Poamoho Trail to Laie Trail

by kenji SAITO on March 14, 2021

Back to the muddiest section on the KST to help another friend connect his dots. Photo by Katie Bingham.

Trailhead

Trailhead

A big thanks to Edgar for driving Art, Katie, Tessa and myself up the mud caked jeep road. At one point, we thought we might either have to get out and walk or push. Photo by Art Young.

Poamoho Trail

Poamoho Trail

We all answered the call of nature in our own ways as we started on the trail.

Poamoho Trail

Poamoho Trail

So far, it was just another day on the same graded trail that we have hiked countless times. Photo by Katie Bingham.

Poamoho Trail

Poamoho Trail

We turned around the bend and it became a totally different day and trail. Photo by Art Young.

Poamoho Trail

Poamoho Trail

Looking down straight to the stream. Photo by Art Young.

Poamoho Trail

Poamoho Trail

Didn’t there used to be steps around here? Photo by Art Young.

Poamoho Trail

Poamoho Trail

The landslide had wiped out the trail down to the rock in some sections. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

Poamoho Trail

Poamoho Trail

Crossing the loose and unstable topsoil on the trail. Photo by Katie Bingham.

Poamoho Trail

Poamoho Trail

Another perspective looking back at the mass wasting on the trail.

Poamoho Trail

Poamoho Trail

Katie going up what I call the drainage ditch.

Poamoho Trail

Poamoho Trail

Finding our way over a massive blowdown that was covered with a carpet of uluhe ferns. Photo by Katie Bingham.

Lost & Found

Lost & Found

It wasn’t Art’s size, so he returned it to its rightful owner. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

Poamoho Trail

Poamoho Trail

Mother Nature had scarred the side of the ridge as she took everything down in her path. Trees, stones, dirt and plants got pushed down to the stream. Photo by Katie Bingham.

Poamoho Trail

Poamoho Trail

Art crossing over the new trail. Photo by Katie Bingham.

Poamoho Trail

Poamoho Trail

Standing on the exposed rock. Photo by Katie Bingham.

Poamoho Trail

Poamoho Trail

This was by far, the most devastating rupture that the landslides did to the trail. Photo by Art Young.

Poamoho Trail

Poamoho Trail

Katie contouring her way around the massive landslide.

Poamoho Trail

Poamoho Trail

Tessa scrambling her way across the slippery slope. Photo by Art Young.

Poamoho Trail

Poamoho Trail

Katie threading her way through the last major blowdown.

Poamoho Trail

Poamoho Trail

Art stepping carefully on the fallen trees as he made his way across. Some of us weighed more than the others. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

Poamoho Trail

Poamoho Trail

Working my way around some trees to make my way across to some other trees. Photo by Katie Bingham.

Poamoho Trail

Poamoho Trail

Art traversing the last landslide on the trail.

Poamoho Trail

Poamoho Trail

I was sure glad that we were off the maintained trail and hiking the unmaintained portion of the trail. Well, that’s what the sign said.

Poamoho Trail

Poamoho Trail

Heading into the gulch to go over the stream crossing.

Poamoho Trail

Poamoho Trail

Approaching the cloud soaked and wind blasted summit. Photo by Katie Bingham.

Poamoho Summit

Poamoho Summit

The clouds soon cleared, but the winds stayed behind. Good enough for photographic opportunities.

Cline Memorial

Cline Memorial

Leaving the 2,520′ summit behind us for mud soaked trails and spectacular ridge, valley and coastline views. Photo by Katie Bingham.

Snail habitat

Snail habitat

Unlocking the gate that set us free on the KST, but not the snails. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

Ko'olau Summit Trail (KST)

Ko’olau Summit Trail (KST)

Art contouring below the fence line on an old landslide. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

KST

KST

Misty mountains. Photo by Art Young.

KST

KST

Art standing on the historic KST carved out of the mountains in the 1930s overlooking the Leeward ridges and the Waianae Mountain Range. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

KST

KST

Tessa pushing up the hill to reconnect to the fence line. Photo by Art Young.

KST

KST

Art and Tessa approaching the intersection where the old and new trails meet.

KST

KST

Following in Art’s deep footsteps through the muddy spots on the trail. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

KST

KST

Catch me if you can.

KST

KST

Going down the fence line as it followed the convoluted landscape. Photo by Art Young.

KST

KST

Approaching the iconic boot junction. Soon to be replaced by the more iconic slippah. Photo by Art Young.

Boot Junction

Boot Junction

Some of us got booted off the sign.

Boot Junction

Boot Junction

Going over the fence line.

Fence Meadows

Fence Meadows

Crossing the spongy ground to get to the other side. Photo by Art Young.

Fence Meadows

Fence Meadows

Standing on the fence to get a better view of the valleys below us. Photo by Katie Bingham.

KST

KST

Enjoying a more expansive view further up the fence line. Photo by Art Young.

KST

KST

Looking at Opae’ula Cabin in the distance. Photo by Katie Bingham.

KST

KST

Going down the fence line down where we soon detoured and followed the trickling stream bed to explore a waterfall. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

Waterfall #1

Waterfall #1

Nothing to write home about … Photo by Art Young.

Waterfall #1

Waterfall #1

… but good enough to take a photo. Photo by Art Young.

Kaluanui NAR

Kaluanui NAR

We kept to the left to stay on trail. Go to the right to see more waterfalls. Photo by Art Young.

KST

KST

Huh. What the hell. Oh my gosh. Disgusting. It was disgusting. Level inflection was maintained throughout. Photo by Katie Bingham.

Kaluanui NAR

Kaluanui NAR

Is this the beginning or the end?

Rabbit Hole

Rabbit Hole

Pushing through the overgrowth on the mud soaked trail. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

KST

KST

You know it’s getting serious when somebody puts on their gloves, the mud was deep. Photo by Art Young.

KST

KST

The fence sprawl has gradually spread throughout the mountains. Photo by Katie Bingham.

Papali Junction

Papali Junction

I was too hungry and cold to smile at the camera. Slurping down a hot bowl of pho was priority on my list. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

KST

KST

Katie coming up through a corridor of moss encrusted trees.

Waterfall #2

Waterfall #2

Looking at another massive landslide on thankfully another ridge with a small gurgling waterfall besides it. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

KST

KST

How long have I been hiking with this stick?

KST

KST

Art making his way on the somewhat narrow trail masked with overgrowth and pitted with false holes and tripping roots, branches and vines.

Scenic rock

Scenic rock

Tessa skirting around the scenic-less rock, but gave it a hug nonetheless. Photo by Art Young.

Waterfall #3

Waterfall #3

Spotting a waterfall coming out of the mountains. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

KST

KST

Meandering our way through the KST. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

Waterfall #4

Waterfall #4

Another waterfall spotted running off the side of the mountain. This is probably the most waterfalls I have seen on this section of the KST. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

KST

KST

Art climbing his way out of the notch. We are almost there! To the cabin that is.

Waterfall #5

Waterfall #5

Looking at a waterfall coming out of the landslide. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

KST

KST

We soon regained the fence line which meant we were close to the cabin. Locked? Unlocked? Photo by Tessa Bugay.

KST

KST

Disgusted much? Photo by Tessa Bugay.

Koloa Cabin

Koloa Cabin

Some of us didn’t handle our approach down to the cabin as gracefully as the others.

Koloa Cabin

Koloa Cabin

No liquor was consumed in the production of this photo.

Koloa Cabin

Koloa Cabin

Outside the cabin that had a new door and fresh paint.

Chariots of Fire

Chariots of Fire

The traditional mud race upon leaving the cabin. Art enjoyed the fruits of victory, while I enjoyed the spoils of the pungent mud. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

Waterfall #6

Waterfall #6

Spotting our last waterfall on the nearby ridge. Malaekahana Falls? Photo by Tessa Bugay.

KST

KST

Art making his way on the trail that was covered and carpeted with cascading uluhe ferns.

Dale's Birthday

Dale’s Birthday

Aida, Dale, Cisco, Hana, Jenn, Lilyn, Quan and Sally had hiked up the Laie Trail, frolicked in the waterfalls and ended at the summit. While waiting for us, they celebrated a past birthday.

KST

KST

Sloshing through the bowl shaped depression. I was so over the mud. Photo by Art Young.

Laie Summit

Laie Summit

Trying to beat the clock as the group didn’t want to wait one minute past the hour. Photo by Quan Haberstroh.

Quan's Birthday

Quan’s Birthday

Celebrating a future birthday.

Laie Summit

Laie Summit

#15. Pouring my traditional celebratory champagne over Art to congratulate him for completing his last section needed to finish the Ko’olau Summit Trail which spans from Makapu’u to Pupukea. Welcome to the club. No secret handshake, just an empty champagne bottle to mark your induction.

Laie Summit

Laie Summit

Group photo left to right: myself, Katie, Aida, Quan, Tessa, Art, Lilyn, Sally and Cisco.

Laie Trail

Laie Trail

Taking our leave of the 2,240′ summit. Photo by Art Young.

Laie Trail

Laie Trail

Working our way down the muddy trail. Photo by Sally Chow.

Laie Trail

Laie Trail

Brushing our way on the uluhe carpeted ridge line.

Laie Trail

Laie Trail

You guys call this a landslide? Photo by Art Young.

Laie Trail

Laie Trail

Flanking the side of the steep cliff. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Laie Trail

Laie Trail

Somebody was overly optimistic in saying we could get down within 90 minutes. You’re the forgetful hiker and not the fast hiker. Photo by Lilyn Avendano.

Laie Falls Junction

Laie Falls Junction

We became night marchers in more ways than one, from this point down to the road. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Laie Trail

Laie Trail

The Hawaiian version of bread crumbs. Photo by Sally CHow.

All pau

All pau

Exiting the trail where we passed one farmer who was surprised to see us, possibly thinking we were poachers. Shout out to Cisco and Quan for driving us back to our cars in Mililani. Most of us just wanted to crawl into a shower and hit the sack, so no post hike meal today.

GPS Tracks

GPS Tracks

Our 15.5 mile hike had an unforgettable beginning and a memorable finish through the Northern Ko’olau Mountains. Congrats again to Art for completing the KST.

Note: DLNR has shut down Poamoho Trail as of March 15, 2021 due to trail conditions.

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.

Leave a Comment

{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }

Kevin Kim March 28, 2021 at 9:32 am

When we were 17-20 yrs old, back in the mid 70’s, we would hike that trail at night, in the pouring rain, just for fun. Us bunch of surf rats from Wahiawa ran from the base, where we parked our vehicle, to the cabin. Drank a bottle of whiskey at the summit or cabin.(sometimes the cabin was occupied with boy scouts). Then ran down in the morning. We must have done that a dozen times, back in the 70’s, out of boredom and staying is shape for surfing big north shore. Rats would wake us in the cabin. Pigs would tromp onto the front porch at night. One night, it was pouring so bad, and cabin was occupied by Boy Scouts. So they agreed to let us sit on the bench out on the porch. So we drank our whiskey, smoked our weed, and left before they got up in the morning. Ha!

Reply

kenji SAITO March 29, 2021 at 11:11 am

Aloha Kevin,
Thanks for sharing your trail memories. Sounds like good times!
Mahalo

Reply

Wahinee01 March 29, 2021 at 6:16 pm

Finishing the KST hike for Art, and a birthday hike for the waterfall Queen. What a fun day it was!

Reply

kenji SAITO March 30, 2021 at 10:00 am

Aloha Tessa,
Yup fun day and memorable hike with the landslides and all.
Mahalo

Reply

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