Laie Trail to Pupukea Trail (CB KST One Shot)

by kenji SAITO on November 14, 2020

To begin this story, I have to rewind the clock back six days as Chris asked me to chronicle his KST one shot from South to North. Bear with me as I wasn’t with him until the last day. LOL.

Makapu'u Puka

Makapu’u Puka

Day 1 Sunday, November 8, 2020 – Tessa dropped Chris off at Makapu’u to start his journey across the Ko’olau Mountain Range. Nothing like a cold bottle of caffeinated cola to start ones day.

Sunrise

Sunrise

Catching the sun rising over the bulging eye.

Kamehame

Kamehame

Chris and his shadow to keep him company on the hike. It also pays to talk to oneself on the hike as well.

Ko'olau Summit Ridge Trail (KSRT)

Ko’olau Summit Ridge Trail (KSRT)

Safety tip: Always wear a hard hat while hiking to avoid being conked on the head by those falling pine cones.

Kamiloiki Summit

Kamiloiki Summit

Enjoying the views of the Waimanalo coastline.

Tom-Tom Summit

Tom-Tom Summit

Don’t worry, keep hiking.

Mariner's Summit

Mariner’s Summit

Chris left the hard hat behind for other hikers that are a little bit more safety conscious.

Hahaione

Hahaione

Taking a picture as it will last longer.

Lost & Found

Lost & Found

Chris found Quan’s cap that was lost on an earlier hike.

Camp Wiliwilinui

Camp Wiliwilinui

Setting up tent at the helipad. Home for the night.

Sunset

Sunset

Capturing the sun as it goes down over the communications tower.

KSRT

KSRT

Day 2 Monday, November 9, 2020 – Dropping in between the valley.

Sedan Rock

Sedan Rock

Contoured and met back up with the ridge line.

K2 Summit

K2 Summit

No views at one of the testicles. Hold and cough.

Nu'uanu Saddle

Nu’uanu Saddle

Coming down the cloud soaked ridge line.

Chimney

Chimney

Taking a break from selfies and taking a shoefie instead.

Chimney

Chimney

Looking back at the hardest obstacle on this saddle as Chris made his way down past the notches and down to the lookout.

Camp Pali

Camp Pali

Lilyn, Quan, Tessa and myself met up with Chris after work to give him food, drinks and company. Quan got her cap back as well. We left before the night marchers came out. Sleep tight.

Pali Puka

Pali Puka

Day 3 Tuesday, November 10, 2020 – Looking for those views.

Nu'uanu Saddle

Nu’uanu Saddle

Going up the crumbly saddle as the clouds rolled in from the ocean.

W

W

Chris about to contour and climb the donkey kong obstacle.

KSRT

KSRT

Climbing out of the saddle and onto more solid footing.

Lanihuli Summit

Lanihuli Summit

Clear views at the 2,700′ summit.

Kalihi Saddle

Kalihi Saddle

Taking another break from the selfies as Chris gets ready to ride the dirt dragon.

Lanihuli Wall

Lanihuli Wall

Testing out the new webbing.

Can Opener

Can Opener

Chris at the iconic photo spot, right before he got stuck going up the Doorstop. Elevator services were offline.

Doorstop

Doorstop

Looking back at the steepness that is Lanihuli Wall. Best appreciated in person from far away.

Bunny Ears

Bunny Ears

Coming off the pair of hills and heading towards Shark Fin. Getting hungry for Chinese food.

Powerlines

Powerlines

Dropping down towards the middle of the saddle as Chris pushed on. No rest for the weary.

Witch's Hat

Witch’s Hat

Looking back at the conical rock face.

Rock Triangle

Rock Triangle

Heading towards the hardest of the rock triangles. But first, Chris had to flash a shaka.

Kalihi Saddle

Kalihi Saddle

Heading towards the summit of Bowman after polishing off the saddle.

Tripler Summit

Tripler Summit

To camp or not to camp? Too early.

Stairway to Heaven

Stairway to Heaven

Only one soul in heaven today.

Food Pantry

Food Pantry

When the rats are more thirsty than you.

Moanalua Saddle

Moanalua Saddle

Chris going down the stairs that time forgot.

Dirt Triangle

Dirt Triangle

Somebody made use of the yellow rope that was sitting up there.

Camp Kulana'ahane

Camp Kulana’ahane

Chris pitched his tent on the summit with sweeping views of Halawa Valley and points beyond.

Kulana'ahane Summit

Kulana’ahane Summit

Day 4 Wednesday, November 11, 2020 – Catching the morning valley views.

Red Hill Summit

Red Hill Summit

Still no closure after five years. Sad for the family.

Stairway to Hell

Stairway to Hell

Never enter Hell without your tetanus shot.

REI Outlet

REI Outlet

The selection was quite sparse. They need to stock up.

North Haiku Stairs

North Haiku Stairs

No views. Just shaka views.

KSRT

KSRT

Rounding the bend around the fenced plant enclosure.

Aiea Summit

Aiea Summit

The man and his sign.

KSRT

KSRT

Catching the Windward views.

KSRT

KSRT

Rolling hills ahead.

Waimalu Meadows

Waimalu Meadows

The winds were blowing something fierce and snatched Chris’s phone out of his hands and flung it a good distance. Lucky it landed on the spongy ground and not off the cliff.

Waimano Summit

Waimano Summit

Home for the night with views overlooking Waihee Valley.

KSRT

KSRT

Day 5 Thursday, November 12, 2020 – Looking back at the fluted flanks of the Ko’olau Mountains.

Eleao Meadows

Eleao Meadows

Fence by fence, they will take over the mountains.

Manana Summit

Manana Summit

End of trail? Not for Chris.

Corner

Corner

Last chance for H20.

KSRT

KSRT

Approaching Waiawa Gap.

Waiawa Gap

Waiawa Gap

Dropping into the gap.

Waiawa Gap

Waiawa Gap

Climbing out of the gap.

Waiahole Windward

Waiahole Windward

Reminiscing about the ridge from bushwhacking hell.

Kipapa Summit

Kipapa Summit

Where the KSRT becomes the KST. Tomato. Tomatoe.

Tree of Life

Tree of Life

Windy as usual. Stay here long enough and you too will become bent over.

KST

KST

Keep the country country.

KST

KST

Soaking in the spectacular Northern views.

Schofield Waikane Junction

Schofield Waikane Junction

To camp or not to camp? There were still a couple hours of daylight left. Press on.

KST

KST

The rare Ko’olau Goose is getting long in the tooth and shorn of feathers.

Pauao Junction

Pauao Junction

Chasing the sun.

KST

KST

The notch that dynamite built.

Poamoho Cabin

Poamoho Cabin

Home for the night.

Poamoho Cabin

Poamoho Cabin

Watching the sunset.

Poamoho Cabin

Poamoho Cabin

Day 6 Friday, November 13, 2020 – The morning sun streaming through the windows provided the wake up call in the mountains.

Poamoho Summit

Poamoho Summit

Enjoying one of the best views on the island.

Cline Memorial

Cline Memorial

How many more miles do I have left?

KST

KST

Going my way?

KST

KST

Lobelia in bloom.

KST

KST

Lobelia along the fence line.

Da Boot Junction

Da Boot Junction

Surprising that the boot has held up this long.

KST

KST

Lobelia in the meadows.

KST

KST

The fence line following the convoluted topography of the KST.

KST

KST

Lobelia overload.

Rabbit Hole

Rabbit Hole

Slogging through more mud pits.

KST

KST

Following the fence line to Papali.

Papali Junction

Papali Junction

Running into Charlie at the summit. Small world.

KST

KST

They don’t call this section the muddiest for nothing.

KST

KST

Native loulu palm trees interrupting the ridge line.

KST

KST

Sunbather or sacrificial lamb?

KST

KST

Let’s get in one more mud bath, shall we?

Koloa Cabin

Koloa Cabin

Open for business, despite the rumors.

Koloa Cabin

Koloa Cabin

What’s for dinner? Oxtail soup? Prime rib, crab legs and asparagus? Salmon and Poke? Let’s get back to reality. Filipino sardines and rice it is.

Laie Trail

Laie Trail

Day 7 Saturday, November 14, 2020 – Tessa and I met up at the trailhead to hike the six mile trail to the summit to meet Chris and continue with him to the finish line.

Koloa Cabin

Koloa Cabin

Last day to be in the mountains!

Laie Trail

Laie Trail

Tessa told me to wait at the summit for her, as she had to fertilize the mountains.

Laie Trail

Laie Trail

Going up the humid, overgrown and wet trail. The joys of hiking.

KST

KST

Chris leaving the cabin for the summit.

Laie Trail

Laie Trail

The woman of the mountains.

KST

KST

The man of the hour.

Laie Summit

Laie Summit

Group photo in the foxhole. Chris got his requested Coke and snacks. Much needed nourishment after seven days in the mountains.

KST

KST

Leaving the 2,240′ summit for the most overgrown section on the KST. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

KST

KST

Making our way on the trail as the windmills pinwheeled in the background.

Maleakahana Junction

Maleakahana Junction

The glove that Chris left many years ago to replace the green sign that used to mark the spot.

KST

KST

Winding our way through the lush landscape. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

KST

KST

Halfway there and time for our lunch break.

KST

KST

Tessa disappearing into the uluhell overgrowth.

KST

KST

Tessa pulling Chris’s leg and then some.

KST

KST

Pushing up the last hill through the strawberry guava corridor.

Puu Hina

Puu Hina

Group photo at the summit overlooking the North Shore.

KST

KST

Heading down to the finish line.

Black Junction

Black Junction

My traditional champagne dousing of the finisher. This time Chris got two for the price of one. Major congratulations to Chris Bautista for his second KST one shot (first documented both ways, North-South and South-North) and his sixth overall finish of the KST. #beastmode.

Paalaa Uka Pupukea Road

Paalaa Uka Pupukea Road

We didn’t expect to see this individual when we popped out of the trail.

Paalaa Uka Pupukea Road

Paalaa Uka Pupukea Road

You have cold beer in your backpack? Chris’s best buddy.

Paalaa Uka Pupukea Road

Paalaa Uka Pupukea Road

Swinging my way down the road. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

Paalaa Uka Pupukea Road

Paalaa Uka Pupukea Road

Greet and scare. Aida, Lilyn and Quan were waiting in the bushes to surprise us. It worked for some.

All pau

All pau

Group photo left to right: Lilyn, Quan, Chris, myself, Tessa, Arnold and Aida. It was high time for somebody to take a shower as well.

Post hike meal

Post hike meal

Dale also came up to congratulate Chris on his accomplishment. Thanks to the gang for bringing us cold drinks, pizza and chicken. Mahalo to Quan for making Chris a Corona lei. That beer didn’t help him catch any chickens. Also found out that chickens will eat their own kind. Fried to boot. Thanks to Lilyn for driving us to the showers and back to our cars in Laie.

Post hike meal Round 2

Post hike meal Round 2

Chris, Tessa and myself then drove to Waianae for the WST one shot turned KST one shot party as well at Bill and Shirley’s house. One shot for the one shot team. Chris could finally dig in to oxtail soup, prime rib, crab legs, grilled asparagus, poke and mashed potatoes. Thanks to Shirley for giving me the only Coke in the house. Mahalo to Analyn for the oxtail soup to go order. Fun times with Analyn and Chris, Liezl and Micah, Mia, Matt, Mike and Amber.

GPS Tracks

GPS Tracks

Chris’s traversal from Makapu’u to Pupukea covered over 52 miles in seven days. Amazing accomplishment Chris! Props to you my friend.

GPS Tracks

GPS Tracks

Tessa and I hiked 12.8 miles in nine hours through some of the worst overgrowth this side of the KST. Fun times all around with good friends during and after the hike. Thanks to all that came out to support Chris. Mahalo!

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.

Cancel reply

Leave a Comment

{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }

Aida Gordon December 9, 2020 at 10:19 am

Congratulations again to CB! Amazing journey and you documented it well like you were there! Props to you KST one shot folks! Take a bow!

Reply

kenji SAITO December 9, 2020 at 12:23 pm

Aloha Aida,
Thanks. Yes I was with him in spirit as I think he messaged almost daily as to how he was doing.
Mahalo

Reply

FerlinoCarinio December 9, 2020 at 10:31 am

Amazing feat! CONGRATULATIONS CB! GREAT DOCUMENTARYKenji. Wow I really miss you guys. Such an awesome group of friends! Love you all!! See you on my return.

Reply

kenji SAITO December 9, 2020 at 12:24 pm

Aloha Ferlino,
Thanks. Yes, awesome bunch of friends. See you soon!
Mahalo

Reply

Wahinee01 December 10, 2020 at 2:10 pm

Awesome job documenting Kenji. Of course, I’m laughing while reading as most of captions were hilarious lol… Let’s go back and do one shot again.. this time N-S!!

Reply

kenji SAITO December 10, 2020 at 2:24 pm

Aloha Tessa,
Thanks, glad we were there to see him finish his one shot. Haha. sure let’s do it again.
Mahalo

Reply

Previous post:

Next post: