to the Waimea Falls area where a cache was located fairly close to the entrance. We parked close by and then hiked to the cache area. GPSr was about 60 feet off but we looked at some interesting root formations and then Becky lucked out by finding the cache. We continued on up to the falls gift shop area and found this Hawaiian Temple used for religious activities. Considered sacred ground.
We browsed around the gift shop/restaurant area and found some peacocks wandering around. BIG signs said "Do Not Feed Peacocks".......yeah right, they were scoffing up food from the tourists. We considered the 3/4 miles hike up to the falls but the lady at the pay booth told us that since it hadn't been raining much the falls were not "falling". We saved $6.00 each and decided to look for another cache a short distance away. The area was called Pu'u o Mahuka and located on top of a hill. You probably can't read the info on the last two pictures above so will try to give you an idea of why the area was there.
Here's some info I found on the area......rather lengthy if you care to read it all......Becky hiked down a path taking pictures on the way. I followed her and took the GPSr to try and find the cache that was stashed down the slope. Becky found a "shrine" type area with mucho goodies, including some money........area was considered sacred so I couldn't convince her to lift a few of the solid gold coins.
A Rich History
Pu'u o Mahuka is the largest heiau (religious site or temple) on O'ahu, covering almost two acres. The name is translated as "hill of escape", and it is a little-visited site of remarkable peace and seclusion. Tourists don't normally find out about it, and many maps don't show it. Native Hawaiians and kama'aina alike still bring offerings of fruit to the small living altar.
Undoubtedly, this heiau played an important role in the social, political and religious system of Waimea Valley, which was a major center of O'ahu in the pre-contact period.
The village may have been constructed in the 1600's. Built as a series of three walled enclosures, the stacked rock walls ranged from three to six feet in height and the interior surface was paved with stone. It would have been built by the maka'ainana (commoners) under the direction of the ali'i nui (high ruling chief) and his kahuna (priests).
In the 1770's, high priest Ka'opulupulu under O'ahu chief Kahahana oversaw this heiau. It was a time of political upheaval, and it is likely that it was used as a luakini heiau (sacrifical temple), perhaps marking success in war.
In 1795, when Kamehameha I conquered O'ahu, his high priest Hewahewa conducted religious ceremonies here, until the traditional religion was abolished in 1819.
Situated on a ridge with a commanding view of Waimea Valley, signal fires from this heiau were used to provide visual communications with another heiau at Wailua on the island of Kaua'i, nearly 100 miles away.
In 1792, Captain George Vancouver anchored his ship, the Daedalus, off Waimea and sent a party ashore to collect water. A skirmish ensued with the Hawaiians, and three of Vancouver's men were killed. Some have suggested that they were taken up to Pu'u o Mahuka for sacrifice.
More views of the area. All of the rocks were hauled by hand from down in the valley..........quite a task. I did find the cache without too much difficulty. I wonder if it should have been placed in this area ????
We left and drove into Haleiwa for lunch at the Grass Skirt, passed by a "nude beach" but we were too far away to enjoy any erotic sights.........well, maybe it wasn't a nude beach. Becky took a picture of this old bridge, built in 1921, for her sister who is into old "stuff". Becky said the bridge was nearly as old as her sis.............by the way Sis, Happy Birthday! We were back in Missouri at this time last year.
That about wrapped up our day......don't know what tomorrow will bring. W&B
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