Schofield-Waikane
A very long dirt road precedes this long roller coaster of a trail to the Ko’olau summit. Stash some water on the way up for your return. Native plants and trees (including yellow lehua) abound, as well as native birds. As always, hike with/near others and use caution on the sections with steep drop-offs.
A $5 donation is requested for each non-member, age 18 or over.
Due to the permit requirements, a reservation is needed to join this hike before the deadline of Wednesday December 11th. CLICK HERE to sign up. You will receive an email confirmation with the meeting location a few days prior to the hike. Do not attend the hike unless you have received an email confirmation. Mahalo!
Elevation Gain: 1,600 feet.
Trail Conditions: Muddy when wet, can be slippery, long roller coaster trail, steep drop offs, exposed sections can be hot.
Trail Features: At summit, great views of windward Oahu.
Trail Route: In and out.
Native Flora & Fauna: Koa, ‘Ohi’a Lehua (red, orange, yellow), Kopiko, Loulu palms,
Moku & Ahupua’a: Wai’anae & Wai’anae Uka, later changed to Wahiawa moku.
Hawaiian Name & Meaning: Waikane literally means Kane’s water (old name was Wai-a-Kane, i.e. the water of Kane), with Kane being one of the main Hawaiian divinities.
Interesting Note: The Schofield trail started out as a water-harvesting project of the Waialua Agricultural Company. The trail provided access to the tunneling sites of the Mauka Ditch, and to the intake on the North fork Kaukonahua. The army extended the trail to the Ko’olau summit. HTMC first hiked the trail in 1920, descending into Kahana Valley to return home. In the 1920s, the army improved the windward descent, connecting to the Waiahole Ditch Trail leading into Waikane Valley.
HTMC has a no-post social media (including GPS trail apps) hike policy on all trails that are not state trails in order to protect the trails from being “loved to death” and to discourage hikers from going on hikes for which they are not prepared or are beyond their experience level.
*The club takes no responsibility and disclaims any liability for the contents of hike descriptions including any inaccuracies, omissions, errors, misleading statements, incompleteness, or incorrect information. (click here to read our full disclaimer)