Free Sample Essays > Area and Country Studies
Waipi'o
pau hi‘u ia mano.”-A warning to be on ones guard.
Besides the well-known Hi‘ilawe waterfall and the Nanaue waterfall there are many other waterfalls that I found in my research. Kaluahine Falls on the Kukuihaele side, near Waipi‘o Bay which is a 600 feet free fall waterfall. Also, on the same valley wall with Hi‘ilawe, are Hakaloa, and Ipu‘u Falls. On the other valley wall are Waimea Falls, Na‘alapa Falls, Nanaue Falls, and Papala Falls. All of these falls are important cause it brings in the most important thing of the valley. . . water.
Waipi’o known for its Lo‘i Kalo, has many fishponds. On the Kukuihaele side of the valley near the beach, there’s a Loko Pu‘uone (a fishpond filled by springs and streams separated from the ocean by a sand dune) which known as Lalakea Fishpond. Lalakea Fishpond is named for a particular kind of shark. Ka Haunokama‘ahala is next to Lalakea on the opposite side of the river. On the other side of the valley are two other fishponds, Mokapu Fishpond and Muliwai Fishpond (which is also a Loko Pu‘uone).
Waipi‘o Bay is almost completely blanketed with black sand. It is said in the nineteenth-century, the sand dunes were much higher (described by Ellis, Isabella Bird) but due to the ocean and mainly the 1946 tsunami, the sand dunes disappeared, changing the whole shoreline. During the summer months, the sand gathers toward the northwest. During the winter months, it is carried away by the waves. The waves are great to surf but is very hazardous due to rip currents. Waves are especially good in the morning but blownout around ten. One of the sad things that just happened a couple of weeks ago, the Department of Health declared the beach was a health hazard because people have been using the beach as a lumi ho‘opau pilikia (bathroom). Due to this public camping has been banned.
Although a heiau isn’t a specific natural feature, I feel since they’ve been around for centuries, they are features which need to be honored and protected.. It is important to know where they are located and the importance of each Heiau. Paka‘alana Heiau is located in the forest area nearest to the ocean directly across of the Hi’ilawe river (towards Kohala). The forest area is called Kukuinui because of the abundance of Kukui trees that once grew in the area. Paka‘alana Heiau was and still is a very sacred area. During rituals and ceremonies (especially Makahiki) a kapu (law) was enforced when you walked into area of Paka‘alana Heiau in which you could not speak or make any type of vocal noise. Currently, the ceremonies are still perpetuated by native Hawaiians practioners who live in the valley, in which [next page]