Kapalama Trail a Napu'umai'a

This is a very pretty trail with four distinct sections. The first is a side contour that steeply descends and then wraps below the ridge line above. There are a few minor rock scrambles and cavelike formations but what’s distinctive above this portion of the trail are the plants here that makes it feel like someone’s garden. Mulberry, aloe, ferns and bromeliads hug the trail; along with the Mickey Mouse plant. The next section curves upwards to regain the ridge line but passes through ironwood, strawberry guava and coastal redwoods. There is a huge mango tree along with several large eucalyptus as well. In this section the path is wide and passes the fence and junction to Kamehameha Schools. Soon the path narrows and you begin to feel the burn of the steep and long up hill and downhill slopes. This third section is shaded with towering Cook pines. The path narrows to visible dikes with steep drops on either side. The wind picks up and there are peek-a-boo view points. The final and fourth section is where the endemic native plants grow in abundance. Large Koa and Ohia of several varieties grow along the ridge with Uluhe as the undergrowth. This is the best section as we reached the high point with views of Konahuanui and Nuuanu Valley. We could also see straight into Lulumahu Falls with Waipuhia waterfall pouring down the side of Lulumahu ridge.