Hawaii
November 5-28, 2011
hawaii - november 12
Kipahulu and the Pipiwai Trail
Oheo Pools
After our hike we decided to explore the visitor centre, have lunch and then walk over to the Oheo Pools.
Some information about the Oheo Pools from "Maui Revealed":
Back when nobody had ever heard of Hana, the owner of the Hotel Hana Maui wanted desperately to attract people here. He had a choice: Tell people they could visit the fabulour 'Ohe'o Gulch or the wondrous Seven Sacred Pools (which he made up). The latter looked better on the brochure although for the record, there are not seven of them, nor were they ever sacred.
When a retired airline executive named Sam Pryor planned to build a house next to the pools back in 1960, residents were worried that access to the pools would be restricted. Pryor realized the importance of the pools to the locals and arranged to trade the land back to the original owners for land elsewhere. He later convinced his friend Laurance Rockefeller and several others to buy 52 acres around the pools and eventually donate it to Haleakal National Park. The park became one ot the best places in the world to jump off waterfalls but an acciden, lawsuit and subsequent giant settlement in 2009 changed all that. Park officials responded by banning jumping off anything, plastered the area with warning signs, and rangers vigorously patrol the pools. Even swimming is generally not allowed at the slightest hint of rain in the mountains (which is more often than not). Despite all that, it's still a drop dead gorgeous spot.
Back after our hike, the visitor center is open. We're happy to see that the south road is still open after the heavy rains.
Some local handiwork.
Canoe hull made out of Koa wood. Traditionally canoes were hewn from a single koa trunk. Canoe making was conducted with a great deal of ceremony. A kahuna kalai wa'a (canoe builder) searched the mountain forest for the proper tree and offerings of food and prayer preceeded the tree cutting and rough shaping of the canoe. Guided by a spiritual proetector, the canoe was then lowered down the mountain. After completion, another ceremony took place followed by a prayer and offering of the first fish caught on the maiden trip to sea.
Thespesia populnea (milo) ?
Tree with yellow star flowers.
The kids are going to miss their campsite hala tree when we leave tomorrow!
Christopher has a few mosquito bites.
Lunch time (2pm!) at the camp site.
We take the Coastal trail from the camp site to the Oheo Gulch pools.
Someone has a sense of humour!
This looks like it's the day use picnic area.
The kids stop to climb another hala tree.
A beautiful afternoon.
Aloha!
Part of the trail has basically just been mowed into the grass.
You don't often come across a dead hala tree.
Samantha snaps a photo of us.
Our first glimpse of Oheo Gulch (aka the Seven Sacred Pools).
Samantha wanted a shot of her and the Oheo Gulch also.
Christopher was more interested in this rock than in the gulch.
The series of falls and pools is a great photo opportunity, perhaps more so now that the pools rarely have any people swimming in them!
The pools look beautiful but the park does its best to warn you of all the hidden dangers... dangerous currents, submerged and sharp rocks, rough surf, presence of gray sharks just offshore, slippery rocks, flooding and high water levels...
Lots of barricades and warning signs... I think the danger the Parks are most worried about are those of the litigious variety! :P
A flower along the trail.
Christopher having fun along the trail.
Kukui nut (Aleurites moluccana)
Christopher and his spear.
Along the coast the rains aren't quite as often as further up on the mountain where it's pouring once again.
Back at the campsite.
[ Pipiwai Trail - Part 1 | Pipiwai Trail - Part 2 | Oheo Pools | Lindbergh | Venus Pool ]
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