After visiting Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park, the class made a surprise stop at one of the Big Island’s not-so-hidden treasures: Rainbow Falls at the Wailuku River State Park.
Nestled along the final few miles of the Wailuku river, Rainbow Falls or Waiānuenue, gets its name for the visible rainbows in the mist around 10am on sunny days. The 100-foot cascade falls over a natural lava cave which is home to Hina, the Hawaiian goddess of the ocean and moon and mother to the Demi-God Maui.
The real treasure of Wailuku River State Park though is not Rainbow Falls. Most visitors seem to skip the upper viewing area, assuming it is just a different view of the same thing. But, behind this viewing platform, there is a hidden 600-year old banyan tree. Though, Banyan trees are prevalent in Hilo, this one is different. The giant Banyan hs been engulfed with fig vines and aerial prop rots that make the tree feel like there are multiple trunks.
Just a half a mile up the Wailuku river, you will find Pe’epe’e Falls and the boiling pots.
Pe’epe’e falls feeds a series of pools, which are known as the boiling pots. The pots are connected by a series of cascading waterfalls along columns that were formed from the slow cooling of basalt lava.
The Wailuku is the second largest river in Hawai’i, which flows where Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea meet. The heavy rains and water give the water its “boiling effect” where Mo’o Kuna, a vengeful lizard, lives. After trying to drown Hina, who resides beneath Rainbow Falls downstream, Hina’s son Maui chased Mo’o upstream. At the Boiling Pots, Mo’o hid in the pools and Maui could not find him. Then, Maui called upon Pele for hot stones, which Maui threw in the river to give the water its boiling effect, thus driving Mo’o Kuna from his hiding place and creating the Boiling Pots.
The Wailuku river hosts birds and marine life, specifically surrounding the Boiling Pots. Among the marine life is the ʻOʻopu nākea or rock-climbing goby.
The ‘O’opu Nopili is native to the Big Island and prevalent along the Hamakua coast. The ‘O’opu has developed a unique skill: the ability to climb waterfalls. The ‘O’opu is an inch long goby which uses suckers in its mouth and belly to move up steep cliffs and waterfalls that are prevalent in its native Hawaiian habitat. At some point in the O’opu’s evolved to have their pelvic fins fuse together to create a suction cup, which allows them to climb up sheer vertical cliff faces.
