Kulepeamoa Summit Cache Traditional Cache

When I first started geocaching, I noticed that there were all these caches up along the Ko’olau Summit Trail. I had never hiked along the KST before. But I wanted to. Those were caches that were on my to do list.

I eventually met up with other cachers who were bold/daring/adventurous/crazy/OCD and willing to tackle caches along the KST with me. And slowly but surely, the KST caches are being crossed off our list of unfound caches.

Our journeys across the KST have been memorable and epic to say the least. The KST can be whimsical, ferocious, breath-taking, and death defying all in the same trip. It’s unpredictable. Always changing. And when it’s pleasant, you will have the opportunity to experience magnificent views that only celestial beings would otherwise see. Because the KST can be narrow and temperamental, it is not the trail for everyone. But it is for me. And I can’t wait for the next chance to head up there.

I wanted to share my love for hiking with others and I noticed that there wasn’t a summit cache on top of the Kulepeamoa (which translates to “flapping chicken”) cache. Well, why not?? How can there not be a cache on top of the ridge named for a “flapping chicken?” I know there were other Flapping Chicken caches along the trail before, but those seemed to have all flapped away.

I set out to put a cache on the summit of the Kulepeamoa Ridge. I needed to clean up a few caches out on Kuliouou and I decided that if the weather on the KST was manageable, I’d cross over to Kulepeamoa. But who am I kidding. I would have gone anyway. And away I went.

The cache is a large protein powder plastic container tied to the base of a small bush at the summit of the Kulepeamoa Ridge. There are two of these small bushes; when facing the windward side, it is tied to the bush to the right. See the spoiler picture. It’s easier to reach the cache if you go around and approach from the windward side. Or bushwhack if you feel compelled to do so. Just try to rehide it well when you are finished. Sadly, I did not have a chicken to place in the cache when I hid this. Feel free to donate one if you have a spare flapping chicken you no longer need.

You have options to reach this cache.

Option 1: Head up the Kulepeamoa ridge trail which starts in Niu Valley. This is a very scenic trail as the terrain changes and you have beautiful views on the way up. As you get closer to the summit, the trail gets narrower and steeper. Close to the summit, there is a near vertical section with cables and ropes to help you. Well worth the climb to make it to reach the summit. It is recommended that hikers who go up the Kulepeamoa trail cross over to Hawaii Loa and come down that trail and head back into Niu Valley making this a loop.

Option 2: Head up the Hawaii Loa Ridge. When you reach the summit, cross the KST (about a 20-30 minute crossing) until you reach the Kulepeamoa Summit. Your return trip is up to you, but be sure to arrange transportation if you come down a different ridge.

Option 3: Head up the Kuliouou West trail and cross the KST until you reach the Kulepeamoa Summit. This is what I did. It took me about 40 minutes to cross the KST to reach GZ from the Kuliouou West Summit. I exited down the Kulepeamoa trail, which, again, can be extremely steep and narrow in some parts, but it is a really scenic trail!

With whatever option you choose, you will be encountering narrow trails with steep drop-offs, ropes and cables, slippery slopes, thick, scratchy uluhe fern, and strong gusts of wind.