Kamaileʻunu ridge 2000

Kamaileʻunu ridge 2000

Posted to OHE on 11 Jan 2000 by Patrick Rorie (prorie@k12.hi.us)

“The centuries come and go, but Kamaileʻunu remains — rocky, rugged, relentless.”

“Kamaileʻunu is the most rugged hike on the island. The trail climbs partway up the ridge separating Waiʻanae and Makaha valleys.”*

Going against doctor’s orders (fluid on my left knee), I joined six others to mark and clear the Kamaileʻunu Ridge Trail. The group consisted of Arnold Fujioka (hike coordinator for the January 23 MEMBERS ONLY HTM event), Nathan Yuen, Naomi Nasu, Cheryl Batangan, Dick Beaton, and Chris Atkinson (visiting from Northern Virginia).

We met at the First Hawaiian Bank Waiʻanae Town branch parking lot at 8 a.m. After final preparations, we drove to Ala Akau Street across from Waiʻanae High School and the Waiʻanae State Boat Harbour. Parking at the trailhead itself is a no-no due to frequent break-ins and thefts. The weather was breezy, with clouds socking in Puʻu Kalena and Mount Kaʻala, but sunshine along the coast.

At 8:19 a.m. we continued on foot, quietly walking through a housing area between Ala Akau and the ridge. I chuckled upon seeing a sign on a fence:

“Have Dog — Will Bite — Keep Out”

Before reaching the ridge and beginning trail work, Nathan directed us to a cave of historical significance. An old spring at the base of the ridge, a heiau above the cave, and the cave itself were once interrelated. Perhaps Nathan can shed more light on the history behind these features.

While the others climbed above the cave, Arnold and I dropped to the trailhead and began marking and clearing. Arnold tied ribbon to branches and grass while I pruned haole koa with loppers. Winter rains had turned the ridge unusually green, with one- to two-foot-high grass masking loose rocks beneath our feet.

Eventually we regrouped and ascended steadily to the summit of Puʻu Kamaileʻunu (1,085 ft), bypassing the heiau out of respect for Hawaiian culture and contouring around rock outcrops. The hidden loose rock required constant attention to footing.

From Puʻu Kamaileʻunu the ridge leveled off briefly, then narrowed to a dike. We trimmed thorny kiawe and I picked up a goat skull—sure to be useful at the HTM clubhouse (just kidding, folks!). Beyond the dike, steep climbing resumed among what may be the densest concentration of cactus on any Oʻahu ridge.

At approximately 11 a.m., Chris, Arnold, and I reached the top of Puʻu Kepauala (2,678 ft) and took a breather. Views into Makaha Valley were superb, including the golf course, nearby homes, Makaha Towers, and the sheer cliffs of Keaʻau Ridge.

After reuniting with the rest of the group, we continued along the ridge, contouring where necessary and cutting back lantana and Christmas berry. Chris spotted a full rainbow in Makaha Valley. Past several stands of ironwood, we tackled the final major climb to a pinnacle at 3,210 ft—the third highest peak on Oʻahu.

The ridge curved north, offering outstanding open ridge walking to the normal terminus of the hike. Along the way we spotted a dozen goats contouring below the trail toward Kaʻala.

At 11:57 a.m. we reached the terminus, 3.5 miles from the trailhead, and sat down for lunch amid sweeping views of Keaʻau Ridge and Ohikilolo Ridge. Clouds shrouded much of the Waiʻanae Range, including Kaʻala and Kalena. Naomi, Dick, and Cheryl joined us later; cramps kept Nathan from reaching the end.

After lunch, Chris and I explored farther along the ridge toward a saddle, noting a rugged peak once traversed by HTM legends Al Miller and Fred Dodge. Before turning back at 12:54 p.m., I found a bottle containing a note signed by Bu Laie and Sam Choy—yes, that Sam Choy!

On the return, we stayed mostly on the crest, enjoying views from Barber’s Point to Makaha, across Lualualei Valley, and over numerous ridges and puʻu. A passing shower slicked the lava rock, but everyone descended safely, reaching the trailhead shortly after 4 p.m.

As we exited, Waiʻanae resident and HTM trail clearer Lynn Agena greeted us with Okinawan bread—many mahalos to her. After talking story, we departed, Arnold and I leaving at 4:25 p.m. in his Toyota.

References

* Ball, Jr., Stuart M. The Hiker’s Guide to Oʻahu. Honolulu: University of Hawaiʻi Press, 1993.

— Paka