Moonset from Kaena Point – January 1, 2012

Kaena Point is the most north-western point on the island of Oahu, and is a Department of Land and Natural Resources Natural Area Reserve (NAR) and has been a culturally important area to Native Hawaiians for many years. Being a local fisherman since the “hanabata days,” it has always a privilege to be able to fish here as access to this remote area is quite difficult. Despite it’s closure to public vehicle access, the area outside of the NAR is frequented by fishermen who drive in four-wheel drive, off-roading vehicles… Although hiking on foot into the NAR is permitted within daylight hours. Regularly patrolling DLNR wardens / officers will ask you to leave immediately and can fine you for trespassing, if driving / hiking outside of the designated roads / paths.

To start off the new year, a bunch of local friends opted to off-road to Kaena Point to fish and have a small bonfire gathering… as well as to catch the moonset.

Again, access is only by 4×4 or all-wheel drive vehicles… and a good amount of ground clearance is also useful.

We packed several trucks with fishing gear, dried / cut logs , food and drinks and headed for the North Shore.

Kaena Point is easier to access from the North / Mokuleia, as the “Makaha-side” road has eroded significantly over the years.

Even people with lifted, 4WD vehicles can get stuck in the mud… especially when they are over-confident and don’t stick to the main roads / driest paths. We have had to pull out several stranded vehicles in the past, who go to Kaena point to go “4-wheeling” through the mud or “rally-race” their vehicles. Unfortunately, these people often tear up the road unnecessarily and abuse what little privileges the public has of coming here already.

If not taken by other fishermen, we usually recruit to one of a few spots we frequent. Here, my friend Rob (who has the most ground clearance) reverses down a steep hill, and as close to the spot as possible…

so we don’t have to carry all the gear and coolers very far. Everyone else parked further up the hill since they’d likely bottom out on highly uneven ground and rocks…

After unloading his truck, we start a small log-fire (as palates ALWAYS leave rusty nails in the sand)… and started jamming some acoustic guitar in the moonlight.

Marshmallow roasting was also imminent. 🙂

After the moon set, the sky lit-up with even more stars… another great thing about Kaena Point. When facing northwest, there is very little light pollution when compared to stargazing in the city.

We didn’t catch anything, but I’m sure no one really cared… Good times with great people.

To view this location on a Google Map also known as my “Adventure Map“, Click Here. For more adventures of the Lost Trailblazers, either look at my other blogposts and “Adventures with the Lost Trailblazers” photo gallery. Thanks for visiting and come back again soon!