GUNUNG · Amerika Serikat (Hawaii)

Mount Kaʻala

Kaʻala

Information

Elevation: 1.227 m
Country: Amerika Serikat (Hawaii) (US)
Location / Range: Waiʻanae Range, Pulau Oʻahu, Hawaii
Mountain type: Titik tertinggi Pulau Oʻahu — sisa gunung berapi perisai Waiʻanae yang telah punah dan tererosi; puncaknya berupa dataran rawa berkabut (montane bog)
Volcanic?: Yes — volcano
Coordinates: 21.5069, -158.1428
Difficulty: Berat: jalur curam, sangat berlumpur dan licin, banyak bagian dibantu tali (rope-assisted). Dupont Trail menanjak hampir dari permukaan laut hingga ±1.220 m dengan gain terbesar di Oʻahu
Best Season: Bulan-bulan lebih kering (kira-kira Mei–September); hindari mendaki setelah hujan lebat karena lumpur, licin, dan risiko banjir bandang di sungai
Permits & Rules: Trailhead Dupont melintasi lahan privat sehingga perlu izin akses; puncak memiliki fasilitas radar FAA yang areanya terbatas. Periksa status akses terkini sebelum berangkat
Hazards: Lumpur tebal dan permukaan sangat licin, banyak seksi tali, punggungan curam dengan tebing, jalur mudah hilang saat puncak tertutup awan, serta pendakian panjang dan melelahkan

Description

Kaʻala, often called Mount Kaʻala, is the highest point on the island of Oʻahu, Hawaii, at 1,227 metres in the Waiʻanae Range. The mountain is the eroded remnant of the long-extinct Waiʻanae shield volcano; its summit is flat, forming a misty montane bog rich in native Hawaiian plants and topped by an FAA radar station. The best-known route is the Dupont Trail on the Waiʻanae/Mokulēʻia side, which climbs almost from sea level and records the largest elevation gain on Oʻahu — around 1,200 metres over a few kilometres, on steep, very muddy terrain with many rope-assisted sections. Because the trailhead crosses private land, access requires permission, and the summit borders the radar facility. Hikers describe it as one of the toughest yet most rewarding climbs on the island: slippery and exhausting, but rewarded with native cloud forest and views over the North Shore and the Waianae plain from the summit overlook.

Gallery

Foto bersumber dari Wikimedia Commons — klik untuk memperbesar & lihat sumbernya.

Routes

Dupont Trail (sisi Waiʻanae / Mokulēʻia)

Berat (curam, berlumpur, banyak seksi tali; gain elevasi terbesar di Oʻahu)

16.00 km ±5–8 jam pulang-pergi

The best-known route to Kaʻala's summit and the trail with the largest elevation gain on Oʻahu — climbing almost from sea level to about 1,220 m through old cane fields, pasture, dry forest, then rainforest. The terrain is steep and very muddy with many rope-assisted sections. The trailhead crosses private land, so access permission is needed. It is rewarded with a misty montane bog and North Shore panoramas from the summit overlook.

Source

Mount Kaʻala Trail (Waianae Valley)

Berat (curam, licin, sebagian mengikuti jalan akses menuju fasilitas puncak)

hari penuh

An alternative from the Waianae Valley side that climbs a steep ridge and partly follows the access road toward the summit radar facility. It likewise demands fitness and care on slippery ground, and is often chosen as a variation to the Dupont Trail.

Source

Climbing Experiences

Accounts of hiking Kaʻala almost always stress two things: how steep and muddy the Dupont Trail is, and how unusual the misty montane bog at the summit feels. Many creators highlight the rope-assisted sections, boots sinking into mud, and the importance of dry weather for safety. Other recurring themes are the native Hawaiian cloud forest on the summit plateau, the North Shore panoramas, and Kaʻala's status as Oʻahu's highest point. Several guides emphasise the private-land access and the different route options (Dupont vs Waianae Valley).

References

The summary above is compiled from the following sources. Click to explore them yourself.