Subject: Kaena Point, Lanai appears in the legend: "Legend of Wahanui" in the book: Fornander, Abraham, Fornander Collection of Hawaiian Antiquities and Folk-Lore, Volume 4 on pages: 516-523 HSL Call Number: H 398.2 Fo v.4 UHM Call Number: AM101 .B4473 v.4 1985 Online . Kaena or Kaena Point is the westernmost tip of the island of Oahu. A Hawaiian euphemistic term for dying was to "travel west." Be sure to not leave any valuables in your vehicle, as remote parking areas are always an easy target for thieves. The "Loop" is the most obvious and popular choice as it goes through the islands center through pineapple fields, to the North Shore and communities like Haliewa (Holly-ay-vah), Waimea (why-may-ah), down by Chinamans hat park, the . . #, Fun Adventure Idea: Wine & Cheese While Playing wi, Exploring the shipwreck at Coco Cay in the Bahama, Swimming with the Manatees at Three Sisters in Flo, Visiting Epic Natural Hot Springs Near Mammoth Lak, Best Hidden Beach Along California Coastline - Sha, Navajo Loop to Queens Garden: Best Trail in Bryce Canyon, How to Hike the Hummingbird Trail and Secret Swing, A Must-Do in Orlando! This spot has a white sandy beach that runs from Oahu's western tip to the Waianae Mountains. Kaena Point is a unique landscape on Oahu and important haul out location for Hawaiian monk seals, as well as, numerous native seabirds, including Laysan albatross. Similar to the north entrance, the western trailhead sits at the end of the road. One of the legends says that a gentle giant named Nunui created deep holes wherever he stepped, helping farmers with places to plant their crops. During the winter breeding season, humpback whales will frequent the waters surrounding the point. He displayed incredible strength at an early age and eventually grew to be a brave and powerful warrior. You can always park further down the road and walk over if the lot is full. Today, you can walk there among the living: Hawaiian plants and animals that have made the rugged ancient shoreline their home for thousands of years. Ka'ena Point Space Force Stationis located atKaena Pointon theislandofOahuinHawaii. There are over 2,000 seabirds that use Kaena Point as their breeding grounds. Sat, Apr 15. Please contact us if you do not receive an update 30 days after applying. As of 2010, it has a population of 3,792,621, and is built on a land area of 468.67 square miles. For more than a quarter century, the state has protected nearly 60 acres of land at the point, first as a nature preserve and, more recently, as an ecosystem restoration project for endangered and protected coastal plants and seabirds. Ancient Hawaiian mythology describes a colorful array of spirits and dimensions in the afterlife. Photos (in order): Nick Welles / Flickr; Jeffrey Villamin / Flickr; Jeffrey Villamin / Flickr. It's a relatively remote and wild coastline. The average visitor to the area is much more informed than they used to be.. * The 2023 teal/turquoise decal must be adhered to the back of the permitted vehicle. Intrepid hikers must make the last leg of the trek by foot, where they're met with breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean. To stop, release the enter key. Pele, Hawaiis fire goddess, controls the energy of lightning, volcanoes, and wind. This was where the soul would make its plunge into the ocean on its way to eternity. Often known by its initials LA, the city is the focal point of the larger Los Angeles-Long Beach-Santa Ana metropolitan statistical area, which contains 12,828,837 . Some residents and visitors have complained that the fence, despite its nature-blending color scheme, is still something of an eyesore. The volcano that created the Waianae Mountain Range last erupted over three million years ago. The storm was so vicious that the unrelenting rain that fell from the black clouds washed the red soil down through the valleys and soon the flooded streams and thundering waterfalls churned as red as blood. As the newly released soul approached the point, it was met by the spirits of deceased ancestors or friends who were waiting for the soul to arrive. As the trail morphed from jagged rock to smooth sand dunes near Kaena Point, we took off our hiking shoes and made a beeline toward the shore. When the deceased soul was ready to depart, it was guided toLeina ka Uhanewhite rock. It just enhances the picture created in your mind. The uneven 5-mile trail around Kaena Point can be entered from two locationsKeawaula Beach (aka Yokohama Bay) at the end of Farrington Highway on Oahus western coastline, or Mokuleia at the same highways north coast endpoint. Due to large number of applications, processing time will be delayed. L.A. None of this was exceptionally grueling. Legends vs Utah Falconz 4/15/23. Early Hawaiians believed the point was a sacred place where souls departing the mortal world would leap into the spirit world to join the souls of their ancestors. Another aspect of the departing soul visiting Kaena Point is less tantalizing. To reach the trailhead from the Mokuleia side, follow Farrington Highway 930 until you get to the parking lot at the end of the road. There are a lot more people who visit the point now, but there are also many more seabirds and native plants that have begun to flourish, says Lindsay Young, a wildlife biologist and coordinator of the ecosystem restoration project. Nearby is a huge boulder known as Pohaku o Kauai, or Rock of Kauai. Dogs, drones, camping, and commercial activity is not permitted. If the soul was ready to depart, the spirits would guide the soul to Po, the underworld. It was thought that the child was special, and that rainbow was a sign of his power. But, again, any remote parking area is a hot spot for thievery, so be sure to take any valuables with you, or better yet, leave them at home. This route boasts impressive views of sheer mountains and countless turquoise tide pools. It was still there the next day when the storm died down, the sky cleared and the sun came out. Print/PDF map. Located at the very westernmost tip of Oahu, Kaena Point is the only part of the island inaccessible by car. The majesty of this place makes it clear why it is such a spiritual place in Hawaiian culture. In the deep waters, just off the point, spinner dolphins play and hunt for food. With motorized vehicles verboten in the reserve, the Kaena Point Trail is well suited for hiking and bikingthe latter, preferably on durable mountain bikes. Some of the biggest highlights along this route are an enormous rock arch that forms a natural bridge into the sea and several blowholes. Believe it or not, this is actually the Kaena Point Space Force Station. If the death was final, the ancestral guides would entertain the soul, comfort it, and begin leading it on its journey off the earthly plane. He awoke to strange noises out on the water, and when he looked out he saw faraway lights dancing in the black distance. The legend is very magical. Los Angeles is the most populous city in California, and the second most populous city in the United States, after New York City. Though long uninhabited, Kaena was once an important community for fishing, feather . Banners; Repeat Banners; Digital Dozens; More. The coastline, in fact, appeared largely unchanged since the last time I explored it save for one new feature we found as we reached Kaenas sand dunes. Yet, many plants and animals were able to thrive here. In 2018, volunteers contributed 1,749 hours to visitor education, marine debris removal, and ecosystem restoration at Kaena Point State Park. On the narrow western point, the hard volcanic rock shows the mark of a millennia of pounding waves the carved sea cliffs of Mokuleia that rises above Kaena. In Hawaiian, kaena means "the heat". This has not been confirmed, but during the "Swell Of The Century" in 1969, on the day of Greg Noll's famous wave at Mkaha, Noll took a picture of a gigantic wave breaking at Kaena Point. It was in recognition of this that Kaena Point Natural Area Reserve was established in 1983. Length 5.0 miElevation gain 226 ftRoute type Out & back. Ka'ena Point State Park: Rock of Kauai Legend - See 444 traveler reviews, 828 candid photos, and great deals for Waianae, HI, at Tripadvisor. The station originally opened in . As the land breaks into the sea the distinction between earth and oceanlife and deathbegins to blur. From the parking lot to the point takes about one hour at a brisk pace, with a total mileage of 2.5 miles one way. Nearby is a huge boulder known as Pohaku o Kauai, or Rock of Kauai. All rights reserved. Half asleep, Huapu imagined a group of warriors coming from Oahu to attack his people, and so he rushed to the edge of a nearby cliff, heaved up a huge boulder and flung it out across the channel between the two islands. A total of 11 plants found at Kaenaincluding awiwi, puukaa and dwarf naupakaare on federal endangered species lists. Yes! From the Wai'anae side, take the trailhead at the end of the paved road in the Keawaula Section of Ka'ena Point State Park and follow the dirt roadway for 2.4 miles to Ka'ena Point Natural Area Reserve. Ka'ena Point Hike trailhead - Waianae, HI 96792 Coordinates:21.556306, -158.248494 Parking: The coordinates will take you directly to the small parking lot right in front of the trailhead of the Kaena Point hike. At the time of death or during a near-death experience, the soul would travel to Kaena Point to determine whether it was ready to continue. This spot has a white sandy beach that runs from Oahu's western tip to the Waianae Mountains. Last edited on 14 February 2023, at 23:20, Learn how and when to remove this template message, "The Waianae Coast to Kaena Point Part 1", "Birds of Kaena Point, Hawaii, Enjoy a Revival Thanks to a Fence", "Fence sought for Ka'ena reserve - Hawaii's Newspaper", "Point Taken: Exploring Oahu's Remote Kaena Point", Kaena Point Ecosystem Restoration Project, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kaena_Point&oldid=1139398897, This page was last edited on 14 February 2023, at 23:20. Kaena Point State Park is a relatively remote and wild coastline park with hiking, picnicking, and shoreline fishing opportunities. The intense sunlight, low rainfall, strong winds, and salt spray created a challenging environment at Kaena. The park wraps around the northwest corner of the island of Oahu and is composed of two sections: the Ka'ena Point Mokuleia Section (north shore of Oahu) and the Ka'ena Point Keawa'ula Section (west side of Oahu). Things happen in it that would seem almost impossible. Area steeped in Hawaiian folklore and legend. The boulder, they named the Rock of Kauai. ***Kaena Point is a wahi pana, a sacred site. Tips for Hiking the Kaena Point Trail Below are some tips to help you make the most out of your hike at Kaena Point. Please check back for the park reopening date. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 2 h 17 min to complete. When the deceased soul was ready to depart, it was guided to Leinakauhane white rock, where the soul would make its plunge into the ocean on its way to eternity. See Polipoli site for updates. Naio (Myoporum sandwicense var sandwicense), Naupaka kahakai (Scaevola taccada var. Visiting Kaena Point is a huge boulder known as Pohaku o Kauai, or Rock of Kauai was that! Similar to the Waianae Mountains turquoise tide pools energy of lightning, volcanoes, and salt spray a. 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