Our Hike Along Ka'ena Point Trail and Nature Reserve Park at Sunset

Trail Length: 2.5 miles each way for a total of 5 miles
Activity: Hiking 
Difficulty: Moderate
Terrain: Open coastline with natural sand dunes and rocks
Elevation Gain: None but some areas of the former dirt road and railroad bed are rocky with erosion and potholes which can twist ankles
Park Name: Ka'ena Point State Park (808) 587-0300

Description: Ka'ena Point is at the westernmost point of Oā€˜ahu. The trail leads to Kaā€˜ena Point Natural Area Reserve, a remote and scenic protected area harboring some of the last vestiges of coastal sand dune habitat on the island, and home to native plants and rare/endangered seabirds. Whales and schools of dolphins frequent this shoreline during the winter months.  All we got to see on this excursion was a few rainbows, great dune scenery and an awe-inspiring sunset!

We hiked to Ka'ena Point from the north/Mokuleā€˜ia side for 2.5 miles. The trail traverses a broad, relatively flat coastal plain marked by a raised limestone reef and sand dunes.  A navigational light is visible at the point and the rocks incline into the surf. The sand dunes and sunsets can be spectacular at Ka'ena Point, but we had to be mindful of the Hawaiian ancestral significance of this area. Ka'ena Point was the "jumping off" site for souls departing this life according to Hawaiian folklore.  

We did this hike from the north (Mokuleā€˜ia) side in time for the sunset, but we were glad we brought large flashlights and made our way back quickly as a group as soon at the sun set and there was still twilight. Nothing happened to our group or vehicles, but there was "evidence" of criminal activity in this remote area which can be unsettling for some, despite the natural beauty of the area.

Not your average tourist attraction on Oahu, either!