Mount Ka'ala (Oahu, Hawaii)
Posted by: 
Raven
N 21° 30.465 W 158° 08.567
4Q E 588787 N 2378586
Mt. Ka'ala is the highest mountain on the island of Oahu. Most of the mountain is inaccessible to the general public, but its peak is a common backdrop on many visitors' pictures when visiting the Northern part of the island.
Waymark Code: WMVPAC
Location: Hawaii, United States
Date Posted: 05/13/2017
Views: 1
"Mt. Ka‘ala, the highest peak on the island of O‘ahu, rises to 4,025 feet. Its flat-top profile is a familiar sight to most residents of the island.
The product of volcanic eruptions nearly four million years ago, the Wai‘anae Mountains have seen eons of wind and rain, cutting huge valleys and sharp ridges into the extinct volcano. Today, only a small remnant of the mountain’s original flat summit remains, surrounded by wet cliffs and narrow ridges, to which gnarled ‘ohi‘a trees cling. There, often hidden by clouds, an ancient Hawaiian rain forest grows on a fog-bound plateau. [...]
Established in 1981, the Mt. Ka‘ala Reserve comprises 1,100 acres of rugged mountain terrain. It protects Hawaiian plants and animals and ecosystems, most found only in Hawai‘i, and some very rare. The only vehicle access is a controlled government road, while arduous ridge trails lead to the summit of Mt. Ka‘ala. There, a boardwalk trail greets the visitor, promising a fascinating walk through a native cloud forest. The boardwalk allows visitors to explore the misty flats of Ka‘ala safely, and with a minimum of impact to the fragile community of Hawaiian plants and animals that have made Mt. Ka‘ala their home for countless generations."
Source: State of Hawaii, Division of Forestry and Wildlife's "
O‘ahu Natural Area Reserves" website.