The Kaena Point Hike can be approached from the Waianae side or the Mokuleia side. Since I went with the Hawaiian Trail and Mountain Club, we all met at the Kaena Point State Reserve Park parking lot at the end of Mokuleia.
Waianae Mountain Range
You have to walk about two miles down a very uneven road to get to the trailhead, which is also used by fishermen driving their off road trucks and mountain bikers. We also saw a couple planes fly overhead, as they came from nearby Dillingham Airfield, where they do skydiving and glider rides. Kaena means “the heat” in Hawaiian, a very fitting name. There is no shade, so bring sunblock and hats, otherwise you will get scorched.
Trailhead
This is the actual start of the Kaena Point Nature Reserve and the hike. From this point, due to obvious reasons, off road trucks are not permitted, only hikers and mountain bikers can pass through. The club said they had obtained a special permit to access the reserve, but I saw a number of mountain bikers pass through this gate with no “special permits.”
Spirit Leap Rock
Along the trail, we saw the Spirt Leap rock or leina a ka ‘uhane, where the recently passed would use this place as a jumping point into the afterlife.
Lighthouse
The lighthouse marks the tip of Kaena Point. The original concrete lighthouse can be seen to the right where it fell over.
Hawaiian Monk Seal
We saw this Hawaiian Monk Seal sunbathing in one of the coves. They are federally protected, so do not approach them to closely or bother them.
Tidepools
The reserve is ringed with tidepools teeming with all sorts of marine life. During winter time, the surf rivals and exceeds the monster waves at Waimea Bay. Due to it’s remoteness, few surfers come out here to ride them.
Sea cucumber
Here is a sea cucumber, a fellow Chinese hiker was telling me that in China, this is considered an expensive delicacy.
Sea Urchin
Here is another marine delicacy, sea urchin. The Japanese call it uni, which they slather on top of sushi.
Albatross chick
Here was an albatross chick out of his nest which was right on the edge of the trail. They are building a pest fence that would contain most of the ocean facing areas from the mountain areas in an effort to prevent feral pigs, dogs and rodents from entering the preserve and eating the eggs and chicks.
Black footed Albatross
Along with the Black footed albatross, the preserve is also home to the Wedge Tailed Shearwater birds and other seabirds as well as endangered plants, some only found at Kaena Point.
Hawaiian "pyramid"
The Waianae Mountain Range from this angle, almost looks like a Hawaiian “pyramid.” The US Air Force maintains a satellite tracking station on the top of the mountain, you can clearly see it from the Waianae side, a big white golf ball looking dome.
Kaena Point Hike
Farrington Highway 930
Mokuleia, HI 96791
Duration: 5 miles, 4-5 hours
Open: Daily, during daylight hours
Cost: Free
