Nu‘uanu Pali
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Nuʻuanu Pali is a section of the windward cliff (pali in Hawaiian) of the Koʻolau mountain located at the head of Nuʻuanu Valley[1] on the island of Oʻahu. Today, it offers one of the best panoramic views of the windward (northeast) coast of Oʻahu. The Pali Highway (Hawaii State Highway 61) connecting Kailua/Kāneʻohe with downtown Honolulu runs through the Nuʻuanu Pali Tunnels bored into the cliffside.
The area is also the home of the Nuʻuanu Freshwater Fish Refuge[2] and the Nuʻuanu Reservoir[3][4] in the jurisdiction of the Hawaiʻi Department of Land and Natural Resources.
The Nuʻuanu Pali State Wayside is a lookout above the tunnels where visitors are treated to a panoramic view of the Oʻahu's windward side with sweeping views of Kāneʻohe, Kāneʻohe Bay, and Kailua. It is also well-known for strong Trade winds that blow through the pass (Now bypassed by the Nuʻuanu Pali Tunnels), forming a sort of natural wind tunnel.
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[edit] History
The Nuʻuanu Pali was the site of the Battle of Nuʻuanu, one of the bloodiest battles in Hawaiian history, in which Kamehameha I conquered the island of Oʻahu, bringing it under his rule. In 1795 Kamehameha I sailed from his home island of Hawaiʻi with an army of 10,000 soldiers. After conquering the islands of Maui and Molokaʻi, he moved on to Oʻahu. The pivotal battle for the island occurred in Nuʻuanu Valley, where the defenders of Oʻahu, led by Kalanikupule, were driven back up into the valley where they were trapped above the cliff. More than 400 of Kalanikupule's soldiers were driven off the edge of the cliff to their deaths 1,000 feet below.
In 1845 the first road was built over the Nuʻuanu Pali to connect Windward Oʻahu with Honolulu. In 1898 this road was developed into a highway which during construction 800 skulls were found believed to be the remains of the warriors that fell to their deaths from the cliff above. This road was later replaced by the Pali Highway and the Nuʻuanu Pali Tunnels in 1959 which is the route used today.
[edit] Superstition
A large rock called Kaipu-o-Lono that Legend suggested was a Mo’o Wahine (Lizard Woman), the goddess of the valley. This Stone has be the altar for travelers for safe passage, giving offering of food and flowers. But many travelers just give offerings near the pass while giving offering directly to the stone is considered dedicated and the additional effort would be rewarded by the goddess.
Hawaiian folklore holds that one should never carry pork over Nuʻuanu Pali, especially at night. In olden days, motorists reported that their cars mysteriously stopped and would not start until the pork was removed from the car. Pele (a more powerful and influencal goddess than Mo’o Wahine) was said to be responsible for this to preventing passage of pork over the Pali. It was said Pele, the volcano goddess, was responsible for preventing passage with her content with Kamapua'a, a half human half hog god, and would not allow him (in the form of pork) to trespass on her side of the island.
Stories of assaults by ghosts have also been told these were supposed be the work of hungry spirits that go into a violent frenzy and attack travelers for their food. Truckers are known to tied a fresh ti or banana leaf or a strip of bamboo to there containers of food products called “Placing a Law upon the Food” that would deter spirits with the implication of saying fly away.
[edit] Places of Interest
[edit] References
- ^ Nuʻuanu, Oʻahu Home Page. Pacific Worlds & Associates (2003). “Nuʻuanu, the principle valley of Honolulu ahupuaʻa on the Island of Oʻahu, in the Hawaiian chain. A place of remarkable diversity rich in history of the Hawaiian monarchy, Nuʻuanu reaches from Honolulu Harbor to the famous Nuʻuanu Pali.”
- ^ Nuʻuanu Freshwater Fish Refuge (Nuʻuanu Reservoir No. 4), Oʻahu. Hawaiʻi Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Aquatic Resources, Hawaii.gov (2007).
- ^ Kawehi Haug (11 May 2005). Nuʻuanu Reservoir. Honolulu Weekly. “Despite its industrial name, the Nuʻuanu Reservoir is all nature. Hidden behind the tall trees on the town side of the Pali tunnels (and perhaps outshined by the nearby Pali Lookout), the reservoir is an unexpected haven of too-good-to-be-true beauty. The Department of Land and Natural Resources controls the area but it issues permits to the public to picnic and fish… There is a movement underway by the Friends of Nuʻuanu Reservoir to turn the place into a public park…”
- ^ Dennis Hollier (October/November 2007). Reservoir Cats. Hana Hou! Vol. 10 No. 5. “The clams are just one of the surprises here, high in Nuʻuanu Valley on Oʻahu. The lake, which once supplied drinking water to Honolulu, is also home to cichlids and tilapia. Even more surprising—in a land better known for saltwater fishing—these fresh waters yield channel catfish reaching over 20 pounds.”
