crossings as we passed through part of the vast 685 acres of protected ecosystems. Photo by Art Young.

WST

Checking out the conservation work. Photo by Quan Haberstroh.

WST

Art climbing up to refill his water supply. Filtration notwithstanding.

WST

Chris going down the heavily rutted jeep road.

WST

Backdrop of Makua Valley for our group photo.

WST

Following in the tracks of our earlier ride.

WST

Picking the abundant passion fruit that lined the trail slowed the forward progress. Photo by Chris Bautista.

WST

There were more 4×4 vehicles on the road today than hikers.

Kuaokala Trail

Back on a familiar trail for some.

Kuaokala Trail

Trying to not let the gate hit me on my way out or in? Photo by Art Young.

Kuaokala Trail

The group coming down the fenced trail.

Kuaokala Trail

Doing my best alcoholic impression. Photo by Art Young.

Kuaokala Trail

Behind the scenes photography.

Kuaokala Trail

Traversing along Makua rim populated by eucalyptus trees. Photo by Quan Haberstroh.

Kuaokala Trail

We’re not finished yet. I don’t know why you guys are jumping for joy.

Kuaokala Trail

Walking down on what could arguably be the widest trail on the island. Photo by CJ Mendiola.

Kuaokala Trail

We got to the shelter but had no picnic. Photo by CJ Mendiola.

WST

The ocean looked cool and inviting on this scorcher of a day. Photo by Art Young.

WST

The wildlife was very docile in these neck of the woods.

WST

Straying off or on the reservation? Photo by Art Young.

WST

Contorting and crawling was the name of the game today. Fun. Fun. Fun. Say it enough times and one might actually believe that gibberish. Photo by CJ Mendiola.

WST

Glad they are looking up at the heavenly bodies. Photo by Chris Bautista.

WST

Leaving the claustrophobic trail for a much more roomier one. Photo by Art Young.

WST

Farmer Bautista. Photo by Art Young.

WST

Tee time in the mountains. Photo by Art Young.

WST

Staying off the reservation. Photo by Art Young.

Kaena Point

Washing your hands is even more important in these COVID times that we live in.

Kaena Point

Leaving behind some irritated hornets that peppered me with stinging souvenirs when I disturbed their hive. Lucky it wasn’t those Asian giant hornets. Photo by Art Young.

Kaena Point

Hiking our way down the rocky ridge that was littered with military leftovers. Photo by CJ Mendiola.

Kaena Point

Looking back at both sides of the island.

Kaena Point

#7. A perfectly good waste of sparkling wine. Photo by CJ Mendiola.

Kaena Point

Coming down the mountain. Photo by Art Young.

Kaena Point

Treading over train track remnants from a different era when locomotives used to circle the island. Photo by Chris Bautista.

Kaena Point

Art on the arch.

All pau

No green flash sighted. Thanks to Lilyn and Aida for shuttling the group to our parked cars. What happens if a hiker finishes the mountain range but no one is around, does it count? Benefit of the doubt and dubious congratulations to the lady from the sandbar for completing the WST today as well. Photo by Quan Haberstroh.

GPS Tracks

Our finishing end to the Waianae Summit Trail covered roughly 15.6 miles through rugged terrain and raw beauty. Fun hike with good friends. Post hike meal at The Beach House by 604, where the clam chowder wasn’t world famous and the live unfiltered music made up for the mediocre food.

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.

Back in the Waianae Mountains. Joining me on today’s trek were Gen and Jose. Others were doing the Spartan race this weekend. We had our own Spartan race in the mountains today.

Trailhead

We arrived early to beat the rush hour hiker traffic.

Junk Beach

Where old trucks go off the railroad tracks to die.

Kaena Point Natural Area Reserve

We skirted the fence, that protects the fauna and flora populating one of the last sand dune ecosystems in the islands, to the base of the mountain.

Memorial

I hopped into a somewhat obscure cave at the base, that is home to a memorial for Les Merrell, a well known hiker who unfortunately perished on Bear Claw several years ago. The heat and humidity dictated a short stay as we still had a long day ahead of us. A very long day.

Scrambling

Jose and Gen climbing up the rocky ascent sparsely covered with dry shrubs.

First bunker

Don’t fall in the hole.

Hiking to the top

Enjoying the shade while it lasted.

Second bunker

Group photo left to right: Gen, myself and Jose. Somebody forgot their sunglasses.

Waianae sun

Hiking on the sunny exposed ridge.

Kaena Notch

No shaka and double shaka.

Panoramic view

Click here for the larger image. Photo by Jose Luis Delaki.

Area 51

Approaching the Kaena Point Tracking Station.

Carrion flowers

Nothing like the smell of rotting flesh to start off your hike. Inhale deeply.

Kaena Point Satellite Tracking Station

Sorry, no tours today.

Life imitating art

I’ve fallen and I can’t get up. Photo by Jose Luis Delaki

Life failing art

Let’s try again, shall we? Photo by Jose Luis Delaki

Satellite Tracking Station Road

Just out for a Saturday walk. No jumping in the bushes today.

Radome

Tracking space objects since 1959. Photo by Jose Luis Delaki

Walk the line

I am not drunk. Photo by Jose Luis Delaki

Detour

We had no desire to catch the Yokohama Express, so we rang the bell and got off the beaten path.

Bushwhacking

Enjoying the back country of the North Shore.

Scouting

The coast is clear. Pays to wear a camouflage boonie hat. Photo by Genesaret Balladares.

Back on the road again

We popped back on the road and checked for traffic before continuing our hike.

Kuaokala trail

Waiting for somebody to open the gate. Got permit?

Wide trails

Jose going up the expansive tree lined road.

Wakey wakey eggs and bakey

Just have to find a pig now. A very, very small one.

Trail

The wide road eventually narrowed to a footpath that contoured along the Makua Valley.

Gated view

Gen enjoying the views. Time to move along now. Photo by Jose Luis Delaki

The fence line

The fence are becoming the invasive species, invading the mountains to control the invasive species. Irony.

Looking back

Leaving Kaena Point and her golf balls behind us.

Share the trail

Yield to hikers or was that the other way around?

Back at the fence

We soon left the main trail and headed back up to regain the fence line.

Follow the cable

We briefly left the fence line to make our way up the hill.

Moku

All shoes on the geodisc marker. Hey, no mud today. We must be on the West side.

Supply shed

Gen looking through the supply of condoms and KY jelly. What goes on up here in these mountains? Get a cabin.

Rolling ridges

No signs of civilization as far as the eye can see.

Pahole Natural Area Reserve

Entering the fenced area that protects 658 acres of native fauna and flora from feral pigs, rats and other invasive species.

Almost there

Somebody started saying that. Wasn’t going to be the last time.

See the sign?

Not all of us have 20/5 vision.

Mokuleia lookout

Group photo with Makua Valley in the background.

Almost there

The broken record kept on playing.

Up and down

The fence was an unsightly blight on the terrain, but it provided useful handholds and as an obvious navigational aid.

The Glove

Michael Jackson has left the mountains. The WST answer to the KST boot.

Three Corners

Group shot with Makaha Valley in the background.

Three Corners

Looking towards Mokuleia Valley.

Three Corners

Another view of Makua Valley.

Back to the fence

We resumed our hike after a short break and lunch by following the fence towards Mount Ka’ala. Almost there.

Goodbye fence

The fence was soon replaced with a wide swath of thick uluhe and overgrowth. Bring back the fence.

Kaala Road

We eventually dropped down from the ridge onto Mount Ka’ala Road. Photo by Genesaret Balladares.

Uphill

The long boring road. Hard on our feet. The only saving grace was the mountain views. While it lasted.

Double tuck

We ran into a fellow hiker on the road. He looked somewhat familiar.

Got water?

Running out of liquid nourishment. Time to share. Thanks Gen.

Last scenic point

Looking out at the Kawailoa Wind Farm before the cloud deck dropped.

Hiker in the mist

Gen walking up the road towards one of the smaller relay stations. Photo by Jose Luis Delaki.

Mount Ka’ala

We are here!

Bog walker

Walking through the bog under twilight cloudy conditions. Photo by Jose Luis Delaki.

Bouldering

Racing to beat the sun.

City lights

Twinkling lights of Waianae Valley.

Sunset

Enjoying the sunset as we made our way down to Three Poles junction.

Night hiking

Coming down from the highest mountain on the island.

Star gazing

When we arrived at the paved road, we sprawled down to enjoy the night skies and …

Creepy crawlers

…then we realized we were sharing the road with all these critters.

Light show

Twerking the glow light fantastic.

All pau

Now all we needed was a spooky story and roasted marshmallows to end our hike. Photo by Jose Luis Delaki.

GPS Tracks

The scenic and very long hike covered 18.76 miles, made bearable by good company. Post hike meal at Jack in the Box. It was the closest. 24/7 breakfast. We found out that a chronic had helped himself to some of Gen’s gas. Hope he got a severe case of indigestion.