Nuʻuanu Pali
Template:Short description Template:Infobox mountain pass
NuTemplate:Okinauanu Pali is a section of the windward cliff (pali<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> in Hawaiian) of the [[Koolau Range|KoTemplate:Okinaolau]] mountain located at the head of NuTemplate:Okinauanu Valley<ref name="HomepagePacificWorlds">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> on the island of [[Oahu|OTemplate:Okinaahu]]. It has a panoramic view of the windward (northeast) coast of OTemplate:Okinaahu. The Pali Highway (Hawaii State Highway 61) connecting Kailua/[[Kāne'ohe, Hawai'i|KāneTemplate:Okinaohe]] with downtown Honolulu runs through the [[Nu‘uanu Pali Tunnels|NuTemplate:Okinauanu Pali Tunnels]] bored into the cliffside.
The area is also the location of the NuTemplate:Okinauanu Freshwater Fish Refuge<ref name="HawaiiAquaticResources">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and the NuTemplate:Okinauanu Reservoir<ref name="HaugReservoirHonoluluWeekly">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="HollierCatsHanaHou">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> in the jurisdiction of the [[Hawai'i Department of Land and Natural Resources|HawaiTemplate:Okinai Department of Land and Natural Resources]].
The NuTemplate:Okinauanu Pali State Wayside is a lookout above the tunnels where there is a panoramic view of OTemplate:Okinaahu's windward side with views of KāneTemplate:Okinaohe, [[Kāne'ohe Bay|KāneTemplate:Okinaohe Bay]], and Kailua. It is also well known for strong trade winds that blow through the pass (now bypassed by the [[Nu‘uanu Pali Tunnels|NuTemplate:Okinauanu Pali Tunnels]]). The Nuʻuanu Pali Tunnels were built in 1958. Before this road opened, people would use what is now known as the Old Pali Road, currently a popular hiking route.<ref name="Legends">Template:Cite news</ref>
History
{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}} [[Image:Pali overlook looking north.jpg|thumb|left|Looking north from the overlook at [[Kailua, Honolulu County, Hawaii|KāneTemplate:Okinaohe]] town and [[Kāne'ohe Bay|KāneTemplate:Okinaohe Bay]] beyond.]] The NuTemplate:Okinauanu Pali has been a vital pass from ancient times to the present because it is a low, traversable section of the [[Koʻolau Range|KoTemplate:Okinaolau mountain range]] that connects the leeward side of the mountains, Honolulu to the windward side, Kailua and [[Kaneohe, Hawaii|KāneTemplate:Okinaohe]]. The route drew settlers who formed villages in the area and populated NuTemplate:Okinauanu Valley for a thousand years.
The NuTemplate:Okinauanu Pali was the site of the [[Battle of Nu'uanu|Battle of NuTemplate:Okinauanu]], one of the bloodiest battles in Hawaiian history, in which Kamehameha I conquered the island of OTemplate:Okinaahu, bringing it under his rule. In 1795 Kamehameha I sailed from his home island of [[Hawaii (island)|HawaiTemplate:Okinai]] with an army of 10,000 warriors, including a handful of non-Hawaiian foreigners. After conquering the islands of Maui and [[Molokai|MolokaTemplate:Okinai]], he moved on to OTemplate:Okinaahu. The pivotal battle for the island occurred in NuTemplate:Okinauanu Valley, where the defenders of OTemplate:Okinaahu, led by Kalanikūpule, were driven back up into the valley where they were trapped above the cliff. Kamehamehaʻs warriors forced Maui Chief Kalanikupule's men to their deaths off of the cliff. Roughly 400 warriors died in this battle.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
In 1845 the first road was built over the NuTemplate:Okinauanu Pali, to connect Windward OTemplate:Okinaahu with Honolulu. In 1898, as this road was developed into a highway, workers found 800 human skulls—believed to be the remains of the warriors who fell to their deaths from the cliff above.<ref name="Frommer">Template:Cite book</ref> This road was later replaced by the Pali Highway and the [[Nu‘uanu Pali Tunnels|NuTemplate:Okinauanu Pali Tunnels]] in 1959, which is the route used today.
The now extinct bird, the [[Oʻahu nukupuʻu|OTemplate:Okinaahu nukupuTemplate:Okinau]], was last collected in this valley.
There is also a legend that takes place around the Nuʻuanu Pali. This is The Ghost Dog Legend. This legend states that when people came across this dog on the Pali, they had to turn back around or else they would not make it up the steep mountain. Because of these events, it is said that coming across this dog would lead to kaupe, meaning disaster.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
NuTemplate:Okinauanu Reservoir
The NuTemplate:Okinauanu Reservoir is located up the NuTemplate:Okinauanu Pali heading towards Kailua, in the valley jungle. This small body of water holds various species of catfish, and peacock bass. In efforts towards preserving the reservoir, appointments must be made half a year prior to the visiting date. This ensures a controlled number of residents that fish out of the waters, preventing overfishing. A fresh water game fishing license and an entry fishing card are required to fish there. There is a two fish per license limit, and any catfish that is 16 inches or larger must be kept.Template:Citation needed
NuTemplate:Okinauanu Trail
The trail to NuTemplate:Okinauanu began at Kalanikahua and led north of Kaumakapili Church to below the stream which flowed out of Kamanuwai pond. There the trail turned slightly to the right, went along the edge of the pond, and down into the water. Then, coming up on the bank onto Waiakemi, it led on to Waakekupua, along the bank of the taro patches, to the Pauoa stream, up to Pualoalo, and on to the gap at NuTemplate:Okinauanu Pali.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
Superstition
Two large stones near the back of NuTemplate:Okinauanu Valley, HapuTemplate:Okinau and Ka-lae-hau-ola, were said to represent a pair of goddesses who were guardians of the passage down the pali. Travellers would leave offerings of flowers or kapa (bark cloth) to ensure a safe trip, and parents buried the umbilical cords of newborns under the stones as a protection against evil.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
According to legend, the pass is inhabited by a moTemplate:Okinao wahine, a lizard who takes the form of a beautiful woman and leads male travelers to their deaths off the cliff, similar to a western poltergeist or mermaid.
Hawaiian folklore holds that people should never carry pork over NuTemplate:Okinauanu Pali, especially at night. Pele, the volcano goddess, was responsible for preventing passage due to her contest with Kamapua'a, a half human, half hog god, and would not allow him (in the form of pork) to trespass on her side of the island.<ref name="Legends" />
Cultural references
"Pali Gap" (Nu'uanu Pali into English) is the title of a track from the posthumous 1971 album Rainbow Bridge by the guitarist Jimi Hendrix.
'The Pali', together with surrounding areas such as Tantalus Crater, is the main setting in the novel Micro by Michael Crichton and Richard Preston.
The 2015 movie Pali Road is named for the old road over the Pali, although most of the action takes place elsewhere on Oahu.
Places of interest
Photos
See also
References
External links
- Nu'uanu Pali State Wayside - official site