Wailua River State Park

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Wailua Complex of Heiaus
Kauai-Wailua-Heiau-Holoholoku-pohakuhanau.JPG
Pōhaku Hoʻohānau (birthing stone) and Pōhaku Piko (umbilical stone), Holoholokū Heiau
Location Map Kauai.png
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USA Hawaii location map.svg
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Nearest city Wailua, Hawaii
Coordinates 22°2′41″N159°20′14″W / 22.04472°N 159.33722°W / 22.04472; -159.33722
NRHP reference No. 66000297
Significant dates
Added to NRHPOctober 15, 1966 [1]
Designated NHLDDecember 29, 1962 [2]

Wailua River State Park and the Wailua Complex of Heiaus, which it includes, are located on the eastern side of the Hawaiian island of Kauai. The park consists primarily of the Wailua River valley, which is the only navigable river in Hawaii. Visitors to this park can kayak, take riverboat cruises and explore the rainforest. Even motorboats and water skiing are permissible on the river.

Contents

Wailua Complex of Heiaus

The Wailua Complex of Heiau, a National Historic Landmark, [2] was once the center of chiefly power on the island. It contains the remains of several important structures: places of worship (heiau), places of refuge (puʻuhonua), and sites related to royal births. [3] The historical value of these sites are irreplaceable to the Hawaiian culture. They worked with each other, and other heiau on other islands, such as Puʻu O Mahuka Heiau on the island of Oʻahu. [4] The most important sites are: [5]

Of these, only Holoholokū has been largely restored. [5]

Heiau images

History

Wailua was the land of the ali'i (kings) and was one of the largest ahupuaʻa (subdivisions) on Kauai. It is said that King Kaumuali'i's favorite place to live was in Wailua. The huaka'i po (Ghost Warriors) are said to walk ancient trails along the river at night up to Mount Waiʻaleʻale. Wailua has many moʻo ʻōlelo (ancient stories) of the area that begins at Hikinaʻakalā heiau to Kaʻawakoʻo atop Mount Waiʻaleʻale, the area long known as the King’s highway, and it is still very sacred to many Hawaiians.

See also

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The Wailuā River is a major river on the island of Kauaʻi in the U.S. state of Hawaii. 23.4 kilometres (14.5 mi) long, it is one of the largest rivers, as well as Kauai's 5th longest river. It is formed by the confluence of its North and South forks just west of Wailua and enters the Pacific Ocean at 22°2′42″N159°20′11″W. It is the only navigable river in the Hawaiian Islands. It is a center of activity for locals and visitors in the form of boat tours to Fern Grotto, kayaking and water skiing.

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     This National Park Service list is complete through NPS recent listings posted October 4, 2024.

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Fern Grotto is a fern covered, lava rock grotto located on the south fork of the Wailua River, which is on the eastern side of Kauai in the Hawaiian archipelago. Several boat companies give river tours which lead to the grotto. This attraction is known primarily as the most romantic spot on the island of Kauai, and the area can be rented for weddings.

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ʻŌpaekaʻa Falls is a waterfall located on the ʻŌpaekaʻa Stream in Wailua River State Park on the eastern side of the Hawaiian island of Kauai. It is a 151-foot (46 m) waterfall that flows over basalt from volcanic eruptions millions of years ago. Below the ridge down into the ravine through which the water falls can be seen the vertical dikes of basalt that cut through the horizontal Koloa lava flows. The name "ʻŌpaekaʻa" means rolling shrimp, "ʻopae" being Hawaiian for "shrimp," and "kaʻa" for "rolling". The name dates back to days when the native freshwater shrimp Atyoida bisulcata were plentiful in the stream and were seen rolling and tumbling down the falls and into the churning waters at the fall's base.

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The Royal Coconut Coast is the designation given to Kauai’s east side, defined as the area between the Wailua Golf Course, heading north along the coast to Kealia Beach, and extending inland toward the center of the island, to Mount Waialeale. The Royal Coconut Coast includes the sacred Wailua River area and the large towns of Wailua and Kapaa. The area's name derives from the acres of coconut trees along the coast and highway. It also has many places of historical and cultural significance. Some of the land is held as sacred and was once reserved for the royalty of Hawaii.

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References

  1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places . National Park Service. January 23, 2007.
  2. 1 2 "Wailua Complex of Heiaus". National Historic Landmark summary listing. National Park Service. Retrieved July 3, 2008.
  3. "Hawaii State Parks: Wailua River State Park" . Retrieved December 5, 2009.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 "National Register of Historic Places Inventory - Nomination Form" (PDF). Retrieved October 3, 2024.
  5. 1 2 "NRHP InventoryNomination Form" . Retrieved May 23, 2012.
  6. "Ka Pae Kiʻi Mahu O Wailua: The Petroglyphs of Wailua, District of Lihuʻe, Island of Kauaʻi. Site 50-30-08-105A" . Retrieved October 3, 2024.
  7. 1 2 3 4 Kirch, Patrick Vinton (1996). "Heiau Complex at Wailua". Legacy of the Landscape: An Illustrated Guide to Hawaiian Archaeological Sites. Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press. pp. 16–19. ISBN   0-8248-1739-7.
  8. "Archaeological Condition Report for Ahukini-Lydgate Segment of the Kauaʻi Pathways Project" (PDF). Retrieved October 3, 2024.