Saturday, February 9, 2013

Moanalua Valley

As you can tell, I'm very excited to finally start sharing my personal discoveries! So lets make it a double post day!
 
The ahupua'a of Moanalua has always been linked to Oahu's royalty. After the other islands came to rule this one, like Maui and then Kamehameha from Hawaii island.  Royalty still managed to hold on to Moanalua for themselves. Until it was finally willed to the Damon Family from the descendants of that era. Hula was practiced in this valley all the way up to modern times. Like during the Prince Lot Festival in Moanalua Gardens. One of my favorite places to relax under a tree.
 
 
 
The main valley has a pretty educational and scenic path through history. At one of the stream crossings, off to the right of the path. You'll find Pohaku Kaluahine covered in some interesting petroglyphs. Some men with birds heads or Ali'i headdresses depending on how you look at it. Here it is beside the stream in the center of the image.
 
The whole valley trail is marked with these educational factoids for the interested hiker. I once road my bike up this valley's path in it's entirety with my Strava Account on and KOM'd it (cyclist talk).

Some figures on the pohaku
 
A well defined carving of a humanoid figure

 

An oven from one of the Damon children's homes.
 
The staircase of the home of one of the Damon's deep in the valley. Must have been a nice place in its day. Mahalo for looking! Take Ala Aolani St. to the back of Moanalua Valley Park and enter the trail! Try it on a bike and enjoy the river crossing route instead of taking the high road over them!

No comments:

Post a Comment