Ka'ena Point hike

Shame on me for waiting two months to blog about this hike! It's a 6-mile roundtrip hike on the NW shores of Oahu with no shade, so we wanted to do it in the winter when the wind is up and the temps manageable. We actually completed this hike New Year's weekend but I've been busy with visitors and have found no time to write about it.

Ka'ena Point is the westernmost point on Oahu and is a state park and wildlife sanctuary. We approached from the east via Mokule'ia and the North Shore, but you can also approach from the southeast along the Wai'anae coast.

Parking area and trailhead

Ka'ena Point is home to many native Hawaiian plants and animals, including Hawaiian monk seals, Laysan Albatrosses, and wedge-tail Shearwaters. In 2011, the first predator-proof fence in the US was constructed here, which helps these native plants and animals flourish.

Predator-proof fence, no dogs allowed

Beautiful and wild North Shore

View Southwest of the Wai'anae coast

The day was warm and windy, and we got an early start to avoid not only a busy trail but the blistering sun as the day went on. It was a very hazy hike due to the spray blowing in off the ocean, so much so that I thought I was hallucinating/dizzy for a while! The path at the trail head is all dirt and incredibly rough for cars. Some people had their 4WD vehicles out in order to access some of the remote fishing sites, but I never would have driven this road- some of the potholes were as large as the cars themselves!

After walking through the predator fencing gate, we walked along the outside of the fence and observed the Natural Reserve inside. We saw several bird's nests among the brush. At the far end of the fence on the Wai'anae side we entered the Reserve area via a double-gate system and began walking toward the point on a sandy trail. We noticed many signs warning visitors away from the dunes and grassy areas in order to protect the native species.

At the point, we relaxed for a while with some snacks and enjoyed the scenery. The mountains were the perfect backdrop to the ocean before us. We were even treated to a monk seal sighting! It's very important to place some distance between you and the monk seals as they are a protected species in Hawaii;  all the hikers I saw were being respectful.

Snack time

Wai'anae mountain range

Ka'ena Point

After snacks, pictures, and some rest, we headed back. The return hike was much harder as the sun was now high and we were feeling the miles. Evie had had enough of being in the hiking pack and alternated between crying and sleeping. Unfortunately, the path was rugged and not something she could handle walking on her own just yet. Our total trip was 6 miles and took about 3 hours to do. I'm really glad we checked this one off, it was a beautiful hike.

Passed out

Baby's first dippy egg

And for your random cute pic of the post, Evie's first dippy egg and toast. She loved it!