eandesmom
I'm with Beast
- Joined
- Jan 5, 2009
- Messages
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We had been lounge lizards for two days straight. Today we planned to mix that up a bit. Yes, it was time to get off the lanai and out of the loungechair! When I was planning the trip well, I didn't do much planning. Booked it, got flights, kept getting the car price down and really that’s about it. Got a few notes on places to eat and shop but not much more. The weekend before we left I got serious. Emailed my cousins for hiking info, went online and dug around for hikes, biking and kayak options. My cousin responded with a "We don’t hike but my dad says that Ka‘ena Point is a popular one up by where you are". That was a good starting point as far as I was concerned. Looking it up, this is what I found.
Trail Length: 3.5 mi.
Activity: Pedestrian, biking
Difficulty: Moderate
Terrain: Open coastline
Elevation Gain: Negligible
Park Name: Ka'ena Point State Park
Description: The trail to Ka‘ena Point follows an old railroad bed and former dirt road that ran along the westernmost point of O‘ahu. The trail leads to Ka‘ena Point Natural Area Reserve, a remote and scenic protected area harboring some of the last vestiges of coastal sand dune habitat on the island, and home to native plants and seabirds. Whales frequent this shoreline during the winter months.
The weather is usually sunny and hot, and it can be windy - a hat, sunscreen, and plenty of water are recommended. Allow 1 to 3 hours depending on your pace. Stay away from the wave-exposed coast unless you are familiar with hazardous ocean conditions.
There are two routes
From the Wai‘anae side, tale the trailhead at the end of the paved road in the Keawaula Section of Ka‘ena Point State Park and follow the dirt roadway for 2.4 miles to Ka‘ena Point Natural Area Reserve. This route follows the shoreline on your left (southwest), characterized by boulder beaches and occasional tidepools, while cliffs rise above you on your right (northeast). Midway along the trail are a pair of small blowholes. In places the old road has eroded completely.
From the Mokule‘ia side, park at the end of the paved road and follow the dirt roadway for 2.5 miles. The trail traverses a broad, relatively flat coastal plain marked by a raised limestone reef and sand dunes. Upon reaching the Natural Area Reserve, please take care to avoid damaging native flora and watch for nesting seabirds, some of whom make burrow nests. A navigational light is visible at the point. Stay on established paths. No dogs or other animals are allowed in the Reserve. To return, retrace your path.
Now what you might notice here is the route description is a bit different than the summary. Summary says it is a 3.5 mile hike. Each route would put it at a 4.8 mile or 5 mile round trip respectively, the 3.5 statement isn't clear if that means round trip or not. And this is all from the same State Park Website! We were on the Wai'anae side.
Our plan was to hike in the am and then head to the Northshore for lunch and snorkeling. We woke up at 6:57 am, perfect! Except not, it was really 6:11. Jeff can’t read the clock without his glasses these days! Oh well, guess we have time for coffee and breakfast on the lanai!
Good Morning Aulani!
As we ate and drank our coffee, Jeff checked the forecast and found it called for some decent trade winds. Hmmn, that might put a damper on the Northshore snorkeling. At least Jeff thought so.
Our plan was to fill up our mugs with coffee from the O’leo room and then hit the towel handout right at 8 when the opened, hit the snorkel gear rental after that and then head straight to the car. When picking up the towels we were informed of the 60 minute rule. What? Apparently there was a 60 minute rule. Don’t leave your stuff on a lounger longer than that or they might take it. Day 3 and this was the first we’d heard of it. We’d have been toast on day one if they were enforcing that! We figured it had to do with the holiday weekend and the fact that I think they were close to or actually sold out. Towels handled it was off to the beach rental place. We elected to get the length of stay package so we could just keep the same gear all week. We had looked at buying gear and without making a separate trip to Target just for that, this was cheaper. But...once rented we realized something. The fins they rent at Aulani are NOT normal fins. They are cut short for the Rainbow Reef. Arguably so people don’t kick each other and likely as there is no real current to deal with. Jeff was not happy about it and convinced we’d have issues but…didn't want to return them either. At any rate the very nice Lisa Marie rented us our gear and gave us tips as to where the best snorkeling at our very own beach was and best time of day to catch turtles (both, on the right side, by the rocks, early am). Missions accomplished we made it to the car and were on the road at 8:22. A bit later than we had hoped but not horrible.
The drive to our hike couldn't have been easier. Get back on the road you drove in on and keep going northwest...until you can’t anymore. As we drove we kept seeing "points" in the distance and wondered if they were our destination.
This one?
Maybe these?
Nope
As we drove I looked at our route for the rest of the day, post hike.
And realized something.
I had NOT done my homework.
I had assumed, just looking at the map, we could actually drive around the point as, end to end, you are on the west side of the Northshore But there is no road that cuts over the point. Just the trail. Oops! To get to the Northshore we'd have to drive back to Aulani, keep heading east and then turn north. Arrgh. Lunch on the Northshore may not be happening but we decided we’d just play it by ear. Had I done my homework I’d have packed a lunch to eat on the hike but...oh well.
Oops! But hey if you look at the spot between "road ends and road ends" you can see the hike.
Arriving at Ka‘ena we stopped first at the restroom.
Oops! Should have packed TP!
We had read the directions and knew the trailhead was at the end of the paved road. The restroom was not at the end, the road kept going. We saw many people park by the restroom and walk down the paved road to the trailhead and hoped that didn't mean it was full.
It did have a nice view though! And a nice beach for that matter.
Jeff was more interested in what was on the hill
I thought this was prettier
We got the last "spot" in the small area near the trailhead. Our chariot for the week. Hard to lose that in a crowd!
These kinds of signs always make you feel safe, especially when you've had your car broken into before...in Hawaii!
This way?
He looks very serious
Then again that may have been the face of "hurry up with the sunscreen, it’s my turn!"
Nope, this way!
As we walked along, we saw folks out fishing
Pretty rugged
And a darn pretty walk
Evidence I was actually there
Continued in next post
Trail Length: 3.5 mi.
Activity: Pedestrian, biking
Difficulty: Moderate
Terrain: Open coastline
Elevation Gain: Negligible
Park Name: Ka'ena Point State Park
Description: The trail to Ka‘ena Point follows an old railroad bed and former dirt road that ran along the westernmost point of O‘ahu. The trail leads to Ka‘ena Point Natural Area Reserve, a remote and scenic protected area harboring some of the last vestiges of coastal sand dune habitat on the island, and home to native plants and seabirds. Whales frequent this shoreline during the winter months.
The weather is usually sunny and hot, and it can be windy - a hat, sunscreen, and plenty of water are recommended. Allow 1 to 3 hours depending on your pace. Stay away from the wave-exposed coast unless you are familiar with hazardous ocean conditions.
There are two routes
From the Wai‘anae side, tale the trailhead at the end of the paved road in the Keawaula Section of Ka‘ena Point State Park and follow the dirt roadway for 2.4 miles to Ka‘ena Point Natural Area Reserve. This route follows the shoreline on your left (southwest), characterized by boulder beaches and occasional tidepools, while cliffs rise above you on your right (northeast). Midway along the trail are a pair of small blowholes. In places the old road has eroded completely.
From the Mokule‘ia side, park at the end of the paved road and follow the dirt roadway for 2.5 miles. The trail traverses a broad, relatively flat coastal plain marked by a raised limestone reef and sand dunes. Upon reaching the Natural Area Reserve, please take care to avoid damaging native flora and watch for nesting seabirds, some of whom make burrow nests. A navigational light is visible at the point. Stay on established paths. No dogs or other animals are allowed in the Reserve. To return, retrace your path.
Now what you might notice here is the route description is a bit different than the summary. Summary says it is a 3.5 mile hike. Each route would put it at a 4.8 mile or 5 mile round trip respectively, the 3.5 statement isn't clear if that means round trip or not. And this is all from the same State Park Website! We were on the Wai'anae side.
Our plan was to hike in the am and then head to the Northshore for lunch and snorkeling. We woke up at 6:57 am, perfect! Except not, it was really 6:11. Jeff can’t read the clock without his glasses these days! Oh well, guess we have time for coffee and breakfast on the lanai!
Good Morning Aulani!
As we ate and drank our coffee, Jeff checked the forecast and found it called for some decent trade winds. Hmmn, that might put a damper on the Northshore snorkeling. At least Jeff thought so.
Our plan was to fill up our mugs with coffee from the O’leo room and then hit the towel handout right at 8 when the opened, hit the snorkel gear rental after that and then head straight to the car. When picking up the towels we were informed of the 60 minute rule. What? Apparently there was a 60 minute rule. Don’t leave your stuff on a lounger longer than that or they might take it. Day 3 and this was the first we’d heard of it. We’d have been toast on day one if they were enforcing that! We figured it had to do with the holiday weekend and the fact that I think they were close to or actually sold out. Towels handled it was off to the beach rental place. We elected to get the length of stay package so we could just keep the same gear all week. We had looked at buying gear and without making a separate trip to Target just for that, this was cheaper. But...once rented we realized something. The fins they rent at Aulani are NOT normal fins. They are cut short for the Rainbow Reef. Arguably so people don’t kick each other and likely as there is no real current to deal with. Jeff was not happy about it and convinced we’d have issues but…didn't want to return them either. At any rate the very nice Lisa Marie rented us our gear and gave us tips as to where the best snorkeling at our very own beach was and best time of day to catch turtles (both, on the right side, by the rocks, early am). Missions accomplished we made it to the car and were on the road at 8:22. A bit later than we had hoped but not horrible.
The drive to our hike couldn't have been easier. Get back on the road you drove in on and keep going northwest...until you can’t anymore. As we drove we kept seeing "points" in the distance and wondered if they were our destination.
This one?
Maybe these?
Nope
As we drove I looked at our route for the rest of the day, post hike.
And realized something.
I had NOT done my homework.
I had assumed, just looking at the map, we could actually drive around the point as, end to end, you are on the west side of the Northshore But there is no road that cuts over the point. Just the trail. Oops! To get to the Northshore we'd have to drive back to Aulani, keep heading east and then turn north. Arrgh. Lunch on the Northshore may not be happening but we decided we’d just play it by ear. Had I done my homework I’d have packed a lunch to eat on the hike but...oh well.
Oops! But hey if you look at the spot between "road ends and road ends" you can see the hike.
Arriving at Ka‘ena we stopped first at the restroom.
Oops! Should have packed TP!
We had read the directions and knew the trailhead was at the end of the paved road. The restroom was not at the end, the road kept going. We saw many people park by the restroom and walk down the paved road to the trailhead and hoped that didn't mean it was full.
It did have a nice view though! And a nice beach for that matter.
Jeff was more interested in what was on the hill
I thought this was prettier
We got the last "spot" in the small area near the trailhead. Our chariot for the week. Hard to lose that in a crowd!
These kinds of signs always make you feel safe, especially when you've had your car broken into before...in Hawaii!
This way?
He looks very serious
Then again that may have been the face of "hurry up with the sunscreen, it’s my turn!"
Nope, this way!
As we walked along, we saw folks out fishing
Pretty rugged
And a darn pretty walk
Evidence I was actually there
Continued in next post
how amazing to see those seals! I'd have a hard time tearing myself away that's for sure.
I don't look good in orange and can't afford a ticket to Russia. 
How absolutely cool you got to see not one, but two seals!!! And this wasn't far from Aulani? Very cool! I love that you shared that map... but honestly, I have NO idea where Aulani is on the map compared to anything else. And to get from one side of the island to another? 
I am just clueless.
Got it!
Oops. We were outta EPCOT pretty quickly!
