Poamoho Trail to Pupukea (Black Junction)

by kenji SAITO on April 15, 2023

It was that time to pay another visit to the least trafficked area of the KST.

Poamoho Road

Poamoho Road

Playing paniolo on a mechanized beast of burden while corralling cows back into their pastures.

Trailhead

Trailhead

Thanks to Edgar and Lilia for dropping us off at the start of the trail as it started to drizzle.

Poamoho Trail

Poamoho Trail

Group photo, left to right: Ryan, Chico, Tessa, Aileen and myself.

Poamoho Trail

Poamoho Trail

Dead roof rat on the trail. Rodent traps on the trails attempt to curb the scourge that attack native animal and insect populations.

Poamoho Trail

Poamoho Trail

Hiking on the graded path, which the US Army once considered making this a jeep road all the way to the summit. The start of WW2 scuttled those plans.

Poamoho Trail

Poamoho Trail

Halfway point. Checking for cannibals. Not cannabis.

Poamoho Trail

Poamoho Trail

Crossing over the largest of the landslides that shut down the trail back in March 2021.

Poamoho Trail

Poamoho Trail

Heading into the side gulch above a small tributary of Helemano Stream

Poamoho Trail

Poamoho Trail

Crossing the stream, which marked less than 10 minutes to the summit.

Poamoho Summit

Poamoho Summit

Windy group photo at one of the best summit spots on the island with sweeping views of Punalu’u, Kahana and Ka’a’awa Valleys.

Cline Memorial

Cline Memorial

Seeking shelter below the stone memorial before resuming our hike.

Ko'olau Summit Trail (KST)

Ko’olau Summit Trail (KST)

Contouring our way below the ridge line.

KST

KST

Going through the fenced rolling hills in the cloud soaked mountains.

Boot Junction

Boot Junction

Taking our group photo at the iconic boot that has stood witness in these mountains for many years.

Boot Junction

Boot Junction

Why did the hikers cross the fence? To get to the other fence.

KST

KST

Following the fence line for daze.

KST

KST

What am I doing here? Or maybe he’s just rubbing his eyes.

Rabbit Hole Junction

Rabbit Hole Junction

Ready for more mud?

KST

KST

Some embraced the suck, while most avoided it like the plague.

KST

KST

I remember when there was no fence line or gates, just a thin trail through the overgrowth.

Papali Junction

Papali Junction

Somebody with the longest arm took our group photo.

KST

KST

Pushing our way through the bog like landscape.

KST

KST

Is this the trail?

KST

KST

Taking a break from slogging through the mud soaked and overgrown trail.

KST

KST

Winding our way through the verdant mountains.

KST

KST

Traversing on the exposed ridge line.

KST

KST

Climbing out of the notch and towards the cabin.

KST

KST

Sloshing through the mud as we regained the fence line.

Koloa Cabin

Koloa Cabin

Approaching our home for the night. Would Tessa’s gamble pay off?

Koloa Cabin

Koloa Cabin

Wash time.

Koloa Cabin

Koloa Cabin

Enjoying our brief and somewhat dry spell in the cabin as we plugged holes so no rats would come around, filtered water, cooked ourselves dinner and most of the group medicated themselves to sleep for the night.

Laie Trail

Laie Trail

Day 2
Chris started early on the hike that is a study in contrasts according to Stuart Ball, to join us at the summit.

Koloa Cabin

Koloa Cabin

We cleaned up the place and took a parting group shot.

Koloa Cabin

Koloa Cabin

Leaving the most spacious cabin on the KST.

KST

KST

Tessa getting her feet back in the mud.

KST

KST

Going down the steep fenced hill.

KST

KST

Ryan against the background of the Waianae Mountain Range.

KST

KST

Following the fence line for the last time on this trail.

KST

KST

Dropping down into the bowl shaped depression.

KST

KST

Meandering our way through the mountains with sweeping views of the coastline.

Laie Summit

Laie Summit

Meeting up with Chris at the 2,240′ foxhole of a summit.

KST

KST

Leaving the summit behind us as we resumed our hike on the trail.

KST

KST

Man on the ridge line.

KST

KST

Following the trail carved into the sides of the mountains as it meandered through the Ko’olau Mountain Range.

KST

KST

We can thank the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) and the US Army for carving the KST out of the mountains back in the 1930s.

KST

KST

The KST was not made for hikers but rather for the military and pig hunters to access the previously inaccessible mountains.

KST

KST

Tree hugger.

KST

KST

Halfway there! Let’s have lunch.

KST

KST

Back on the trail that was in serious need of trimming and then some.

KST

KST

Face in the tree.

KST

KST

Taking a break from the cloying and constant overgrowth.

KST

KST

Let’s go that way. Never argue with a man with a machete.

KST

KST

Going through the forest that was seemingly covered with moist moss.

KST

KST

Rainbow in the mountains.

KST

KST

Somebody looked slightly annoyed as we followed the trail that no longer looked like a trail.

KST

KST

Climbing our way back up to the ridge line.

KST

KST

The group emerging from the forest of constant poking and pulling.

KST

KST

Approaching our last summit of the weekend. We were not out of the woods yet.

KST

KST

Crawling through tunnels of overgrowth.

KST

KST

I fought the uluhe and the uluhe won.

Pu'u Hina

Pu’u Hina

Somebody disentangled the leaves, sticks and ferns in her hair while somebody else self-medicated their private parts. Turn away. Not safe for children.

Pu'u Hina

Pu’u Hina

Group photo at Pupukea Summit, no need to stand up. This is also considered the junction for the abandoned Kahuku Trail built in the 1920s that has since been reclaimed by Mother Nature.

KST

KST

Leaving the summit behind us.

Black Junction

Black Junction

The “official” end or start of the Ko’olau Summit Trail.

Pupukea Trail

Pupukea Trail

We were still not out of the woods yet and caught the setting sun as we made our way down to the road.

Military Road

Military Road

The one and done crew exiting the trail.

Military Road

Military Road

Height check.

Military Road

Military Road

Less walking, more running. You got a wife to meet at the bottom of the road.

Military Road

Military Road

Things that go BOO in the night. Got me good.

All pau

All pau

Big shout out to Lilia for waiting several hours over the projected exit time and picking us up at the end of the dark and deserted road. Post hike meal was not at the much anticipated, mouth watering Haleiwa Joe’s thick cut of prime rib. Due to the late hour, we ended up eating at the nearby McDonald’s. In the parking lot.

GPS Tracks

GPS Tracks

Our grueling and taxing camping weekend with a good group that weathered the hike with a couple scratches to spare and ferns stuck in odd places covered over 18 miles where the country is still country.

Photos taken by Aileen Agustin, Chico Cantu, Chris Bautista, Ryan Meyer, 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.

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{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }

Chico May 15, 2023 at 9:45 pm

That was one awesome adventure! Embrace the suck ????????????
Thank you Kenji, for leading us on an adventure that most will never be able to see in a lifetime ????????????????????

Reply

kenji SAITO May 19, 2023 at 5:50 am

Aloha Chico,
Yep good fun with good company.
Mahalo

Reply

wahinee01 May 16, 2023 at 7:18 am

Loveeee the long hike but not so on the mud lol
Thank you for all the great outdoor adventures and looking forward for many many more lol

Reply

kenji SAITO May 19, 2023 at 5:51 am

Aloha Tessa,
Thanks for your company on our adventures.
Mahalo

Reply

Ryan May 17, 2023 at 9:05 am

I’m still waiting for my ribeye ????

Reply

kenji SAITO May 19, 2023 at 5:51 am

Aloha Ryan,
Waiting at the table for you! lol.
Mahalo

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