Mountainbiking Kaena Point Trail, Oahu Kaena Point is the westernmost point on the northern end of the island of Oahu, Hawaii. This trail is about 3 miles in length one way but dont let the short length fool you. Once you get out, you have three miles back and you will swear you were on a different trail. There are two starting points, depending on which side of the Wainae Mountains you are on. The Mokuleia side is my favorite as it has direct access to the North Shore and all of the best beaches on Oahu. Plus the beaches at Mokuleia are so far out on the North Shore that they are virtually empty much of the time, with the exception of local fishermen and families weekending and camping. To get to the Mokuleia side starting point, drive north on the Kamehameha highway and head toward Mokuleia. The road will eventually dead end at the The Kaena Point Natural Area Reserve established in 1983 as a nesting area for the Laysan Albatross. Previously this area had seen almost a century of abuse and neglect including everything from the sugar cane industry and railroad to scores of all terrain veihicles which have rutted the area adjacent to the reserve. From an enviromental perspective, the Kaena Point Natural Area Reserve is one of the state's best examples of coastal lowland dune ecosystems. "The reserve is also a refuge for the very rare Hawaiian monk seal, and green sea turtles crawl ashore to bury their eggs in the sand. Seabirds, including Red-footed and Brown Boobies, the Wedge-tailed Shearwater and Brown Noddy are common to the area. Humpback whales are seen breeching in the offshore waters during the winter breeding season." (See http://www.discoveringhawaii.com/SF_HikingTrails/HikeOAKeanaeTrail.html). Once you reach the end of the paved road you will see a pullout and parking area on the right side of the road. You will notice a locked gate and a dirt road heading further toward Kaena Point. Take note of the sign explaining the Natural area Reserve and conditions of use. The reserve actually begins about 1.5 miles at the end of this dirt road. Prior to beginning the ride a word on climate is in order. Kaena Point is truly one of the hottest and driest places on the island but the Trade Winds often ameliorate the intensity. But be prepared with sunscreen, hat or helmet, and plenty of water. The remoteness of the trail also makes it a wise idea to carry an extra tube, small first aid kit, patch kit and repair tools. The dirt road is used by all terrain vehicles, motorcycles, hikers, and bikers and there are always people on the road so beware. So far, all of the local fishermen and 4-wheelers have been extremely considerate of not dusting me and allowing me right of way on most occasions. The road is flat but does have some hills, considerable ruts and rills, and very bouldery, rocky sections that add flavor to that part of the ride. The road goes along the coast and passes beaches, tide pools, and sand hills with lots of room for exploring. A word of caution--Stay out of the water--the currents are extremely treacherous and not suitable for swimming in most areas. For that go to one of the many other beaches on the island. On the right side is the ocean where you may see anything from spinner dolphins to whales, depending on the time of year as well as gliders passing overhead. On the left side are the sheer cliffs of the Waianae Mountains. At the end of the dirt road you will come to a small turnaround blocked by large boulders and take note of a large metal post fence with a narrow gate big enough to get a hiker or a bike through. This is the start of the Natural Area Reserve. Take note of the trail regulations before proceeding. The trail now is the remnants of a railroad bed of a sugarcane train that ran from the leeward side of Kaena Point to the Mokuleia side variously from the 1890s until about the mid to late 1940s. To your right you have the ocean and to the left you can now see Kaena Point. From the tip of Kaena Point you can look down the Leeward and Northern shores of Oahu at the same time. As you ride along the trail you will come to a divide where you can either go down toward the sandy areas or continue on around the point. Continuing on around the point, the trail is a cobble pavement as portions of the old rail bed are still intact. In some areas it is old rail bed/jeep track, again with large boulders and occasional railroad ties partially buried at the surface. But the neatest thing about the trail is that it is situated about 10 to 15 feet above the waters edge, with the surf pounding for the entire length of the ride down to Makaha Beach on the Leeward side. There are spectacular views on both sides which include wave cut sea caves, standing sea arches, tide pools, and sheer mountains on one side and the blue Pacific Ocean on the other. Note that on the left side you will come to a point where the trail has washed out due to high surf--this is located at the wave cut cave. At this point you have to dismount your bike and portage across the washout. There is a rope tied to a wooden telephone pole on the other side that can help you. Test the rope before trusting it just to be safe. On the other side of the washout and cave, the trail continues along the rail bed for another 2 or so miles of spectacular scenery, friendly fishermen, and the occasional gutsy local divers. You will see a number of hikers as well. The later in the day that you ride, the more spectacular the scenery gets as the sun begins to play across the mountains, water, and casts shadows in the steep mountain valleys. And there is always the ever present rainbow further down the coast. Indeed this is one of my favorite trails on Oahu. Submitted by John D. of Oahu |
