A great scenic hike, far from the crowds - in fact, about as far as you can get on Oahu - Kuaokala is a high stroll along the top of the Waianae Range at its northern end. Although it is a long drive to the trailhead from town or the windward side, and requires a permit to hike, the experience is well worth the effort. A good thing about this 6-mile round trip hike is that most of the climbing will be done by your car, as it switchbacks 1,300 feet up from Yokohama Bay to the trailhead. The permit must be obtained from the State Division of Forestry and Wildlife, Room 131, 1151 Punchbowl Street (Tel: 587-0166). For those who have Internet access, the permit application may be filled out on line, www.dofaw.net then mailed or faxed to DOFAW, and the permit will be issued and mailed to the applicant.
To reach Kuaokala, take the H1 Freeway west from town toward Waianae. When the freeway ends, continue along Farrington Highway all the way to the end of the road at Yokohama Bay. Turn right at the access road to the Kaena Point Satellite Tracking Station, where it will be necessary to stop at the guard station, show your permit and get a visitor pass. Continue along the paved access road, climbing toward the top of the ridge. Just before a T intersection, another checkpoint with a barrier pole may be manned, where you will be required to show your pass. At the T intersection turn right, then curve to the left past an administration building. Ignore a paved road on the right, and continue down a short descent to a dirt lot on the right. A small metal CONEX container, once used as an office, sits at the far end of the lot and will help identify the parking area.
Getting ready in the parking area
The trail begins across the paved road from the parking lot and is marked by a Na Ala Hele trail sign.
Trail sign
Because the trailhead is located on top of the ridge at an elevation of 1,300 feet, there is not a lot of climbing on this hike, but there are some ups and downs. The trail starts by cutting along the left side of the ridge, through an ironwood forest.
At the end of the ironwoods, the trail joins a firebreak road, amid young introduced slash pine trees.
The route soon opens up with a fine view of the Waianae Mountains.
Yokohama Beach, an admin building, and the entry gate ( near the shore, upper left from the white building) appear far below.
The route soon leaves the road at a rocky knoll, and once more becomes a foot trail.
The remainder of the route will be along the open ridge line.
Following the open ridge
The trail soon cuts a groove through a "rock garden," and a part of Makua Valley begins to appear.
The longest uphill on the way in (and downhill on the way back)
A view looking back toward the starting point
Approaching the lunch spot is a fine view of Makua Valley
Makua Valley
Makua Valley head wall, with Mount Kaala in the clouds
The lunch spot, with a sweeping view of the valley, is also the turnaround point.
Lunch spot
The return trip is just as scenic as coming in.
Hiking poles don't help much on rocks
Through the "rock garden" again
For those who can arrange the transportation, this hike can be done as a "cross the Waianae Range" trip. At the lunch spot, instead of returning along the same route, take the Kealia Trail (see March 2004 column) down to Dillingham Airfield in Mokuleia, for a total distance of 6 miles. And for sturdy hikers, who don't want to bother with a permit, or drive all the way to Yokohama Bay, a round trip from the Kealia trailhead, connecting to the Kuaokala Trail makes a fine all-day outing of about 12 miles. Readers interested in either of these options can still access my Kealia column by clicking on March 2004 in the box on the right margin of this article.
NEXT MONTH: WAAHILA RIDGE
