GUNUNG · Amerika Serikat (Hawaii)

Mount Kaʻala

Mount Kaʻala — titik tertinggi Pulau Oʻahu (Pegunungan Waianae)

Information

Elevation: 1.227 m
Country: Amerika Serikat (Hawaii) (US)
Location / Range: Pegunungan Waianae (Waianae Range) — Cagar Alam Mount Kaʻala (Mount Kaʻala Natural Area Reserve)
Mountain type: Puncak tertinggi Pulau Oʻahu; sisa gunung berapi perisai yang tererosi (Pegunungan Waianae). Dataran puncaknya berupa rawa-hutan awan yang dilindungi sebagai Cagar Alam Mount Kaʻala
Volcanic?: Yes — volcano
Coordinates: 21.5069, -158.1428
Difficulty: Berat. Jalur pendaki (Waianae Kaʻala / Dupont Trail) curam, licin, berlumpur, dan bertali/akar di beberapa bagian punggungan sempit dengan jurang di kedua sisi; menuntut fisik dan kehati-hatian tinggi
Best Season: Musim kemarau Hawaii (kira-kira April–Oktober) lebih aman karena jalur tanah/lumpur jadi kurang licin; hindari setelah hujan deras. Puncak sering tertutup awan dan basah sepanjang tahun
Permits & Rules: Puncak sejati ditutup untuk umum karena stasiun pelacak FAA yang dijaga Angkatan Darat AS. Pendakian legal lewat jalur pendaki dari sisi Waianae menuju tepi dataran puncak/boardwalk cagar alam; ikuti aturan Nā Ala Hele/DLNR dan hormati kawasan terlarang militer
Hazards: Punggungan sempit berbahaya dengan jatuhan tinggi, tanah lumpur yang sangat licin, seksi bertali/akar yang aus, kabut tebal yang menurunkan jarak pandang, serta kemungkinan tersesat di percabangan. Kecelakaan fatal pernah terjadi; bukan jalur untuk pemula

Description

Kaʻala (1,227 m) is the highest point on the island of Oʻahu, Hawaii — the remnant of the deeply eroded Waianae shield volcano. Its flat summit is a montane bog and cloud forest protected as the Mount Kaʻala Natural Area Reserve, with a wooden boardwalk shielding endemic plants from trampling. A white domed FAA radar tracking station on the true summit means the highest point is closed to the public and secured by the US Army from Schofield Barracks at the mountain's base. Hikers reach the edge of the summit plateau via the Waianae Kaʻala Trail (also known as the Dupont Trail) from the west — a notoriously strenuous route: a steep forest climb, narrow ridgelines with drop-offs on both sides, worn rope/root sections, and near-permanent mud toward the top. The reward is expansive views over the Waianae Coast and central Oʻahu, plus the rare summit-bog ecosystem. Because of its dangers, the trail is not for beginners and is best avoided after heavy rain.

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

Because Kaʻala's true summit is closed (a military-guarded FAA tracking station), hiker experiences centre on the route to the summit-plateau edge and reserve boardwalk — chiefly the Dupont/Waianae Kaʻala Trail from the west. The vlogs and blogs below agree it is one of Oʻahu's hardest, muddiest hikes: steep forest climbing, narrow ridgelines with drop-offs, slippery rope/root sections, and thick mud near the top, rewarded with the summit bog-and-cloud-forest and Waianae Coast and North Shore panoramas. All YouTube links were verified live via oEmbed and other sources via HTTP.

References

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