Nanakuli to Kaena Point

Chris, Ferlino and myself decided to traverse the entire Waianae Mountain Range this Veteran’s Day Weekend. From the other side.

Day 1

Thanks to Jasmin for dropping us in the kiawe infested valley.

The chilly morning was soon replaced by the heat and humidity of the valley as we made the short and stiff climb to gain the ridge line. Photo by Chris Bautista.

Escaping the oppressive sauna box as we gained the ridge line. Photo by Ferlino Carinio.

Standing out on the rocky ridge line. Photo by Chris Bautista.

Looking back as the rising sun torched the top of Heleakala ridge. Photo by Chris Bautista.

Climbing up the exposed ridge to gain the shade of the forested canopy at the top. Photo by Chris Bautista

Looking back over into the largest coastal valley on the island that is also home to two of the tallest antenna towers in the Western hemisphere. Photo by Chris Bautista.

Chris coming up the sweaty hill.

Running across one of many military or government structures that dot the island.

Ferlino making good use of his hiking poles on the paved road. Photo by Chris Bautista.

What many call the “official” start or end of the Waianae Summit Trail.

Chris rolling through the Indiana Jones boulders after passing Mauna Kapu which once had a heiau at the point. Photo by Ferlino Carinio.

Ferlino overlooking the valley views. Photo by Chris Bautista.

Going up the staircase after we passed an area rich in endemic fauna and flora. Photo by Chris Bautista.

Group photo at the 3,098′ ti leaf summit.

Looking at the ridge that descends to the “Hawaiian Pyramid.” Photo by Chris Bautista.

Awash in a sea of uluhe ferns, clawing and scratching us as we went down.

Following the fenced ridge as we lost some of the elevation we had just gained.

Treading softly on the mossy corridor. Photo by Chris Bautista.

Getting ready to drop into the pass. Photo by Chris Bautista.

Come on down and join the fun!

Climbing down the 80′ cliff. Photo by Chris Bautista.

Ferlino finally getting to climb the pass after so many missed attempts.

Chris about to climb off the pass.

Ferlino climbing up the crack.

Back on the ridge line to have the sun shining down on our sweaty faces. Photo by Chris Bautista.

We still had a little more rock climbing and scrambling ahead of us. Nothing to break a sweat over. Photo by Chris Bautista.

Chris pulling himself up and around a rock blocking the ridge line.

Nature’s rock climbing gym. Free. Just pay with your sweat and hopefully no blood.

Putting distance between us and the imposing and intimidating pass. Photo by Chris Bautista.

Climbing over the fence to continue our climb along the rocky ridge line.

We set up camp at the 3,127′ grassy summit.

Watching the sunset. Photo by Chris Bautista.

Good night from the third highest peak on the island.

Day 2

We broke down camp and welcomed the second day of our hike.

Some people had to take the harder way instead of the contour. To each their own.

Ferlino climbing his way down to the first obstacle. Sliding down works as well. Photo by Chris Bautista.

Chris climbing down the rockface.

Looking at the backside of the larger of the gorilla head obstacles. Photo by Ferlino Carinio.

Ferlino climbing up and over the boulder.

Going down the frontside of the crumbly rockface. Photo by Chris Bautista.

Watching Chris and Ferlino making their way down.

Chris the Redeemer and a photobomber on the smaller rockface. Photo by Ferlino Carinio.

O Tannenbaum. 42 days to be exact. Photo by Chris Bautista.

Approaching the summit of Kanehoa.

Scrambling over the rocky section after we left the 2,778′ summit.

Group photo on the squared off pad with wrap around views of the island. I have it on good authority that the actual 2,883′ summit was more up the hill.

Enjoying the coastal views below from the pallet runway. Photo by Chris Bautista.

Taking shelter from the brutal afternoon sun where we took a short nap.

We woke up refreshed and resumed our hike down the ubiquitous fence line.

Going down the exposed and rocky ridge. Photo by Chris Bautista.

Ferlino approaching the second notch.

Panoramic views from the top of the notch. Photo by Chris Bautista.

Descending down towards the larger notch.

Looking back at the sheer cliff. Photo by Chris Bautista.

Sliding our way down through the stand of paperbark trees. Photo by Chris Bautista.

Ferlino checking out a possible camp site. It was rejected for not meeting milspecs.

We set up camp at the lowest point in the Waiane Mountain Range. Thanks to Chris who met Mia down the road to pick up our doordash delivery from Popeye’s.

Day 3

We broke down camp as a steady stream of hikers started to show up. Mahalo to CJ for bringing us unexpected breakfast and other goodies.

It’s hard to find a person to play the victim in a realistic manner.

Who brought the metal detector? I guess we have to tread softly.

Going up the stiff and eroded climb as the sun broke over the mountains behind us.

A military geocache that has seen better days. Time for a new ammo can. Photo by Ferlino Carinio.

Hiking on the ridge line with the hazy mountains behind us. Photo by Chris Bautista.

Scrambling up the narrow rock dike. Photo by Chris Bautista.

Clear views of both of our destinations – Kalena and Ka’ala, the two highest peaks on the island. Photo by Chris Bautista.

Enjoying the morning mountain views. Photo by Chris Bautista.

Chris traversing another narrow dike on the trail. Photo by Ferlino Carinio.

Ferlino passing sexxxy ridge as he followed the fence line. Photo by Chris Bautista.

Live long and prosper. Man down. The search for more cardio. Photo by Chris Bautista.

Hiking up the final and steep climb to the 3,504′ summit. Photo by Chris Bautista.

Group photo at the second highest peak on the island.

Chris enjoying the shade from the sun on the moss carpeted ohia tree.

We ran into two other hikers, Takashi and Susy, coming from the other direction.

Chris and Ferlino contouring up the ridge line.

Climbing in and out of the split fence line.

Resting before the final leg to the highest peak on the island.

Pushing through the thick and thorny overgrowth. Punctures for days.

Somebody didn’t let the weight of the hike crush his spirit.

I didn’t know this swing determines if you are a goat or monkey. Photo by Chris Bautista.

Going up the steep and moss slicked boulders.

Pulling myself up. It was rather taxing I must admit. Photo by Chris Bautista.

Wandering through the misty rainforest home to endemic fauna and flora.

Meeting up with the boardwalk. We have no dogs. Photo by Chris Bautista.

Ferlino approaching the 4,025′ summit and radar installation.

Bench with a view.

We set up camp after a worker nearby told us to be careful and spun some supernatural stories about this area. Sleep tight and don’t let the ghosts bite. Photo by Chris Bautista.

Day 4

We woke up and broke down camp after a ghost free experience on the highest peak on the island. Photo by Chris Bautista.

Looking back at the red blinking lights of the radar installation.

Walking down the road with the twinkling city lights of Waialua and Haleiwa in front of us. Photo by Chris Bautista.

Chris checking out the secret route to Stairway to Heaven. Hush hush.

Only one way traffic on the road this morning. Photo by Ferlino Carinio.

Leaving the road and going up the steep flank of the ridge. Photo by Chris Bautista.

The fence line served as our navigational aid in the dense sea of uluhe overgrowth.

Chris checking out the valley views of Makaha and Makua in front of him, Mokuleia was behind him. Photo by Ferlino Carinio.

Leaving the roughly 2,800′ hill as we followed the fence through dips and peaks along the way.

Looking down into the valley where ancient Hawaiians believed man was first created. The original inhabitants were slowly driven out by the roaming cattle from nearby ranches and then completely evicted by the US military who wanted the verdant valley home to three temples and other endemic fauna and flora for bombing practice. The lease is set to expire in 2029. Let’s see if the land is returned as promised by the US military.

Contouring off the ridge where we passed a snail habitat and a spread of blue flags denoting endemic plants.

Back on the exposed fenced ridge line with coastal, valley and mountain views.

Ferlino was too busy hiking to enjoy the splendid views of Makua Valley.

Chris walking down the trail to connect to the jeep road.

I flagged down one of the many 4×4 trucks driving on the road to see if any kind souls would sell us some ice cold soda. Shout out to the lovely couple that gave me a can of sparkling water to be split three ways. A cold beverage on a hot day on a dusty road never tasted so good.

Leaving the jeep road. Photo by Chris Bautista.

Can somebody get me a soda? Sorry, Chris was only making hot Korean ramen. Photo by Ferlino Carinio.

Chris and Ferlino making their way through the pine forests and towards where I was sitting on top of the dodo rock.

Heading to the Makua Rim trail.

Where are those 4×4’s when you need them?

Taking a short break underneath the picnic shelter before our final push to the end. Photo by Ferlino Carinio.

Enjoying the wide open trail while we can.

In search of a suitable trail. Photo by Ferlino Carinio.

Trying to stay on the off-beaten track is always a challenge.

Putting the bushwhacking behind us.

Straying off the off-beaten track after we lost the stalking truck.

Our ten minutes of stress induced anxiety were finally over.

Chris overlooking the westernmost point on the island, a place that ancient Hawaiians called the “leaping place for the souls.”

Ferlino coming down from the mountain.

Looking out towards the ocean where a little known volcano, Kaena, sank over two million years ago. Kaena along with Waianae and Ko’olau helped to create the island of Oahu. Photo by Chris Bautista.

#17. Group photo celebrating our first, third and eighth time finishing the entire Waianae Summit Trail. This also marked my twenty-first cumulative completions of both the KST and WST. 21 for 2021. Photo by Ferlino Carinio.

Somebody could already taste the ice cold soda coming down the grassy and rocky ridge.

Thanks to Art, Lilyn and Quan for meeting us with cold carbonated beverages at the base of the ridge. It’s the little things that can pick you up after a long weekend. Photo by Quan Haberstroh.

Hiking our way back over the two mile long trail that follows remnants of railroad tracks and home to cliffs harboring tidepools, arches and abandoned vehicles.

No green flash for us, but the sunset was still striking.

Obviously the coordination to pull off a triple champagne dousing was a little beyond us. But everybody still got wet. Photo by Jasmin Carinio.

Plenty thanks as well to Aida, Jasmin, Marilyn and Tessa for joining us with enough delicious food to whet our caloric deficit. Photo by Ferlino Carinio.

Our bellies were full and our hearts content. Thanks again to everybody that came out and supported us. Much mahalos!

Our original three day hike turned four day hike due to technical difficulties covered 28.6 miles through the entire Waianae Summit Trail. The hike was filled with soaring temperatures, rough terrain and unmatched views. Best of all, it was done with and the support from great friends.

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.

Tagged as: gorilla heads, hapapa, kaala, kaena point, kanehoa, kolekole pass, mokuleia lookout, nanakuli, palehua, palikea, pohakea pass, pu'u kaua, puu kalena, three corners, waianae mountain range, waianae summit trail, wst