Last week we visited Waimea Valley. From its website (at this link),
Waimea Valley illuminates the rich traditions of a living Native Hawaiian culture in an unparalleled natural setting.
The Valley has rich pre-contact history and remains significant to the Hawaiian people. For more than 700 years, Waimea was marked as a sacred place because of its priestly associations.
Often called “the Valley of the Priests,” Waimea gained this title when the ruler of O‘ahu awarded the land to the kāhuna nui in 1090. Waimea Valley’s mission is to preserve and perpetuate the human, cultural and natural resources of Waimea for generations through education and stewardship.
Above is the heiau (temple) to Lono, the god of fertility, agriculture, rainfall, and music.
These flowers look like bumlebees!
The anthurium is always beautiful!
The highlight of the valley is the Waimea Falls .....
.. giving kids hours of entertainment!
We enjoyed watching Tutu making kapa (fabric) from tree bark ....
... and Tutu teaching games to my children. Tutu is a term of endearment for wise women! The water was cold at the Waimea Falls - would you have jumped in the pool? Made tapa? Played games? Or ordered shave ice? One randomly selected commenter from this week's blogs wins a book choice from my convention stash. Comments are open through Saturday, January 5, 10 pm in Hawaii. I'll post the winner on Sunday, January 6 on SOS Aloha.
Mahalo,
Kim in Hawaii
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| David and Andrew enjoy shave ice! |
