Poamoho – December 15, 2012

Not many hikes on this island can compete with Poamoho. The graded trail takes you through the heart of the Ko’olaus. Just imagine a place where no one can bother you because you are at least 10 miles away from civilization. The feeling is stupendous.  There are three climaxes of this hike 1) The Cline Memorial 2) Summit is one of the best on the island 3) Poamoho Cabin is a must see.

Earlier in the month, I applied for a permit with the Division Land & Natural Resources (DLNR). They sent me an approval with the combo locks for the gates. We would have to go through three gates to access the trailhead.

The day started at E’s house. There we met the crew for the day. Joining us were The Judge, Katrina, Proo, & Denise. We got into E’s cousin’s truck (which he borrowed) and headed towards Paalaa Uka Pupukea Access Road. It is worth mentioning, to drive on the jeep road to Poamoho, one has to obtain a 4 wheel drive truck because the dirt makes things very slippery for the vehicle. 

We drove up the road to a yellow gate. I got out of the truck and tried the combo lock. It didn’t work, so everyone jumped out of the truck and tried to help me. To no avail, frustrated, we felt demoralized. Everyone thought of solutions, but the obvious solution lay right in front of us. We were at the wrong gate, so we jumped into the truck and drove further up the road. There it was! The gate! Everyone laughed; there was even a sign that said Poamoho Access Road.

Going onto the jeep road proved easy at first, albeit narrow. However, the terrain got very muddy and vehicle control became the concern. After some problem solving, E was able to turn on the 4 wheel drive mechanism on the truck which made going so much easier. Trust me; a car cannot make it on this jeep road, especially when the dirt turns into sludge. Traction becomes very important.

After ½ hour, we hit the windy trailhead. According to my gps, we were at 1911 feet. That is great! As mentioned earlier, the trail is graded making the going easy. The trail is maintained for about 3 miles, and it was an easy 3 miles. The last ½ mile of the trail is slightly overgrown, but not very difficult. What makes it time consuming is that you're hiking through a very sensitive reserve with many native plants and wildlife. If you know your native plants (which I don’t) hiking through this area will provide great fulfillment and can be time consuming.

The summit is windswept with a commanding view of the north side of Kahana valley, mainly Pu’u Piei and Pauao ridge. Of course you can also see Manamana, Ohulehule, Kanehoalani, etc. There is a meadow located in between an area on the summit which creates a funneling effect, making it windy as hell. The Cline Memorial is important if you hike on Oahu. Getting to the Cline Memorial means experiencing true hiking on Oahu. Cline was a beloved member of the HTMC and Sierra Club, she died in 1975 in a car accident. In 1978, her family and club members erected a memorial in her honor, Silver Piliwale did the blessing (Ball, 164-165). I’ve done over 100+ hikes on Oahu over the past 3 years and getting to these special places creates some sort of belonging in the hiking community. I can say, I’ve been there, and share my stories with others.

After playing around at the summit for what seemed like an hour, we found a trail and headed on the Ko’olau Summit Trail (KST) towards the Poamoho cabin. The hike to the cabin is about 30 minutes. The trail jumps over from windward to leeward. You'll see a small lake on the way to the cabin. Experiencing the cabin is also important. It’s a landmark in the hiking community. According to Stuart Ball’s new book, Native Paths to Volunteer Trails, this particular cabin was built in 1973 by the State Forestry Division (Ball, 163). The cabin appears to get maintenance, presumably by DLNR and the army. Inside the cabin, there is a book to sign, sleeping quarters, and some running water, but not much more than that.

After the cabin we made the 4 mile hike back to the trailhead being treated to some rain. Just like many hikers on Oahu, well, who I’ve hiked with; the hike back always seems to be quicker, mainly because you know the route and want to get the hell out of there.

After a few hours, we were done and headed back to civilization. E drove us to his house where we proceeded to wash the dirty truck. It was cold. I went home and took a hot hot shower.

After some reflection, Poamoho has to be considered one of the best hikes on this island. It must be done at least once in your hiking journey, treat yourself to a great hiking experience.