Hiking the Waianae Range of Western Oahu, Hawaii
Most visitors to Oahu rarely make it out of Waikiki and even fewer still make it to the Leeward coast, whose wild and wooley reputation keeps even the city locals at bay. Never the less, the Waianae has some of the most beautiful beaches and siteseeing on Oahu and despite it's noteriety as being "rough" the hiking in the Waianae is well worth the trip.
There are many hiking trails and sites to see on the Leeward coast of Oahu located about 30 to 40 min from Honolulu International Airport. The Waianae Mountain Range is is capped by Kaena Point to the north and Makakilo ridge to the south and is home to the tallest peak on Oahu, Mt. Ka'ala, which rises 4025ft above Makaha Valley to the west with Waialua to the North East. Mt. Ka'ala is easily recognized by the giant geodesic dome that sits high on the mountains ridge line, which is used by the US Navy as a satellite tracking station. Here are some photos from a recent hiking expidition to the Waianae Range directly adjacent to the Makaha ahua pu'a'a.
Wailele, Hawaiian for waterfall Wild coffee
Wild Kalo, Hawaiian for Taro.
Part of the Waianae Range about half way up.
Giant Agave Hou'oli Koa blossom
Kehau, Hawaiian for mist
Koa covered in moss & lichen Lauae, indigenous fern
Cave passageway through ridge Wild Allspice
Giant Eucalyptus Invasive Guava
Photos by Kimo
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