Waipio Valley
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/72/Waipio_Lookout_View.jpg/220px-Waipio_Lookout_View.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/57/Waipio_waterfall.jpg/220px-Waipio_waterfall.jpg)
Waipiʻo Valley is a valley located in the Hamakua District of the Big Island of Hawaiʻi. "Waipiʻo" means "curved water" in the Hawaiian language.[1]
The valley was the capital and permanent residence of many early Hawaiian Aliʻi (chiefs/kings) up until the time of King ʻUmi. This was a place celebrated for its nioi tree (Eugenia reinwardtiana) known as the Nioi wela o Paʻakalana ("The burning Nioi of Paʻakalana"). It was the location of the ancient grass palace of the ancient "kings" of Hawaiʻi with the nioi stands. Kahekili II (king of Maui) raided Waipiʻo in the 18th century and burned the four sacred trees to the ground. The first chief who had a court in this valley was called Kahaimoelea.
The valley floor at sea level is almost 2,000 ft (610 m) below the surrounding terrain. A steep road leads down into the valley from a lookout point located on the top of the southern wall of the valley. The road rises 800 feet (240 m) in 0.6 miles (1.0 km) at a 25% average grade, with steeper grades in sections. This is a paved public road but it is open only to 4 wheel drive vehicles. However, in February 2022, the road was open only to residents due to roadway and slope failure.[2] It is the steepest road of its length in the United States.[3] The shore line in the valley is a black sand beach, popular with surfers. A few taro farms are located in the valley.[4] Several large waterfalls fall into the valley to feed the river which flows from the foot of the largest falls at the back of the valley out to the ocean.[5]
A foot trail called Waimanu or Muliwai Trail leads down a steep path to the Waimanu Valley, which is only accessible by the trail or by boat. The trail is accessible to hikers, who need a Waimanu camping permit from the state unless they do the trek as a strenuous day hike.[6] At the upper end of the valley, Waimanu Gap at 2,089 feet (637 m) elevation leads to the south end of Waimanu Valley.[7]
The valley was the site of the final scene in the 1995 sci-fi film Waterworld, at which the main characters found dry land.[8]
In Hawaiian folklore[]
It has a role in local Hawaiian folklore as a place where the gateway to Lua-o-Milu (the Underworld) was hidden from view by sand.[9]
References[]
- ^ lookup of Waipiʻo on Hawaiian place names web site
- ^ "Mayor's 02/25/2022 Waipio Valley Road Emergency Rule No. 1". Mayor of Hawaii County. Retrieved February 27, 2022.
- ^ Summerson, J: "The Complete Guide to Climbing (by Bike)", page 165. Extreme Press, 2007
- ^ Hitt, Christine (April 21, 2019). "Learning Hawaii's history may be key to avoiding cultural insensitivity". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2019-04-22.
- ^ History of the Waipiʻo Valley
- ^ "Waipiʻo Valley Beach Hiking Trail | Hawaii Big Island Hikes". Go Hike It. 2017-07-01. Retrieved 2017-08-08.
- ^ Lloyd J. Soehren (2004). "lookup of Waimanu Gap". on Hawaiian place names. Ulukau, the Hawaiian Electronic Library. Retrieved 2010-04-13.
- ^ Locations | Waterworld (1995) on IMDB
- ^ Thrum, Thomas (1907). Hawaiian Folk Tales. A. C. McClurg. p. 12.
External links[]
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Waipio Valley (category) |
- Getty Images Waipiʻo Pictures
- Waipio Valley "Valley of the Kings" Video by Big Island Television Hawaii
Coordinates: 20°7′11″N 155°35′36″W / 20.11972°N 155.59333°W
- Canyons and gorges of Hawaii
- Valleys of Hawaii
- Landforms of Hawaii (island)
- Royal residences in Hawaii
- Beaches of Hawaii (island)