If the death was final, the ancestral guides would entertain the soul, comfort it, and begin leading it on its journey off the earthly plane. Along the way, you might notice large white orbs dotting the mountain summit above you. It was still there the next day when the storm died down, the sky cleared and the sun came out. Banners; Repeat Banners; Digital Dozens; More. Please stay on designated roads. Partner With Us. Today, only foot traffic and mountain bikes are permitted in the area, and the abandoned dirt roads serve as trails to the point. While roads extend toward the shore, they quickly diminish into rutted two tracks and narrow paths. * The 2023 teal/turquoise decal must be adhered to the back of the permitted vehicle. Kaena Point is the westernmost tip of land on the island of Oahu. TheState of Hawaii has designated the point as a Natural Reserve to protect nesting Laysan Albatrosses, Wedge-tailed Shearwaters, Hawaiian monk seals, and the fragile (to vehicular traffic) native strand vegetation that has been restored there. This was where the soul would make its plunge into the ocean on its way to eternity. In 2018, volunteers contributed 1,749 hours to visitor education, marine debris removal, and ecosystem restoration at Kaena Point State Park. Intrepid hikers mustmake the last leg of the trek by foot,where theyre met withbreathtakingviews of the Pacific Ocean. When the deceased soul was ready to depart, it was guided to Leinakauhane white rock, where the soul would make its plunge into the ocean on its way to eternity. But just whats so alluring about this ruggedstretch of land? Learn more about Kaena and its resources on the interpretive signs placed throughout the trail. There are a lot more people who visit the point now, but there are also many more seabirds and native plants that have begun to flourish, says Lindsay Young, a wildlife biologist and coordinator of the ecosystem restoration project. [5] The population of Wedge-tailed Shearwater fledglings, Laysan Albatross fledglings, Ohia, Sandalwood trees, and several other species has risen significantly. Far removed from Oahu urbanity, Kaena Point is one of the islands last easily accessible pockets of nature left largely untouched. We werent even three minutes into the craggy dirt roadway to Kaena Point Natural Area Reserve when one of our companions busted a tire on his bicycle. This same night, Haupa was sleeping in his royal home on Kauai, some 30 miles (48 km) from Oahu. In addition to seabirds, the reserve is a haven for the rare Hawaiian monk seal, and honu (Hawaiian green sea turtles) can often be found resting along the coastline. Initiated in 2015 primarily as a cultural and natural resources management tool that was generally supported by the community to protect Kaena, this permit system aimed to curtail 20 years of increasing landscape degradation caused by uncontrolled four-wheel drive vehicle use in the reserve. The cave is estimated to be around 150,000 years old and was once underwater, carved out by the waves . Ka'ena Point Hike trailhead - Waianae, HI 96792 Coordinates:21.556306, -158.248494 Parking: The coordinates will take you directly to the small parking lot right in front of the trailhead of the Kaena Point hike. See the FREE topo map of Kaena Point a Cape in Maui County Hawaii on the Lanai North OE W USGS quad map. Theres been a lot more awareness of how special the place is, says Young. If there is swell in the water, you will hear and see blowholes sending churned-up seawater into the air. This was where the soul would make its plunge into the ocean on its way to eternity. The soul then arrives at Kaena Point where it meets two gods. As the storm raged on, a rainbow appeared above the house in which the baby was born. Unfortunately, these dunes and the native species that live on them have almost entirely been lost to 1500 years of change. The Legend of Kaena Point On the northwestern coast of Oahu is a point of land called 'Kaena Point.' Nearby is a huge boulder called 'Pohaku o Kauai' or 'Rock of Kauai.' Legend has it that both of these landmarks came to be because of the actions of one man on a dark, stormy night many years ago. Would you rappel down Giant waterfall? Now, he faces deportation to South Korea. Print this map | View map legend. Steeped in history and legend, Kaena Point is also an area of rich cultural significance. So it was named for himkaena means red hot in Hawaiian. This has not been confirmed, but during the "Swell Of The Century" in 1969, on the day of Greg Noll's famous wave at Mkaha, Noll took a picture of a gigantic wave breaking at Kaena Point. There are only 1,400 monk seals left in the wild, and Kaena Point is a great place to possibly glimpse them. Naio (Myoporum sandwicense var sandwicense), Naupaka kahakai (Scaevola taccada var. The majesty of this place makes it clear why it is such a spiritual place in Hawaiian culture. There are over 2,000 seabirds that use Kaena Point as their breeding grounds. A big white stone on the north side of Kaena Point was the literal leaping place of souls into the land of poheaven. It says that permits will be processed within 10 working days. The station originally opened in 1959 to support theCoronareconnaissance program. No drinking water available on either section, no restrooms on the Mokuleia section. Length 6.1 miElevation gain 528 ftRoute type Out & back. Your email address will not be published. In total, the trail is just under five miles round trip. The official endpoint of the hike is the decommissioned lighthouse at the edge of the point. Ka'ena Point Space Force Station is located at Kaena Point on the island of Oahu in Hawaii. During the winter, Oahu's North Shore is typically bombarded by large, powerful waves that attract surfers from around the world. Steeped in history and legend, Kaena Point is also an area of rich cultural significance. This same night, Haupa was sleeping in his royal home on Kauai, some 30 miles (48 km) from Oahu. If you do not receive the permit & decal within 7 days of the second notification, you should call or email. While its a relatively easy walk over even terrain, there is little to no shade for the entire route. SeeSand Island site for updates. Nothing else threatening can. The station originally opened in . When the water is calm, dolphins are frequently spotted playing offshore. Subject: Kaena Point, Oahu appears in the legend: "Pohaku-o-Kauai or a Giant's Rock-Throwing" in the book: Armitage, George T., and Henry P. Judd, Ghost Dog and Other Hawaiian Legends on pages: 100-101 HSL Call Number: RH 398.2 AR5 UHM Call Number: GR385 .A7 Subject: Kaena Point, Oahu appears in the legend: "Kalelealuaka" The boulder, they named the Rock of Kauai. As the trail morphed from jagged rock to smooth sand dunes near Kaena Point, we took off our hiking shoes and made a beeline toward the shore. From the Wai'anae side, take the trailhead at the end of the paved road in the Keawaula Section of Ka'ena Point State Park and follow the dirt roadway for 2.4 miles to Ka'ena Point Natural Area Reserve. As the westernmost point on the island, it was said that Kaena Point was where souls leapt into the spirit world. Early Hawaiians believed the point was a sacred place where souls departing the mortal world would leap into the spirit world to join the souls of their ancestors. Hawaiians have long held it to be one of their most sacred places, both because of its significance in the souls journeyand as the site where mortals make the final leap into the realm the gods. Ka'ena Point is sacred in Hawaiian lore for being the place where the spirits of the dead depart, by jumping from a certain lava rock (the Leina a ka 'Uhane, or the "leaping place of souls"), to. Copyright 2023, State of Hawaii. Required fields are marked *. The route from Waianae also follows an unused road that snakes along the coast. It is a small dirt lot. This is the driest area of Oahu, and the climate here is harsh, hot, and rugged. Though long uninhabited, Kaena was once an important community for fishing, feather . ***Kaena Point is a wahi pana, a sacred site. [OAHU] UPDATED 4/12/22: Sand Island State Recreation Area WATER OFF,camping and comfort stationsCLOSED. But, again, any remote parking area is a hot spot for thievery, so be sure to take any valuables with you, or better yet, leave them at home. Today Kaena Point lies within a state park. The tone was almost scary. Kaneana Cave is a mysterious site on Oahu's leeward (west) coast, almost as far away as you can get on the island near where the road ends. slot nexus bonanza. Shop. None of this was exceptionally grueling. Kaena Point Prev Next Hawaii's U.S. House delegation introduced legislation today that could lead to the creation of the first National Heritage Areas in the state and include Kaena Point. It is a remotetracking stationof theSatellite Control Networkresponsible for trackingsatellitesinorbit,receiving and processing data, and enabling control of satellites byrelayingcommands from control centers. They are easy to spot if you are paying attention and not too enamored with the beauty of the trail. Experience this 6.1-mile out-and-back trail near Waialua, Oahu. The majesty of this place makes it clear why it is such a spiritual place in Hawaiian culture. Keep an eye out for resting monk seals on the beach on and around the point. Painted to blend with natural surroundings, the stainless steel, fine-mesh fence, which crosses a half-mile of the peninsula from the south to north coast, had an immediate positive effect. There is a door in the fence that allows hikers to pass through. We will not always be able to process all applications within this 10-day period because of the volume of applications. Kaena means "red-hot" or "glowing" in Hawaiian; the name refers to the brilliant sunsets visible from the point. In the Mokuleia Section, there are several sandy or rocky coves, tide pools, sand dunes, and endangered invertebrate habitats. Area steeped in Hawaiian folklore and legend. This route follows the shoreline on your left (southwest), characterized by boulder . 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