Waimea Valley
Inspiring Connection to the Land
As you enter Waimea Valley, let go of your burdens, breathe deep and immerse yourself in its stillness. Walk in the footsteps of the many who have come before and be inspired to connect with land.
Located just down the road from O‘ahu’s famous big wave surfing spot sits Waimea Valley. This lush paradise has more than 5,000 documented types of tropical and subtropical plants that include native Hawaiian plants and endangered species. It also provides hands-on volunteer opportunities for many residents and visitors.
Waimea means “reddish water,” referring to the oxidized red soil that’s washed downstream during heavy rains turning the water reddish in color. As early as 1092 A.D., Waimea Valley was one of three sites on the island set aside for the Kahuna Nui (high priests) due in part to its abundant marine resources, streams and location near the bay. It thus came to be called, “The Valley of the Priests.” Within the valley, there are several significant cultural sites, one of which is a heiau (place of worship) dedicated to Lono, god of peace, fertility and agriculture.
Sharing the Cultural, Historical
Ka‘ula Diamond stands in front of the
kapa-making house undergoing restoration.
Ka‘ula Diamond is the cultural programs manager who has worked at Waimea Valley for approximately 12 years. “It’s an honor for me to have a job here at Waimea that I really don’t consider a job,” says Diamond, who is Native Hawaiian with a background in anthropology. “Being raised in a family where culture is important. Genealogy is important. Knowing who you are, where you come from … that will help you navigate where you’re going.”
Diamond’s father was born and raised on the Big Island as a mānaleo (a native Hawaiian speaker), but didn’t teach the language to his children. Her mother was born and raised on O‘ahu to parents who spoke the Hawaiian language, but never taught it to their children. Such was the time when speaking the Hawaiian language wasn’t encouraged.
“A lot of times when the language goes, the culture starts to go too,” says Diamond. “So cultural practices weren’t practiced as much. Some things were kept intact (such as) the importance of genealogy, of family, and sitting and talking story, and passing on orally as much as you could.”
Diamond shares her knowledge of Waimea Valley’s history, an ancient roll call of the many lives that have intersected with the valley.
The Māhele of 1848 enabled Kamehameha III to redistribute lands, setting them aside for ali‘i (chiefly class) and maka‘āinana (common folks) alike. It also introduced the concept of private land ownership to the Hawaiian people.
Waimea Valley stayed within the family of the valley’s last Kahuna Nui, Hewahewa. Unfortunately, it went into foreclosure many years later, thus forever changing how it was managed.
The Pietsch family purchased the valley and created Waimea Falls Park in the 1970s. A botanical garden was created in 1973 at which time Keith Woolliams was hired as the director of the garden, who continued until 1998. For 25 years under the Pietsch family, the valley was a commercial park with a restaurant and entertainment.
Today, Waimea Valley is overseen by Hi‘ipaka LLC, a non-profit organization whose mission is to “Preserve and perpetuate the human, cultural and natural resources of Waimea for generations through education and stewardship.”
Pictured above left: Heads up for this endangered native Hawaiian bird that makes its home in the valley.
Pictured right: The delicate native Hawaiian morning glory.
Diamond is a link to the voices of the past who dwell in the present within Waimea Valley. “I’m coming here to do the work that needs to be done,” she says. Along with sharing the site’s cultural significance with guests when possible, she also delves into the spiritual nature of the valley when she feels the call to do so.
When educating students and visitors, Diamond says it’s important to know the mountains, the streams because those are what sets the boundaries for Waimea, one of the last intact ahupua‘a on O‘ahu. Ahupua‘a is a largely pie-shaped area of land that extends from mountain to sea.
“We have three main ridges that make the two valleys of Waimea — Kamanaiki (North Valley) and Kamananui (South Valley) where the waterfall is,” says Diamond. “Keanaloa is the long one that you pass by on the way in. The one in the middle is Kalahe‘e, and the one on the side is Kaluahole.
“We then have three streams that run through Waimea. We have ‘Elehāhā, which is running right now; Kamananui, the main one; and Kaiwiko‘ele. Where the three streams meet, they become Waimea River that goes out to the bay. Kamananui is perennial; it runs all year except when we have unusual drought. Kaiwiko‘ele and ‘Elehāhā only run when there are very, very heavy rains in the mountains.”
It’s no wonder that Waimea Valley had been reserved for the Kahuna Nui with its bountiful natural resources. Diamond mentions how important wai (water) was to the Hawaiian people, so much so that they became experts at resource management by taking care of the streams by keeping them clean and clear of debris, as well as rationing its usage according to how much a farmer needed.
It’s believed that the last O‘ahu line of Kahuna Nui, Ka‘opulupulu, lived in a traditional living site known as kauhale (a cluster of structures or houses) in Waimea Valley. Unlike homes of today with many rooms under one roof, they had various hale (houses) representing different functions such as eating, sleeping, cooking, etc.
The kauhale and the work to restore them is ongoing thanks to the many hearts and hands that join in the effort says Diamond. “It is very hard work, but we are learning how our kupuna (ancestors) built their dwellings and have so much respect for the practice of hale building.
“Being here … this is my journey,” she says. “I’ve learnt so much about myself in working here that has enabled me to make little changes within myself. That enables me to do the work here. But mainly to stay humble, to keep that spiritual side clean, so they can come and guide me. I would be grateful to stay here for a long time.”
Providing Hands-On Opportunities
Melani Spielman brings together volunteers of all ages each month who greatly assist the staff with much-needed work at Waimea Valley.
Volunteer Coordinator Melani Spielman is always busy organizing and overseeing Waimea’s monthly volunteer events. Before the start of each activity, she provides an introduction and overview that also includes Diamond or one of her cultural staff. They help to facilitate the volunteers’ connections to the valley, and hope that volunteers make their own connections while giving of their time and effort.
“We do an oli (chant) to enter the valley,” says Spielman. “That gives us an opportunity to put everybody in the right mindset, as well as to recognize the history and the cultural aspects of Waimea, and to have everyone step in starting with respect for the valley.”
Raised on the North Shore, Spielman attended local community colleges then graduated from the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa in its Interdisciplinary Studies program with a degree in traditional medicine and a focus on Hawaiian medicine known as lā‘au lapa‘au.
She practices traditional medicine mainly for family and friends, “… but all of the things I’ve learned about Hawaiian culture, about the plants, animals, the different ways of healing, the mythology, all of that has come into play in the coordination of volunteers,” shares Spielman.
“When we’re out there in the field, I love sharing about the plants. You can use this for this, you know, the ethnobotany side of it, because I feel it gives a lot more depth to people’s experiences when they’re here. And, of course, working in a botanical garden is an amazing thing when you love plants!”
Waimea Valley hosts several special volunteer events throughout the year; two of the biggest are Earth Day and Make a Difference Day (though both have been toned down due to the coronavirus).
One of the ongoing monthly events is the ‘Ohana Volunteer Days open to all ages with a focus on fun. Spielman started this program as a way to allow anyone of any age a chance to participate and be introduced to the idea of volunteering, and do it in a fun way.
“They get to really get hands on and learn about invasive plants or help us clear out an area that’s habitat for endangered birds,” she says. “It’s a service learning experience for them. And that’s one of the real important things we emphasize with all of the work we do, that service learning is the prime goal, that everyone takes away something.”
A full-day event is the Hānai ‘Āina Conservation Workdays held three to four times each month geared toward ages 12 and up. These more intense volunteer days are dedicated to removing invasive species and planting native trees within a fenced area that keeps out pigs and other damaging wildlife. It’s in this area, located on the central ridge line of the valley, that the conservation team hopes to eventually create a diverse forest habitat of thriving native plants such as koa and ‘ōhi‘a.
“I also like going into the area we’ve worked in afterwards. The value (of the work completed) is communicated in a way that speaks to you, and you can feel a difference.”
– Melani Spielman
“Groups do a lot of different work up there,” says Spielman. “They’ll cut down tree limbs from invasive trees so we can get in and chainsaw them down. They’ll dig up invasive grasses, spread mulch, all sorts of things to take care of the area, and when we have the plants ready, they head up there again to get them in the ground.
“We’re dealing with strawberry guava and ironwood too. Strawberry guava has a really high resprout rate, so you can cut it down and later get 20 shoots coming up from where you cut it. And the ironwood is just such a hard wood. Clearing it out takes a long time, and it dulls your tools.”
The negative aspect of dealing with ironwood becomes a positive since they use the downed ironwood in their hale (house or structure) building and restoration. Spielman says that traditionally, the native ‘ōhi‘a was used in hale building, but with Rapid ‘Ōhi‘a Death an ongoing problem on the four major islands, they’ve begun using ironwood as a resource. It’s the perfect reuse situation.
Volunteer numbers have understandably dropped since the start of COVID-19, however, Spielman has begun to see good numbers this year though they are still far below those in 2019.
“I know that as people are starting to be able to get out more, I think there’s just a greater appreciation I’m seeing for all the things we can protect around us,” she says. “That love for Waimea has been a bit more reinvigorated in the community, which is something we’re all really happy about.
“Whether it’s by volunteering or supporting us by visiting the valley, or even just sharing with friends and family, we’re very much tied to the North Shore community,” says Spielman. “In this time of COVID there’s been a strong appreciation on both sides — for the connection to our community and to placing ourselves as part of it. We’re really happy that we’ve seen so much support … all of it makes such a big difference for this valley.
“And you know, we’re not only just protecting it for us. We’re protecting it for everything that happens downstream from Waimea Bay to Shark’s Cove (Pūpūkea), so that later on down the line, all these people’s kids, grandkids and great-grandkids can come and visit this place. Waimea will be here to learn from, to share and to protect the endangered species and cultural sites.”
Spielman is thankful for the many volunteers who spend their time in the valley. “We take care of over 1,800 acres of land with a very small staff. Without the volunteers being here, this land couldn’t be taken care of even as much as we do now … So really, the volunteers are our heroes.”
Spielman joins almost every volunteer group that comes in, and it’s there that she often finds those special moments.
“While we’re working together, I get to see a light go on in somebody,” she says, “and all of a sudden, they’re excited about something new. That is beautiful for me. I also like going into the area we’ve worked in afterwards. The value (of the work completed) is communicated in a way that speaks to you, and you can feel a difference.”
Both Diamond and Spielman feel the importance of connecting — connecting to one another, to the community, to the land and all those who have come before.
Spielman says, “If you don’t learn that connection, then you’re missing a piece.”
Waimea Valley provides that opportunity for everyone who enters. To connect, to reflect and to simply be.
Visit www.waimeavalley.net for information regarding monthly volunteer opportunities, weekly farmers market, Saturday plant sales and special events. Admissions, gift shop purchases, donations and support from the surrounding community help keep Waimea Valley open to the public. Hours are 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily.