Mo’olelo o Waimea Valley

History of Waimea Valley

Waimea Valley is an ahupua‘a, a division of land stretching from the mountains to the sea. If you imagine the island like a pie, each slice is an ahupua‘a. Land was divided this way in Hawai‘i for many reasons, the most important of which was to ensure each community within the ahupua‘a had the resources they needed to survive.  Resources are found at various elevations and places within each ahupua’a. By dividing land in this way, each community had access to forest land, fresh water from the mauka region, various ecological for planting different crops, and a path to the ocean for fishing and travel.

From the uka (uplands) region, plants that provide medicines are found.  Trees for constructing wa‘a (canoes) and hale (houses and other structures) are harvested here. Birds are caught and released for making hulu (feather) adornments. The kula (plains, midland) region is where most agricultural crops are farmed such as mai‘a (banana), kalo (taro), ‘ulu (breadfruit), ‘uala (sweet potato) and niu (coconut). The kai (seaside) region provided food and other resources from the ocean, including i‘a (fish), he‘e (octopus), pūpū (shells), limu (seaweed) and pa‘akai (salt). 

Each ahupua‘a was ruled by a chief, or ali‘i ‘ai. He in turn appointed a konohiki. The konohiki served as general manager responsible for the use of an ahupua‘a as a resource system. Under the konohiki were luna (specialists). For example, the luna wai was responsible for the fresh water flow and irrigation system.

Waimea Through the Years

This was a very hard time for Hawaiians because of their strong ties to the ‘āina (land). Many did not agree with the Western definition of land ownership. Pa’alua’s property was foreclosed after her death in 1886. Ownership of the Valley changed hands many times at public auction over the next 20 years and by the turn of the 20th century was under the control of the Castle & Cook pineapple and sugar company.

In the early 1900’s Waimea was used for ranching and farming and many other outside entities such as Japanese farmers and the U.S. Military occupied the Valley. In the 1960’s and 1970’s Waimea was operated commercially as the Waimea Falls Ranch and Stables, which offered 75-cent stagecoach rides along with actors who rode along playing cowboys and Indians.  It was at this time visitors could participate in guided tours and attend cliff-diving and hula shows.

In 2003, with a collaboration between the City, the State Department of Land and Natural Resources, the U.S. Army and the Trust for Public Lands, and the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Waimea Valley is now back in the hands of a Native Hawaiian governing entity, and is owned and managed by Hi‘ipaka LLC, a non-profit, limited liability company created to nurture and care for this treasure.

Waimea today

E mālama a e ho'omau i nā waiwai kānaka, mo'omeheu, a kūlohelohe o waimea no kēia hanauna a me nā hanau e hiki mai ai i loko o ka ho'onaauao 'ana a me ka ho'okahu 'ana.

Today, the mission of the Valley is to “Preserve and perpetuate the human, cultural and natural resources of Waimea for generations through education and stewardship”. As you visit the Valley, in respect to the beliefs of the ancient Hawaiians and those descendants who today carry out the duty to restore and protect the significant and religious sites here, please be mindful and do not touch, disturb, or remove any rocks or other objects out of respect for this truly special place.