Pauao/KST/Waikane with Laredo

Pauao/KST/Waikane with Laredo

Posted to OHE on 24 May 2004 by Patrick Rorie

Hooked up with my hiking buddy Laredo yesterday to do a scout of Pauao Ridge. Pu'u Pauao is the massive peak on the Ko'olau Range between Kahana and Punalu'u valleys, and the ridge connecting to Pu'u Pauao separates these lush, largely undeveloped windward O'ahu valleys. 

I'm scheduled to coordinate the upcoming (June 20) Hawaiian Trail and Mountain Club (HTM) Members only Pauao Ridge outing but can't make the trailclearing. According to HTM rules and regs for coordinators, I'm required to check the route prior to the Club hike. I decided to do this yesterday. The weather wasn't very good for views, but the clouds, isolated showers and brisk trade winds kept us cool in the afternoon. 

 We found the trail to be in good shape from the watertank to the crest of Pauao Ridge, passable from the spot where one gains the crest to about half way along the ridge and then completely overgrown the final third of the ridge to the start of the sustained steep climb to the junction with the KST (Ko'olau Summit Trail). I tied blood red ribbon to tree limbs periodically to mark the route. For trailclearers reading this report, just hike to the crest of Pauao, hike the passable section and then clear the completely overgrown area. The sustained steep section is pretty open except for a new landslide that will need a rope or more work. I marked a bypass down to the broadest part of the slide, then dug a contour through the loose dirt and rocks. The bypass is dicey, but a fall there would probably not result in death. Either improve the contour or install a rope adjacent to the uppermost part of the slide. 

The two of us reached the KST at 1:11 p.m., more than 4 hours after commencing the event from just outside the Kahana Valley neighborhood. After a snack break, we headed south along the KST in thick fog (no views whatsoever). 

 "Typical summit weather", Laredo commented, "cloudy, windy and rainy". 

On the way to the Schofield-Waikane (S-W) terminus, we encountered 2 new, small slides, and I did some work to improve them. Upon arriving at the S-W topping out point at 2:45 p.m., we paused briefly. 

The best part of the day had to be the descent of Waikane Trail, still a freeway despite the fact that it hasn't been cleared since August of last year. The only exception being another landslide above the one dug out in August, debris littering the trail. Using a small shovel and pick, I took a few minutes to remove the fallen dirt, rocks and plants obstructing the footpath. 

At 4 p.m. Laredo and I reached the Kahana/Waikane saddle and sat down for another break. From the saddle, the two of us continued descending gradually via the Waiahole Ditch Trail, sections of which are washed out again, and a couple new blowdowns have fallen onto the footpath. 

When we arrived at the flume, we noticed the water overflowing onto the road, causing sink holes and erosion, dirt and rocks from a nearby landslide having slid into the flume. Laredo and I spent some time unclogging the intake until the water no longer overflowed. 

 During the long walk to Waikane Valley Road we carefully negotiated two big landslides, one of them completely covering the road. Farther makai, we recognized a new chain link fence with barbed wire on top enclosing the former Marine Corp bombing area. 

The two of us reached Laredo's truck at 6:15 p.m., thus completing another interesting day in O'ahu's wilderness backcountry. 

Notes: 

 For HTM members who plan to participate in the Pauao Ridge outing, meet at Waikane Beach Park (located makai of Kamehameha Hwy between Waiahole Valley Road and Waikane Valley Road) at 8:00 a.m. 

 == Patrick

Author:  Patrick Rorie <prorie@k12.hi.us>