On Monday, we visited the absolutely breathtaking Waipi’o valley! Waipi’o means curving water 🌊 This valley formed from the sliding of Kohala and the erosion of the cliffs from water.
This valley is located on the Hāmākua Coast, and serves as an important place physically, and religiously. As the childhood home of King Kamehameha, this valley is important. Kamehameha the Great was declared the future ruler of the Hawaiian Islands by the war god, Kukailimoku. This made the Kings from Maui and Kauai upset and led to destruction of temples and a war in which Kamehameha came out victorious.
It is called “The Valley of the Kings,” and rulers’ bones are buried in the caves along the cliff sides.
This valley once housed thousands of Native Hawaiians, but now around 100 Hawaiians live amongst the waterfalls. This valley used to be home to farming and fishing villages, fruit orchards, and lots of animals. A tsunami in 1946 destroyed the town, but left roaming horses in the valley. Sadly, we didnt get to see any wild horses, but the valley itself was more than satisfactory!