Tag: Oahu

Waimea Valley

On By nationalparkswithtIn Hawaii3 Comments
20190411_123920
Welcome back to National Parks and other public lands with T!

Aloha➢

My family and I took a cruise around the Hawaiian islands in 2019. We embarked in Honolulu on the island of Oahu. Prior to embarkation, we spent a few days on land and explored Oahu. Using Hilton’s Hawaiian Village as our base, we enjoyed visiting many interesting sites, including the Waimea Valley.

20190411_125123

Waimea Valley was  known as “the valley of the priests” in the time of the ancient Hawaiians as it was home to the Kahuna Nui (high priests.)  It was the site of first contact between the Hawaiians on Oahu and European explorers in search of fresh water. This encounter did not go well and ended with the execution of the HMS Daedalus’ captain.

DSCN0175

Today Waimea Valley is a park that includes several historical structures. It is also home to botanical gardens and a waterfall with a swimming hole.

DSCN0195

The trail to the waterfall is about a mile on a wide path through the botanical gardens, with many signs naming the various tropical plants. On the day that we were there, a section of the trail was blocked off because a movie crew was there filming Jumanji 2.

DSCN0163

In its modern history, Waimea Valley was a County Park and then was managed by the National Audubon Society for five years. In 2008,  Hi’ipaka LLC, a non-profit organization created by the Office of Hawaiian Affairs took over management of the park.

DSCN0170

When I’d visited in the eighties, swimming in the deep pool at the base of the 45 foot waterfall was a free-for-all and a little scary to me at the time. On this visit, we were handed life vests before we could go in the water. Apparently, there have been drownings, so the rules have changed.

DSCN0165

Oahu Posts➢

DSCN0173

Location: 59-864 Kamehameha Hwy, Haleiwa, Hawaii
Designation: Nature Preserve
Date designated/established: 1973
Date of my visit: April 11, 2019