Tessa came out of her self-imposed semi-retirement to see her significant other complete the Waianae Summit Trail today.

Waianae Valley

Mahalo to Lilia and Kenny for dropping us off in the remote valley that was once home to taro, cattle and sugarcane. Now it’s home to the occasional chronic, abandoned cars and stray dogs.

Waianae Kaala Road

I guess we follow the arrow for the group photo and the hiking trail.

Waianae Kaala Road

Walking this road will never grow on me.

Waianae Kaala Trail

Some use pens. Others use stickers.

Waianae Kaala Trail

Crossing the dry streambed into the valley.

Waianae Kaala Trail

Taking a standing break after the short cardio climb up the hill.

Waianae Kaala Trail

Bolohead meets bolohead.

Waianae Kaala Trail

West side is the best side. Except when chronics come calling. Kenny was getting alerts from his Tesla indicating that his car was getting some unwanted advances from a nearby chronic.

Waianae Kaala Trail

No rope. No hope. Don’t be a dope.

Waianae Kaala Trail

Kenny soaking in the realization that this was the highest he has climbed to date. Only 800′ more feet to go!

Waianae Kaala Trail

Props to the peeps that carried power tools and composite steps to attach them to this boulder. While not absolutely necessary, it does make the climb easier.

Mount Ka’ala

Kuli at the entrance to the 1,100 acres of ecosystems that harbors multiple native plants and animals.

Mount Ka’ala

Group photo on part of the boardwalk that extends roughly 3/4 mile through the Ka’ala bog. We parted ways with Kenny who went on to terminate at the end of trail sign.

Mount Ka’ala

Kenny bumped into @blaquekangaroo on his way to the summit, a social media influencer on IG.

Mount Ka’ala

Picking our way through the faint and flagged trail.

Mount Ka’ala

Sole sucking mud seemingly waited for us at every turn on the path. Just ask Akira, who had to go fishing for Tessa’s shoe.

Mount Ka’ala

Man down!

Mount Ka’ala

Working our way through the moss encrusted stunted plant life.

Mount Ka’ala

Contact with the fence line that soon lead us off the highest point on the island.

Waianae Summit Trail (WST)

Breaking out briefly on the ridge line that afforded expansive views of the Waianae Mountain Range and points beyond.

WST

You never let go of the ropes. Wise advice. Especially from somebody that just broke a tree branch as he was descending down the moss slicked boulders. This gave somebody else second thoughts but luckily it was just a fleeting one at that.

WST

Last one down.

WST

Helping hand at the leap of faith.

WST

Taking the direct route instead of the contour trail. Occam’s razor.

WST

The weight of the world was on Akira’s shoulders. Or at least a small piece of Waianae.

WST

The grass smells better on the other side of the fence line.

WST

Fence line keeping hikers away from the eroded sections.

WST

Plunging and pushing through the dense and insufferable uluhe fern overgrowth.

Hobbs Junction

Tessa is either trying to form the letter “H” or has the onset of arthritis in her hands.

WST

Following the fence line as it struggled to stay with the uneven ridge line.

WST

Crossing and climbing through a gap in the fence line.

WST

Tessa about to drop off the side of the cliff with the help of a rather faded and long in the tooth webbing.

WST

Chico picked up a traveling companion. These invasive critters that hailed from Kenya were released into the wild in 1972 and are responsible for the extinction or near extinction of many native species.

Pu’u Kalena

Taking lunch at what Hawaiian legend said was the nipple of a pregnant woman giving birth to the ocean. Mount Ka’ala was her pregnant stomach.

Pu’u Kalena

Group photo at the 3,504′ peak.

WST

Making our way down through the suffocating overgrowth as we followed the ubiquitous fence line.

WST

Climbing through the partially denuded section as we picked up elevation again on our climb back up.

Star Trek Junction

The group flashing the Vulcan salute made famous by Leonard Nimoy in the popular science fiction franchise show.

WST

Some took the hard way, while others took the easier way.

WST

Looking to our right, we were treated to views of sexxxy ridge and pu’u ka’ilio, both short and “punchy” hikes.

WST

Six o’clock views of the second highest mountain on the island.

WST

Chico descending towards the start of the narrow dike section. Not to be confused with intrusive igneous rock formations that identify with the rainbow coalition.

WST

Akira and Scott maintaining their sense of balance which was helped by the absence of stiff winds.

WST

Somebody was taking a break from crawling.

WST

Tessa bringing up the rear.

Pu’u Kumakalii

A familiar face greeted us at the 2,881′ peak.

WST

When do we get to the sketchy part? Is this it?

WST

Coming down the mountain. Yes we are.

WST

Akira scrambling his way down.

WST

The rest of the group climbing down the narrow dike.

WST

It looked like the mountains were letting off some steam today.

WST

We peeled off the ridge line and hiked down the valley towards the lowest point in the Waianae Mountain Range, where we also met up with Kenny again. A couple of folks in the group went off “exploring” and one had to be pulled from the edge of a cliff. Just another day at the office.

WST

Is Chico horizontally rappelling with his scuttlebutt?

WST

We walked through the valley of the shadow of UXO.

Kolekole Pass

#26 – No drinking the bubbly this time! Congratulations Akira-san on finishing the last section to complete the entire 26 miles of the Waianae Summit Trail.

All pau

Final group photo of the day, left to right: Scott, Jeremy, myself, Tessa, Chico, Akira, Kenny and CB. Thanks to CB and Kenny for shuttling us back to our cars.

GPS Tracks

Our completion hike covered a distance of 7.06 miles that saw us summit the two highest peaks on the island before ending at the lowest point in the Waianae Mountain Range, from the highest to the lowest. Congratulations again to Akira for finishing the WST. We were joined by Cat and Edgar for our post hike meal at Zippy’s.

Photos taken by Akira Suzuki, Chico Cantu, Chris Bautista, Jeremy Cannone, Kenny Lui, Scott Peterson, 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.

Back to the West side to tie up some loose ends. We even got to see a Achatinella mustelina, an air-breathing land snail that is endemic to the Waianae Range.

Waianae Valley

Mahalo to Daryl for coming out of hiking hibernation and dropping Aida, Aileen, Chris, CJ, Thomas and myself off in the remote valley.

Waianae Valley

Chasing the rainbow on our walk up the oft-maligned concrete and asphalt road. Somebody had a bag of skittles in their pack.

Waianae Kaala Trail

Shaking off the hunting dogs before we traded the road for the trail.

Waianae Kaala Trail

Cardio climb up the leaf covered hill.

Waianae Kaala Trail

Cardio collapse.

Three Poles

Taking a quick breather.

Waianae Kaala Trail

Soaking in the West side views.

Waianae Kaala Trail

Going up the first set of boulders.

Waianae Kaala Trail

The views were not half bad coming up.

Waianae Kaala Trail

Bolted steps made quick work of the second boulder set.

Waianae Kaala Trail

Scrambling up the steep rock studded section.

Waianae Kaala Trail

Gaining roughly 3,500′ in elevation as we approached the highest peak on the island.

Ka’ala Bog

360 degree view of the boardwalk that straddles the native cloud forest.

Ka’ala Bog

Lucky that we didn’t bring any dogs with us today.

Ka’ala Bog

Finding our way through the wet forest.

Ka’ala Bog

Made it to the fence line.

Waianae Summit Trail (WST)

Going down the ridge line.

WST

Standing underneath the hanging moss grotto.

WST

First one down the slippery boulders.

WST

Last one down.

WST

Sometimes the leap of faith requires a helping hand.

WST

Aida looking where to land her foot.

WST

Some of us bypassed the contour and took the direct way up.

WST

All that gym time finally paid off.

WST

Carrying the weight of the world consumes a lot of calories. Time to replenish them.

WST

Following the fence line down as we could see the summit of the second highest peak on the island in the distance, so close yet so far.

WST

Somebody didn’t get today’s memo to not to put their full weight on the fence.

Hobbs Junction

Group photo at the terminus of the steeply graded ridge that takes one down back into Waianae Valley.

WST

Resuming our hike on the fenced trail that cut through the thorny blackberry bushes and itchy grass.

WST

Looking back at the flat topped summit of Mount Ka’ala.

WST

Traversing the crack.

WST

Aida and Aileen climbing down and back up.

WST

Dropping down to contour around the ridge line.

WST

Climbing up the last rockface.

WST

Fist bump followed by lunch.

Pu’u Kalena

360 degree view of the 3,504′ peak with clear and commanding views of Lualualei and Waianae Valleys, Wahiawa Plain, cloud capped Ko’olau Mountains, and the prominent peaks of Ka’ala, Hapapa, Kanehoa and Kaua.

WST

Leaving the fern saturated summit.

WST

Descending down the steep fenced line.

WST

Climbing up the eroded hill section.

Star Trek Junction

Giving the Vulcan salute that was created by Leonard Nimoy who drew upon his Jewish roots to create the iconic gesture.

WST

Chris enjoying the views and brief respite from the overgrowth.

WST

Taking the invasive critter from the wilds of Waianae …

WST

… to the tangerine tree in Ewa.

WST

Thomas carefully crossing over the slipper fence, as he didn’t want to hit a high note.

SeXXXy Ridge

Looking out towards the skinny ridge that drops down into the valley and the crumbly hot mess known as Pu’u Ka’ilio in the background.

WST

Aida approaching the beginning of the dike section.

WST

Chris watching the girls climb their way down.

WST

Somebody asked what is a dike? Not to be confused with a dyke. Same sound. Different meanings.

Pu’u Kumakalii

Group photo at the 2,881′ peak. We have a name.

WST

Chris and Thomas descending down the narrow dike with steep drop offs on one side and vegetation on the other side.

WST

Aida keeping her balance on the narrow sheet of rock.

WST

The girls coming off the dike to more stable ground.

WST

Looking into the heart of the largest coastal valley on the island which used to be the center of volcanic activity of the Waianae Volcano.

WST

Getting off the exposed ridge line.

WST

Making our way down to the lowest point in the Waianae Mountains.

WST

Aileen coming down the sliding sands section.

WST

Leaving the Martian like dune landscape for the emerald forest.

Kolekole Pass

The group emerging from the valley of head high grass and UXOs.

Kolekole Pass

#19. Congratulations to Thomas for completing the entire Waianae Summit Trail that totals roughly 26 miles.

Kolekole Pass

I declined the champagne dousing as best as I could for my #10. I don’t drink alcohol. Only in the worst of times.

All pau

A big thanks to Amber, Cary and Doug who picked up our collective group and dropped us off to our parked cars in Kapolei. Somebody drove back to Schofield Barracks to search for her missing phone, despite being in the car that she was picked up in. I guess she needed extra driving time, much unlike extra cardio time.

GPS Tracks

Our double finish of the WST covered 7.45 miles that covered the two highest peaks on the island with a great group. Post hike meal was supposed to have been at Outback Steakhouse. Father’s Day reservations made the wait intolerable. Ono Steak & Shrimp closed early. El Mariachi didn’t want to seat us due to the time. Hot Spot was confused with Hot Pot. We finally settled on nearby L & L, which stands for Lee & Lee, the original owners. We should’ve waited for Outback Steakhouse.

Photos taken by Aida Gordon, Aileen Agustin, Chris Bautista, CJ Mendiola, Thomas Barrett, 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.