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.

Thanks to Robert for dropping Art, Enrique, Lilyn and myself off to Waianae Valley where we met Justin for somebody’s WST finish.

Waianae Valley

This must be the way to the trail. Thanks for the visual reinforcement, as I would’ve totally missed it.

Picnic Shelter

End of the service road and the beginning of the “real” trail.

Waianae Valley

Going up the leaf covered hill.

Three Poles

Waiting for the rest of the group as we gained the ridge line.

Waianae-Kaala Trail

Looking back at the prominent and jagged ridges behind us.

Waianae-Kaala Trail

Steady climb towards the highest point on the island.

Waianae-Kaala Trail

Enrique scrambling up the first boulder section.

Waianae-Kaala Trail

Art climbing up the ladder on the second boulder area. Easy peasy.

Waianae-Kaala Trail

I thought my calves were big! Echoes of Kauai.

Waianae-Kaala Trail

The climbing must be getting serious as somebody put his gloves on.

Waianae-Kaala Trail

I found out that everybody has different ways of entering a gate. Some climb over it and others swing it open. To each their own.

Mount Ka’ala

Entering the 1,000+ acre reserve that was once a fishpond and is now home to endemic plants, many found nowhere else.

Ford Models

Justin strutting it on the boardwalk.

Beer Goggles

Walking through a bog with a beer in hand gets better with every step.

Mount Ka’ala

After wandering and getting turned around a couple times, we found the fence line and followed it to the ridge.

Waianae Summit Trail (WST)

Leaving the bog behind us as we made our way down the ridge marked by a breath of fresh air and poked by countless raspberry bushes.

Waianae Summit Trail (WST)

Art climbing down the moss slicked rocks.

Waianae Summit Trail (WST)

What happens when you don’t listen to your own advice about being careful going down, you walk away with a rope burn on your finger.

Waianae Summit Trail (WST)

Justin straddling the leap of faith gap.

Waianae Summit Trail (WST)

Lilyn lowering herself down.

Waianae Summit Trail (WST)

Enrique carrying the weight of the problems of Waiea on his shoulders.

Waianae Summit Trail (WST)

I’ll bushwhack through the raspberry bushes but don’t expect your GoPro stick back in one piece. Promise delivered.

Waianae Summit Trail (WST)

Art making new friends on the trail.

Waianae Summit Trail (WST)

The overgrowth wasn’t actually that bad this time around.

Hobbs Junction

Guys, I’m telling you the chameleon was this BIG!

Waianae Summit Trail (WST)

Enrique about to traverse the split in the fence line.

Waianae Summit Trail (WST)

Art going down using vintage webbing.

Waianae Summit Trail (WST)

Lilyn dropped down and contoured around the rock face.

Waianae Summit Trail (WST)

Art leaving the fence behind as he climbed up another small rock face.

Waianae Summit Trail (WST)

Lilyn standing on the sitting tree.

Pu’u Kalena

#18. I was misguided and thought we had overshot Star Trek which marked Art’s official completion of the WST. Prematurely celebrating his finish with my customary champagne dousing. Check that bubbly. It was wine. Same family.

Pu’u Kalena

Justin “Nambooty” Nambounmy cleared for take off. Get out of my drone’s way.

Pu’u Kalena

Group photo at the second highest peak on the island, notice that Art is cherising his prized kukui nut broken shell which symbolizes today’s accomplishment. This tradition dates back hours, if that.

Waianae Summit Trail (WST)

Leaving the summit and looking forward.

Waianae Summit Trail (WST)

Getting the rocks out of his shoes. The other ones are still stuck in his head.

Star Trek Junction

The official end of Art’s WST finish. Congratulations Arthur Young on completing all 26 miles that make up the Waianae Summit Trail that traverses the Waianae Mountain Range.

Waianae Summit Trail (WST)

Some chose to push through the pine tree while others jumped the fence. The path of least resistance.

Waianae Summit Trail (WST)

Hiking the WST is always a welcome change from the KST.

Waianae Summit Trail (WST)

Climbing and contouring our way around the fence line and the rocks.

SeXXXy Ridge

Looking at unfinished business. We’ll be back.

Waianae Summit Trail (WST)

Climbing down towards the narrow rock dike.

Waianae Summit Trail (WST)

Shoefie with the 3,504′ peak of Kalena in the background.

Waianae Summit Trail (WST)

Tower, this is Ghost Rider requesting a fly by. Wait until May 27.

Waianae Summit Trail (WST)

Art coming to the end of the fence line for us, with the background of Lualualei Valley and Pu’u Ka’ilio.

Waianae Summit Trail (WST)

Leaving our perch on the mountain as we made our way down.

Waianae Summit Trail (WST)

Justin stepping his way down.

Waianae Summit Trail (WST)

Making our way down the dike as it gradually leveled off bordered by bushes on one side and steep drops on the other side.

Waianae Summit Trail (WST)

Art turning off the ridge line for greener pastures.

Waianae Summit Trail (WST)

Leaving the forest behind us as we broke out into the open and heavily eroded section of the hill. Anybody brought their cardboard boxes?

Waianae Summit Trail (WST)

Running and sliding our way down towards the lowest point in the Waianae Mountain Range.

Kolekole Pass

Yea, though we walk through the valley of the shadow of UXO, we will fear no MPs.

All pau

Walking down the road as we heard artillery fire in the distance. There’s nothing like the smell of discharged gun powder in the afternoon.

GPS Tracks

Our walk on the wild west side covered roughly 8.37 miles with a great group. Congrats again to Art for finishing the 26 miles of the Waianae Summit Trail. Mahalo to Aida and Quan for picking us up, despite our less than hygienic conditions. Post hike meal at Popeye’s Chicken. On base. The only downside for somebody was the lack of free flowing alcohol.

Photos taken by Art Young, Enrique Chavez, Justin Nambounmy, Lilyn Avendano 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.