As we continue to traval northwest along the King Kamehamamea highway,(state route 63), through the tropical paradise of Windward Oahu, Hawaii. We arrive in the Kualoa area is located on the west end of Kãne‘ohe Bay. The area is home of Kualoa beach park which has views of Mokoli`i Island (Chinaman’Hat) from Kualoa Point on Oahu Hawaii. The picture was taken from Kualua Park. It is a beautiful area around Kauloa Point, in fact the area around nearby Kauloa Ranch has been used to film many of Hollywood’s blockbuster films like Jurassic Park!.
The Kualoa is one of the most historically significant destinations on Oahu. Ancient Hawaiians considered Kualoa one of the most sacred places on Oahu. It was a residence of kings, a place of refuge and sanctuary - a pu`uhonua - and a training ground for royalty who were instructed at Kualoa in the arts of war, history and social traditions. Here you will find the backdrop of the beautiful Koolau Mountains
The Kualoa Ranch and neighboring Ka'a'awa Valley are situated in one of Oahu's most historic areas. The Ka'a'awa Valley is also one of Oahu's most beautiful valleys - still largely untouched by modern development.
The English translation of the Hawaiian word kualoa is long-back. Viewing the area from the air, you can easily see why. In ancient times, Kualoa was considered to be one of the most sacred places on Oahu and the training ground for the children of the most powerful of ali'i (chiefs). Here children of chiefs were trained in the arts of war and the ancient tradition of the Hawaiian chiefs. It is said that the bones of more than four hundred chiefs are buried in the caves above Kualoa Ranch. O.A. Bushnell's novel Ka'a'awa is an excellent resource for information about this area.
It is an area steeped in legend. Legend has it that fishponds in the area were built by Menehunes (an ancient race of small, magical people who are said to be the first inhabitants of the islands). The area is also said to be home to night-marchers - the ghosts of dead chiefs and their warriors who proceed from their burial caves to the sea.
Kualoa and Ka'a'awa is also said to be a place of refuge where those condemned to die could find refuge
Places to visit in and around Kualoa and Ka'a'awa
Kualoa Ranch/Chinaman's Hat — Kualoa Ranch was established in 1850 when, Kamehameha III sold approximately 622 acres of land in Kualoa and all its fishing rights offshore (which included Mokoli`i or Chinaman’s Hat). Today it is a 4000 acre working cattle ranch, spread from the steep mountain cliffs to the sparkling sea. Located on the northeastern side of Oahu in the Hawaiian countryside, it is less than an hour from Honolulu. The ranch terrain varies from dense rainforest to broad open valleys and from beautiful white sand beaches to awesome verdant cliff faces. It is truly a paradise for outdoor recreation.
The ranch offers visitors many tours including horseback tours and (ATV) all terrain vehicles tours. They also offer tours to movie sites on the ranch, many blockbuster films like Jurassic Park! have been filmed here. The Ranch also offers a tour of the ancient Hawaiian fishing grounds which are still operational today.
Kualoa Beach Park — Kualoa Regional Park is located at the edge of Kane‘ohe Bay on the Windward side of the island at 49-479 Kamehameha Highway. Coming from Honolulu or Kãne‘ohe, the entrance to the park is just before the road turns to run parallel with the ocean. When you can see the ocean and Mokoli‘i Island (Chinaman's Hat), you are very close to the park entrance. Watch for park's entrance signs.
The park offers you breathtaking views of th Ko'olua Mountains, (pictured left) and Chinaman's Hat, (pictured above). The park offers picining, camping and swimming on it's beautiful white sand beaches. The swimming and snorkeling is just great here but a word onf caution watch out for the currents as they are occasionally strong. And please pay special attention to your keiki (children) because of these currents.
Laie — The next stop of the Windward coastline is the town on Laie. The name Laie is said to derive from two Hawaiian words: lau meaning "leaf", and ie referring to the ‘ie‘ie (red-spiked climbing screwpine, Freycinetia arborea), which wreaths forest trees of the uplands or mauka regions of the mountains of the Ko'olau Range behind the community of Laie. In Hawaiian mythology, this red-spiked climbing screwpine is sacred to Kane, god of the earth, god of life, and god of the forests, as well as to Laka, the patron goddess of the hula.
Laie is one of Hawaii's most familiar landmarks commanding a spectacular view of the Windward side of O'ahu. Historically, Laie was a pu‘uhonua, a sanctuary for fugitives. Today it is home to LDS Church's Laie Hawaii Temple, and it also the home to one of Oahu's must see attractions the Polynesian Cultural Center.
Places to visit in and around Laie
Polynesian Cultural Center (PCC) - is a living museum located in La'ie, on the northern part of O‘ahu, Hawai‘i. Dedicated in October 12, 1963, the PCC is located on 42 acres (170,000 m˛) of land owned by nearby Brigham Young University-Hawaii, where most of the performers are enrolled as students. Although it is largely a commercial venture, profits from the PCC are applied to various scholarship programs run by BYU-Hawaii.
Many performers at the center are students attending BYU-Hawaii on scholarship from their native lands, working up to 20 hours per week during school terms and full time during breaks in order to graduate debt-free. The money which visitors pay for admission, as well as profits from food and gift sales, supports the scholarship programs which have educated thousands of students over the years. Visitors are invited to take bus tours of the university to "see where your money is going," and to see the Laie Hawaii Temple visitor center.
The Polynesian Cultural Center - (PCC) offers you a chance to learn about the cultures of Polynesia. The center offers a range of interactive activities and shows in each of the 8 island villages and exhibits. These villages include the islands of ; Aotearoa (New Zealand), Fiji , Hawaii, Samoa, Tahiti and Tonga. There is the also the,"Rainbows of Paradise" canoe pageant on the lush lagoon winding through the grounds. There is 600-seat IMAX™ Theater features the spectacular Coral Reef Adventure.
You can also enjoy what has been called Hawaii's best luau experience at their award-winning Ali’i Lu’au dinner and evening Horizons show. This show features a experience of different cultures of Polyneisia and the history of the Hawaiian Islands. Enjoy the show that features more than 100 performers traditional dances of their respective islands. This is experience the will be throughly enjoyed all and is a must see on your trip to Hawaii.
The Kualoa Ranch and neighboring Ka'a'awa Valley are situated in one of Oahu's most historic areas. The Ka'a'awa Valley is also one of Oahu's most beautiful valleys - still largely untouched by modern development.
Kualoa Ranch/Chinaman's Hat — Kualoa Ranch was established in 1850 when, Kamehameha III sold approximately 622 acres of land in Kualoa and all its fishing rights offshore (which included Mokoli`i or Chinaman’s Hat). Today it is a 4000 acre working cattle ranch, spread from the steep mountain cliffs to the sparkling sea. Located on the northeastern side of Oahu in the Hawaiian countryside, it is less than an hour from Honolulu. The ranch terrain varies from dense rainforest to broad open valleys and from beautiful white sand beaches to awesome verdant cliff faces. It is truly a paradise for outdoor recreation.
Kualoa Beach Park — Kualoa Regional Park is located at the edge of Kane‘ohe Bay on the Windward side of the island at 49-479 Kamehameha Highway. Coming from Honolulu or Kãne‘ohe, the entrance to the park is just before the road turns to run parallel with the ocean. When you can see the ocean and Mokoli‘i Island (Chinaman's Hat), you are very close to the park entrance. Watch for park's entrance signs.
Laie — The next stop of the Windward coastline is the town on Laie. The name Laie is said to derive from two Hawaiian words: lau meaning "leaf", and ie referring to the ‘ie‘ie (red-spiked climbing screwpine, Freycinetia arborea), which wreaths forest trees of the uplands or mauka regions of the mountains of the Ko'olau Range behind the community of Laie. In Hawaiian mythology, this red-spiked climbing screwpine is sacred to Kane, god of the earth, god of life, and god of the forests, as well as to Laka, the patron goddess of the hula.
Laie is one of Hawaii's most familiar landmarks commanding a spectacular view of the Windward side of O'ahu. Historically, Laie was a pu‘uhonua, a sanctuary for fugitives. Today it is home to LDS Church's Laie Hawaii Temple, and it also the home to one of Oahu's must see attractions the Polynesian Cultural Center.
Polynesian Cultural Center (PCC) - is a living museum located in La'ie, on the northern part of O‘ahu, Hawai‘i. Dedicated in October 12, 1963, the PCC is located on 42 acres (170,000 m˛) of land owned by nearby Brigham Young University-Hawaii, where most of the performers are enrolled as students. Although it is largely a commercial venture, profits from the PCC are applied to various scholarship programs run by BYU-Hawaii.
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