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Wailua is located on the East side of the island of Kauai.

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The ahupua'a of Wailua is located in the Moku of Puna.

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The name Wailua in Hawaiian means "2 waters". It is believed to represent the meeting of 2 waters, fresh and salt water. Back in the 1800's, only those in the royal family were allowed to be in this valley.

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Watch this short video to learn more about the history of Wailua, Hawaii!

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The History of  Wailua,  (  Kauai  County ) Hawaii !!! U.S. History and Unknowns

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In ancient Hawaii days, fresh water was precious. In Wailua Valley, there was an abundant supply of water, making it a very desirable place to live. It was Kapu, or taboo, for a commoner to enter the valley. They were only allowed to enter the land unless they were invited by the chief to do so.

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Historians suggest that Wailua was named after Great Chief Wailuanuiaho'anu in the 14th century.

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The Wailua region was one of the most significant and largest ahupua'a on Kauai. Back in the 1800's, native trees were cut down and replaced with sugar and pineapple plantations. Now, these grasslands are used for raising cattle.

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A Heiau is a sacred temple or place of worship in ancient Hawaii. In traditional times, this was a place or refuge for criminals who wanted to avoid punishment. In Wailua, there were 4 Heiau's within the valley.

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This Heiau is located next to the mouth of Wailua River. This was a sacred place that would welcome the sun. Hikinaakala means "the rising sun" and the sunrise would be celebrated at this Heiau with chants and prayers.

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Hauola was a sacred place of refuge that people who have violated the kapu could stay in order to escape punishment. This Heiau was also a sanctuary during times of war.

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Holoholoku Heiau is thought to be Kauai's oldest Heiau. This Heiau's traditional Hawaiian name is Ka Lae o Ka Manu, which means "crest of the bird". The walls of this Heiau was made out of stone and pieces of coral.

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Poliahu Heiau is located just above the Wailua River. This Heiau was originally over one acre of land with walls five feet high and five feet wide. Legends say that it was built by Menehune, which are mythological dwarf-like creatures that were credited of creating other sacred monuments.

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Wailua has the largest single source of surface water in the whole state of Hawaii. They receive anywhere from 100 to over 300 inches of rainfall per year. The image above shows the average precipitation per month in the year of 2023.

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Through the abundant amount of water found in Wailua, there are various types of water resources that this area was able to contribute to the ahupua'a system. They were also able to provide Olona, which was a cordage fiber used for famous Hawaiian feather capes. This fiber was also used for other various supplies such as fish lines or nets.

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Today, Wailua is a place where many people go to visit and learn more about the history of the ahupua'a. Many people enjoy exploring Wailua River through kayaking, canoeing, or even a boat tour that is offered. Through the tour, you are also able to go through the settings of different Heiau's.

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In this video, it presents the cultural importance of Wailua. There are historical sites, royal lineage, mo'olelo, and the history of people who lived there. Residents of Wailua explain their personal connections to the land and how they believe the spiritual center is connected to the greater universe.