Team no sleep gathered to help Aileen finish the WST this particular weekend.

Kaena Point

Mahalo to Edgar for dropping off us at the trailhead in the middle of the night.

Kaena Point

All bright eyed and bushy tailed. Or maybe not.

Kaena Point

Skirting the predator proof fence that protects 59 acres of land that are home to endemic fauna and flora.

Kaena Point

The westernmost views from the first bunker on the ridge.

Kaena Point

Climbing our way to the second and third WW2 bunkers.

Kaena Point

Akira climbing over a clump of boulders.

Kaena Point

Tessa scrambling her way up.

Kaena Point

Traversing the open area littered with loose rocks, barbed wire and hale koa shrubs.

Kaena Point

Skirting the visitor proof fence that protects 153 acres that are home to the US Space Force. Not be confused with Spaceballs.

Kaena Point

Wait. Inside or outside?

Kaena Point

I had to f*cking lie flat down. I had f*cking thorny seed pods on my legs. Maybe it was the lack of sleep or time of day that resulted in the outburst of profanity from somebody.

Kaena Point

Going through a gate meant to keep out the large bovid ungulates? No cow tipping.

Kaena Point

We spent an inordinate amount of time bushwhacking even with the artificial illumination being cast our way before we got back on track.

Kuaokala Trail

Taking a break at the picnic shelter. Too much excitement is not good for the heart of outbreaks of profanity.

Kuaokala Trail

Back on the trail again.

Kuaokala Trail

Starry night. A view best savored in person and more enjoyable than the Dutch post-impressionist painting of the same name.

Kuaokala Trail

Are we taking a power nap? No, then we wouldn’t be living up to our name.

Waianae Summit Trail (WST)

Leaving the 4×4 road for a trail more suited to hiking.

WST

Catching the breaking sunrise after the exhausting cardio climb up the deeply rutted hill.

Moku

Gloves optional at the geodetic marker.

Pahole NAR

Hiking through the 685 acres set aside to protect endemic fauna and flora in the lowland mesic zone. Stay on trail.

Pahole NAR

When you fall, get up and fall down again.

Pahole NAR

Looking back at how far we had come. Optical illusion?

Pahole NAR

Skirting past the native snail habitat.

Makua Valley

We left the tree line and broke out into the open ridgeline to view the stunning vista of the verdant valley that belies its scarred history of when the US Military evicted all the valley residents after the Pearl Harbor attack. White crosses were then painted on the church and homes and were then bombed, infrastructure was razed and demolished, fishing holes bombed,
and fresh water wells were used as dumps for waste oil. Planes and ships shelled the valley for target practice which basically rendered the valley uninhabitable. In fact, the US Army in 1955 declared the valley as so contaminated that it was not practical to return the land to the previous owners. Despite promises by the US Military that after WW2 ended, the valley was promised to be cleaned and cleared and returned to the Commissioner of Public Lands after six months. To this date, the land still remains off-limits much like Waikane Valley that was rendered indefinitely contaminated by the US Marines for live fire training during the war as well.

WST

Akira grooming Tessa. Or something close to it.

WST

Following the fence line as we made our way on the ridge line.

WST

Passing the Mokuleia Shelter on our left. No stop needed for water, avocados or oranges.

Mokuleia Bench

Group photo at the bench with a different view of the valley. The Hawaiians believe this is where man was first created, hence the name makua, which means parent in Hawaiian.

WST

Hiking up hills after hills, or that’s how it seemed to us.

WST

Enjoying the relatively flat section of the trail while it lasted.

WST

Going down the steepest part of the trail.

Three Corners

Somebody can sleep anywhere anytime at the drop of a hat. Not living up to the team name.

Three Corners

Group photo with valley views of Makua, Makaha and Mokuleia.

WST

It was time to go swimming in uhule.

WST

We had to do multiple fence crossings, more than the illegal migrants down South.

WST

Now you see him. Now you don’t. The uluhe ferns was so thick and seemingly impassable at several spots.

WST

We could soon see the road for the overgrowth.

WST

Aileen down climbing a steep spot with slippery stakes masquerading as steps.

WST

Pushing through the last of the insufferable uluhe ferns as signs of civilization was just a step away.

Ka’ala Road

Transitioning from trail to road.

Ka’ala Road

There is no lack of visibility here at this spot.

Ka’ala Road

Pounding the pavement. Literally.

Ka’ala Road

Walking commentary. If you understand Japanese, aside from hai hai arigatou gozaimasu.

Ka’ala Road

Sometimes you just have to stop, turn around and enjoy the views.

Mount Ka’ala

The slow and punishing walk of a little over two miles of incline road was quite tiring to say the least.

Mount Ka’ala

#22 – Customary champagne celebration dousing of the (un)lucky recipient. Congratulations to Aileen for completing her last section of the WST. Two feathers in her cap. KST and WST.

Mount Ka’ala

Can I get a nickel for this bottle?

Mount Ka’ala

Group photo at the highest peak on the island. Glad that Chico made it up here to bear witness and garnered a personal best in his time ascending the 4,025′ mountain.

Ka’ala Bog

Traversing the roughly 3/4 mile boardwalk that cuts through the 1,100 acres of native cloud forest where we also ran into dozens of volunteers from the OANRP.

Waianae-Kaala Trail

Climbing down the steep trail as we descended off the summit.

Waianae-Kaala Trail

Aileen climbing down the ladder on the first set of boulders.

Waianae-Kaala Trail

Tessa and Chico enjoying the mountainous views on the second set of boulders.

Waianae-Kaala Trail

Akira ready to drop down into the valley from Three Poles.

Waianae Valley

Walking down the much maligned paved road.

All pau

Shout out to Chico who not only met us at the summit but picked us up and drove us back to our cars at Mililani.

GPS Tracks

Our night to day trek through the Waianae Mountains covered just shy of 17 miles with good friends. Congratulations again to Aileen for f*cking completing the Waianae Summit Trail. Dessert before dinner. Soft serve ice cream cones at McDonald’s. Craving for loco moco was satisfied and substituted by latin food at Coquito’s. We all went home to take a hot shower and get some much needed shut eye.

Photos taken by Aileen Agustin, Akira Suzuki, Chico Cantu, Edgar Gamiao, Tessa Bugay, and yours truly. Not necessarily in order.

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. One should also always let somebody know of your hiking plans in case something doesn’t go as planned, better safe than sorry.

I decided to do another long haul hike back to back from coming off my camping weekend. I don’t want to get fat and lazy. Well maybe just fat. Thanks to Tessa for dropping Chris, Jen and myself off deep into Waianae Valley where the feral dogs still roam at will.

Waianae Valley

They must refresh the painting on the road every now and then. The message is always the same, but the delivery is slightly different.

Waianae Valley

Walking up the service road, our olfactory senses were dusted with a rustic mixture of smoke and shit.

Waianae-Kaala Trail

Going down the trail to cross the dry streambed and making our way through the lowland forest.

Three Poles

Jen pulling herself up to the ridge line.

Waianae-Kaala Trail

Climbing over the first boulder section with Kamaileunu and Ohikilolo ridges in the background.

Waianae-Kaala Trail

Jen going up the ladder on the second boulder section.

Waianae-Kaala Trail

Working for that elevation gain.

Mount Ka’ala

Walking through the native cloud forest, that was once home to a freshwater pond full of mullet and other fish.

Mount Ka’ala

The end of the roughly 3/4 mile walk through the stunted ohia forest that harbors endemic fauna and flora found nowhere else.

Mount Ka’ala

Skirting the radar tracking station that is operated by the HANG 169th ADS, to check out the mountain and coastal sights.

Mount Ka’ala

Group photo at the relatively new sign proclaiming the elevation at 4,026′, the highest peak on the island. Smoke from recent brush fires gave the surrounding skies a hazy veneer.

Ka’ala Road

Walking down the road that only a truck could love.

Ka’ala Road

Road reflections.

Ka’ala Road

The saving grace to the unyielding road was the postcard views that decorated the way down.

Waianae Summit Trail (WST)

We soon left the road and followed the fence line as it sliced an uneven corridor through the clawing and cloying uluhe ferns whose pollen was aggravatingly annoying.

Three Corners

Group photo with Makaha and Makua Valleys behind us. I don’t have an Insta360 camera.

WST

Following the fence line as it went up and down the highs and the lows on the ridge line.

Mokuleia Bench

Approaching the overlook where we ran across a couple on their way to Three Corners, perhaps they had an Insta360 camera and another individual who preferred to remain benched and came back for his hydroflask of … hot coffee on this hot day?

WST

Chris at the exposed ledge with the strikingly clear flat top mountain of Ka’ala and the fluted ridges that circled Makua Valley in the background.

WST

Switch backing our way down the hill that were festooned with blue flags and tinkling metal tags that marked endemic plantings?

WST

Jen snacking on the invasive strawberry guava plants that were sprinkled throughout the area.

WST

Thanks to Chris who brought us a bag of mountain apples or what I call nature’s hydroflask.

WST

Looking into the valley where ancient Hawaiians believed man was first created. Now the same man can’t step foot into this deceptively looking valley strewn with unexploded munitions dating back to WW2. The lease runs out in 2029, let’s see if the US military will give the land back to its rightful owners.

WST

Meeting up with the jeep road where we ran into several trucks making their way to Peacock Flats. No sparkling water was handed out.

WST

Leaving the jeep road for the fence line. One of the constants when hiking in Hawaii.

Kuaokala Trail

Following the fence line for the last time on the trail as it bordered the valley on one side and pine forests on the other side.

Kuaokala Trail

I heard rumors that Johnny Depp purchased this particular rock and re-named it the Amber Turd Rock. It just could be an urban legend.

Kuaokala Trail

Making our way to the pine tree forest, where we ran across another hiker who was seemingly picking flowers.

Kuaokala Trail

Our last pit stop as we took stock of our water and food supplies. Good to go.

Kuaokala Trail

Heading off the reservation.

Kaena Point

Are we on trail or off trail? Safe or not safe?

Kaena Point

Chris couldn’t decide whether to dribble or do a chip shot.

Kaena Point

Walking on the road that gives you ten minutes of self-induced anxiety.

Kaena Point

End of the road for us. Big sigh of relief.

Kaena Point

Going down the point that is believed to be the jumping off point for souls leaving this world for the next one.

Kaena Point

Jen making her way down the rocky ridge punctuated with multiple bunkers from WW2.

Kaena Point

Silhouetted against the sunset.

Kaena Point

Approaching the bottom of the ridge with sunlight to spare. We didn’t want no random encounters with the huaka’i po or night marchers.

All pau

Chris waiting for the green flash. Mahalo to Edgar for grabbing us at the bird sanctuary gate which saved us over two extra miles of walking. The dogs were barking loud and clear for some of us.

GPS Tracks

Our grinder of a hike covered 16.3 miles through the eroded remains of the shield volcano that is over 3 million years old. Post hike meal at the nearby beach where Cathy, Marilyn, Quan and Tessa joined and fed us with chicken papaya, summer salad and cold drinks. Much appreciated guys.

Photos taken by Chris Bautista, Jen Odence and yours truly. Not necessarily in order.

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.

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.