Waipi'o Valley, havre de paix...

Située sur la côte nord est de Big Island, Waipi'o Valley est le plus des vallées au pied de la montagne de Koala.

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The Waipio Valley is a mile wide at the coastline and almost six miles deep. Along the coast is a beautiful black sand beach often used by motion picture production companies.

On both sides of the valley there are cliffs reaching almost 2000 feet with hundreds of cascading waterfalls, including one of Hawaii's most celebrated waterfalls - Hi'ilawe.

The road into the valley is very steep (a 25% grade). In order to travel into the valley, you must either ride down in a four wheel drive vehicle or hike down to the valley floor.

Waipi'o means "curved water" in the Hawaiian language. The lovely Waipi'o River flows through the valley until it enters the ocean at the beach.

Valley of the Kings

The Waipio Valley is often referred to as the "Valley of the Kings" because it was once the home to many of the rulers of Hawaii. The valley has both historical and cultural importance to the Hawaiian people. 

According to oral histories as few as 4000 or as many as 10,000 people lived in Waipi'o during the times before the arrival of Captain Cook in 1778. Waipi'o was the most fertile and productive valley on the Big Island of Hawaii.

Kamehameha the Great and the Waipio Valley

It was at Waipio in 1780 that Kamehameha the Great received his war god Kukailimoku who proclaimed him the future ruler of the islands.

It was off the coast of Waimanu, near Waipio, that Kamehameha engaged Kahekili, the Lord of the leeward islands, and his half-brother, Kaeokulani of Kaua'i, in the first naval battle in Hawaiian history - Kepuwahaulaula, known as the Battle of the Red-Mouthed Guns. Kamehameha thus began his conquest of the islands.

Tsunamis

In the late 1800s many Chinese immigrants settled in the valley. At one time the valley had churches, restaurants and schools as well as a hotel, post office and jail. But in 1946 the most devastating tsunami in Hawaii's history swept great waves far back into the valley. Afterwards most people left the valley, and it has been sparsely populated ever since.

A severe deluge in 1979 covered the valley from side to side in four feet of water. Today only about 50 people live in the Waipio Valley. These are taro farmers, fishermen and others who are reluctant to leave their simple lifestyle.

Sacred Valley

Aside from its historical importance, the Waipio Valley is a sacred place for Hawaiians. It was the site of many important heiaus (temples).

The most sacred, Pakaalana, was also the site of one of the island's two major pu'uhonua or places of refuge, the other being Pu'uhonua O Honaunau which is located just south of Kailua-Kona.

Ancient burial caves are located in the sides of the steep cliffs on either side of the valley. Many kings were buried there. It is felt that because of their mana (divine power), no harm will come to those who live in the valley. In fact, despite great devastation in the 1946 tsunami and the 1979 flood, no one actually died in those events.

Waipio in Hawaiian Mythology

Waipio is also a mystical place. Many of the ancient stories of the Hawaiian gods are set in Waipio. It is here that beside the falls of Hi'ilawe, the brothers of Lono found Kaikiani dwelling in a breadfruit grove.

Lono descended on a rainbow and made her his wife only to later kill her when he discovered a chief of the earth making love to her. As she died she assured Lono of her innocence and her love for him.

In her honor Lono instituted the Makahiki games - a designated period of time following the harvesting season when wars and battles were ceased, sporting competitions and contests between villages were organized, and festive events were commenced.

Another story set in Waipio tells how the people of Waipio came to be safe from the attack of sharks. It is the story of Pauhi'u Paupo'o, better known as Nanaue, the shark-man.