Waimea Valley offers daily guided activities to share Hawaiian culture

Jade Eckardt

WAIMEA—The North Shore’s Waimea Valley is one of the last partially intact ahupuaa on Oahu and consists of 1,875 acres that are home to 78 archaeological sites, a 150 acre botanical garden, and several native and endangered birds. The valley has been a sacred place for more than 700 years of Native Hawaiian history.

Also known as “The Valley of the Priests,” Waimea Valley gained its title around 1090 when the ruler of Oahu awarded the land to the kahuna nui. Descendants of the high priests lived in the valley and cared for much of it until 1886. In 2006 the Office of Hawaiian Affairs acquired the lush valley as part of a cooperative conservation land purchase, and in 2008 Hi’ipaka LLC was established to manage the valley and hold the dead.

Today, Hiipaka LLC is making an effort to share the Hawaiian culture creating classes, activities, tours, and hikes to share with the public.

Below is schedule of Waimea Valley’s daily guided activities for the first quarter of 2011. For more information, visit http://www.waimeavalley.net

PŌ‘AKAHI (Monday)
10:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.—Ka ‘Ike o Nā Kūpuna (the Teachings of the Kūpuna)
11:30 a.m.—Nā Meheu ‘Ōiwi (Native Footsteps)
2:30 p.m.—E Hula Kākou (Let’s Dance Hula) at the Wailele (Waterfall)
3:30 p.m.—Nā Mea Pā‘ani o Hawai‘i (Hawaiian Games) at the Games Site

PŌ‘ALUA (Tuesday)
10:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.—Ka ‘Ike o Nā Kūpuna (the Teachings of the Kūpuna) 
11:30 a.m.—Nā Meheu ‘Ōiwi (Native Footsteps)
2:30 p.m.—E Hula Kākou (Let’s Dance Hula) at the Wailele (Waterfall)
3:30 p.m.—Nā Mea Pā‘ani o Hawai‘i (Hawaiian Games) at the Games Site

PŌ‘AKOLU (Wednesday)
10:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.—Ka ‘Ike o Nā Kūpuna (the Teachings of the Kūpuna)
11:30 a.m.—Nā Lei Like‘ole (the Art of Lei Making)
1:30 p.m.—Nā Meheu ‘Ōiwi (Native Footsteps)
3:30 p.m.—Nā Mea Pā‘ani o Hawai‘i (Hawaiian Games) at the Games Site

PŌ‘AHĀ (Thursday)
10:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.—Ka ‘Ike o Nā Kūpuna (the Teachings of the Kūpuna)
11:30 a.m.—Nā Lei Like‘ole (the Art of Lei Making)
1:30 p.m.—Nā Meheu ‘Ōiwi (Native Footsteps)
3:30 p.m.—Nā Mea Pā‘ani o Hawai‘i (Hawaiian Games) at the Games Site

PŌ‘ALIMA (Friday)
10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.—Ka ‘Ike o Nā Kūpuna (the Teachings of the Kūpuna)
11:30 a.m.—Nā Meheu ‘Ōiwi (Native Footsteps)
2:30 p.m.—E Hula Kākou (Let’s Dance Hula) at the Wailele (Waterfall)
3:30 p.m.—Nā Mea Pā‘ani o Hawai‘i (Hawaiian Games) at the Games Site

PŌ‘AONO (Saturday)
10:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.—Ka ‘Ike o Nā Kūpuna (the Teachings of the Kūpuna)
11:30 a.m.—Nā Meheu ‘Ōiwi (Native Footsteps)
2:30 p.m.—E Hula Kākou (Let’s Dance Hula) at the Wailele (Waterfall)
3:30 p.m.—Nā Mea Pā‘ani o Hawai‘i (Hawaiian Games) at the Games Site

LĀPULE (Sunday)—1ST & 3RD
10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.—Ka ‘Ike o Nā Kūpuna (the Teachings of the Kūpuna)
11:30 a.m.—Nā Meheu ‘Ōiwi (Native Footsteps)
2:00 p.m.—What’s Blooming with David Orr
3:00 p.m.—Nā Mea Pā‘ani o Hawai‘i (Hawaiian Games) at the Games Site

LĀPULE (Sunday)—2ND, 4TH, & 5TH
10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.—Ka ‘Ike o Nā Kūpuna (the Teachings of the Kūpuna)
11:30 a.m.—Nā Meheu ‘Ōiwi (Native Footsteps)
2:30 p.m.—E Hula Kākou (Let’s Dance Hula) at the Wailele (Waterfall)
3:30 p.m.—Nā Mea Pā‘ani o Hawai‘i (Hawaiian Games) at the Games Site

*Schedule of Activities is subject to change.

2011 General Admission Fees to Waimea Valley

Visiting Adult                             $13.00
Visiting Child                             $6.00
Visiting Senior                           $6.00
Kama`aina/Military Adult                 $8.00
Kama`aina/Military Child                 $5.00
Kama`aina/Military Senior                 $5.00

Individual Annual Pass                   $30.00
Individual Family Pass                   $60.00

FIT Group                               $9.00 (per person over 10 people) reservations required

Golf cart shuttle transportation available

One-way                                 $4.00
Round-Trip                               $6.00