Kamaile'unu Hike PhotosThe following photos were taken by me, (Nathan Yuen) on Sunday, February 8, 1998 during a hike with the Hawaiian Trail and Mountain Club to the top of Kamaile'unu Ridge, a ridge in the Waianae Mountain Range that descends from Mount Ka'ala and separates the valleys of Makaha and Waianae. Also on this hike were SCHers/OHE-Lers Wing Ng, Dave Webb, and Dick Beaton.
Kamaile'unu Ridge is so hot and dry that its loose dark volcanic rocks are almost entirely exposed with only a sparse planting of low-lying tuffs of dry grass, haole koa, cacti, and other drought-tolerant scrub. As a result, the full brunt of the sun beats down unmercifully for almost the entire length of the trail.
Wing Ng had to turn back because of a catastrophic shoe failure caused by the sharp vocanic rocks. The sole is missing from the bottom of his shoe. That white projection under the shoe in this shot is actually his foot.
Mauna Lahilahi on the Waianae coastline from the first level section of the ridge some 1,300 feet above sea level.
Dave Webb and I (Nathan) hike over narrow dike formations along the ridge. Formed when magma that was forced into cracks in the earth solidified before reaching the surface, dike rocks are significantly denser and more resistant to erosion than the surrounding rock. Over the passage of time, the softer rock eroded leaving the dike formations projecting into the air. Dick Beaton stands before an impressive dike formation. Here I am perched percariously on top a craggy dike formation.
A small shallow cave carved into the side of the mountain near the dike formations. This is not Kuka'au'au Cave.
The climb to Kamaile'unu is relentlessly cruel. Not only does the sun beat down unmercifully, but we were fooled time and time again that the summit was just ahead, only to have our hopes dashed when realized that another big climb was ahead. Here is yet another climb along the way to the top covered with cacti.
A puka (hole) in the rocks just before the summit of Kamaile'unu with rust-colored lichen growing on the side.
The summit of Kamaile'unu, some 3,200 feet above sea level, provides fantastic panoramic views of the Waianae Coast. Here are shots of Makaha Valley , Mount Kaala (Kaala is the highest point on Oahu at 4,000 feet above sea level), and Pu'u Kalena (Kalena is the second highest point on Oahu at 3,500 feet above sea level).
Here is a shot from above of Kamaile Heiau which located very close to the start of the trail at only about 400 feet above sea level and a barely discernable shot from below after we eneded the hike of Kuka'au'au Cave at the very bottom center of the photograph.