Kaena Point expedition
Steve Poor, left, and Ken Suzuki explore Keawaula Cave on a Kaena Point hike. Suzuki led the Hawaii Nature Center excursion for adults.
Ken Suzuki led a Hawaii Nature Center hike to Kaena Point earlier this month. It started from the end of Farrington Highway on the Waianae side of Kaena Point. The trail followed an old railroad bed and former dirt road that ran along the westernmost point on Oahu. Participants included Pauline Kawamata, Steve Poor, Denel McDowell, Kristen Gagesch, Monica Szczupider and Jenna Gatzke. Above, Poor exits a cave that has its entrance along the rocky coastline.
Steve Poor settles on a rock in the Kaena Point Natural Area Reserve to write in his hiking journal.
Young wedge-tailed shearwaters, still with their down feathers, can be found in shallow burrows along the trails, protected within the reserve from predators.
20120922-5350 FTR KAENA POINT Ken Suzuki leads a Hawaii Nature Center hike to Kaena Point starting from the end of Farrington Hwy. on the Waianae side of Ka'ena Point. The trail follows an old railroad bed and former dirt road that runs along the westernmost point on Oahu. The trail leads to Ka'ena Point Natural Area Reserve that is protected by a fence preventing dogs and other predators from entering the last coastal sand dune habitat on the island and home to native plants and seabirds. Hawaiian monk seals frequent the area. Participants included Pauline Kawamata, Steve Poor, Denel McDowell, Kristen Gagesch, Monica Szczupider and Jenna Gatzke. The monk seal (on the right) was resting in this pool of water near the shoreline at the western most point of Oahu when another monk seal entered the protected pool of water causing the monk seal on the right to become aggressive and chase the other monk seal away. PHOTO BY DENNIS ODA. SEPT. 22, 2012.
Hikers enjoy wide vistas along the coast on the way to the Kaena Point Natural Area Reserve.
Why should kids have all the fun?
Hawaii Nature Center’s typical programs have toddlers exploring a stream or kids searching for bugs and worms, but the sessions are not just for youngsters.
Last weekend a group of adults gathered for a coastal hike along the Waianae side of Kaena Point, the first of the center’s scheduled programs this season.
Led by hiking enthusiast Ken Suzuki, we made a pit stop at Keawaula Cave located just down the street from the trail head at the end of Farrington Highway near Yokohama Bay. After we tasted the fresh water in the cave, Suzuki directed our tour on to the natural reserve, pointing out native plants and birds and sharing some Hawaiian history.
The moderate 5-mile hike leads to the Kaena Point Natural Area Reserve, which protects native birds, and to a beach where monk seals frolicked near the shoreline.
In winter, humpback whales frequent the waters surrounding the point. If you are lucky, a dolphin or two might be spotted. Lots of water and sunscreen were necessary since the trail doesn’t include shady areas.
Suzuki hopes that participants learn about native plants and what Hawaii has to offer during the Hawaii Nature Center hikes.
Hike participant Steve Poor, a retired history teacher, hikes regularly with the Hawaiian Trail & Mountain Club but said that he experiences new things on every trek. "This was my first time in the cave, and it was unbelievable. That made my day," he said.
Hawaii Pacific University student Demel McDowell joined the outing, too. "We saw the monk seals in action, baby shearwaters and their eggs. It was great to see them relaxing in their burrows and not being harmed," he said. "This is something else. It’s just so peaceful here."
| HAWAII NATURE CENTER EVENTS All programs are $10 for nonmembers unless otherwise stated. Reservations required. Call 955-0100. >> Stream ’Splorations: 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Sunday. Design a boat, feed a Tahitian prawn and dunk fishing nets in miniature waterfalls. For 3- to 5-year-olds. >> Pahole Natural Area Reserve Hike: 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Enjoy the Waianae Mountains on a moderate, 4-mile hike while learning about unique and rare species of plants. For adults and hardy hikers 10 and older. >> Spooky Spiders: 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Oct. 28. Search the forest to find the homes and habitats of these creepy critters. For 3- to 5-year-olds. >> Honouliuli Wetland Adventure: 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Nov. 3. Explore the Pearl Harbor national Wildlife Refuge. Includes bird-watching, mucking in the mud and exploring the homes of endangered native wetland birds. Ages 6 and up. >> Wonderful World of Wigglers: 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Nov. 25. Discover how earthworms strengthen soil. Bring a jar to make a wormery. For ages 5 and up. >> Night Insect Safari: 6 to 8 p.m. Dec. 8. Steve Montgomery sets up a safari base camp to see what kinds of insects will be attracted. >> Holiday Eco-Crafts: 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Dec. 9. Create crafts using natural and recycled materials. For ages 3 and up. |
