Ah yes, I finally made it to Ka’ena Point. I didn’t have a Hawai’i bucket list, but I knew I wanted to come here before we left the island. After sorting out our temporary living situation, we booked an AirBnb out in Waialua for a few days. Which gave us the chance to take a little stroll out to the most western point of `Oahu.
During our stay in Kailua and Wailua, we made a point to get some running in every day. I’m a sh*t runner on the islands because the heat and humidity get to me. There have been a lot of inclines on my running routes, so maybe there’s that.
A has gone mountain biking at Ka’ena Point and for some bright idea, I suggested that we run part of the trail out to the point. What was I thinking? We started at around 9am and I highly suggest heading out there a lot sooner than that. It gets blazing hot out there. I managed to do a mile and settled with walking the rest of the way. It’s so beautiful out here especially since it rained most of our stay in Waialua, it was clear and sunny. Perfect day for an adventure.
The terrain wasn’t all that bad to walk on, but we stuck with the dirt road, which a few jeeps passed us on the way out. I think the trek, roundtrip, was just a little under 6 miles. It’s quite the walk.
Ka’ena Point also serves as a nature reserve and bird sanctuary. And sometimes there are even Hawaiian Monk Seals catching some ZzZ, but it just wasn’t our luck this time to see them. However, I was pretty happy to see all the nesting Albatross, I don’t think I’ve ever seen one nor am I a huge bird fanatic. But the albatross is actually one of my family’s `aumakua (spiritual guardian), little fun fact for you.
This trek is definitely a scorcher so bring :
- a hat
- sunscreen
- plenty of water
- maybe a snack or two
- comfortable shoes
- a camera, my phone was broken by then so thank goodness for the GoPro
I love your photos — they turned out great! Have you guys done Peacock Flats? It’s a great place to run if you get there early enough.
I can’t even imagine trying to run in Hawaii. Whenever a runner passes by my dad’s house in the afternoon, I die a little for them. But wow you got some amazing pictures. I might have to take a walk out there.
Amazing pictures!!!
We’ve done this hike 3 times with the kids, only made it to the end once. The locals aren’t joking when they say it’s the hottest part of the island!
Ooh fun! And I can’t say I really ever knew what an albatross looked like! But I’ve always known of them based on a guessing story thing I learned when I was 15.. So pretty there! I want to be there!!
Ka’ena Point is amazing–although I’m kind of sad you didn’t get to see monk seals (they were my favorite part of both of our hikes). You are not joking about it being hot though–we usually start at 6 and somehow we still end up baking! Looks like you two had fun though! 🙂
woah – this is GORGEOUS! all that pretty water – and ahhh such a fun adventure!
We went a little ways out that road a couple years ago to hang out with some guys who had been camping there. The road felt like it went on forever! And we didn’t realize what it was like and lugged our snorkeling gear the whole way. Live and learn!
It looks beautiful! Anytime I try running somewhere with lots of humidity, it just kills me haha. So hard if you’re not adjusted to it!
Kathryn • The Fashionography
Oh fun! We are heading up that way for a hike for the keiki soon but on the Waianae side.
Luckily, the day we went, it was overcast, and there were even a few little sprinkles. We tried with the kids while the sun was blazing, and it was not fun.