Kaʻapuni o Waimea: An Enhanced Experience through Waimea Valley
By guest contributor Waimea Valley staff
Photos courtesy Waimea Valley
Waimea Valley is recognized as a place of awe, a place of profound natural beauty and splendor; wahi pana or a special, legendary place. In February 2023, Waimea opened a new program offering visitors cultural learning opportunities at three of the valley’s cultural sites. These interactive stations allow the visitor to ground their experience in cultural values and engage directly with the valley’s mission: to preserve and perpetuate the human, cultural and natural resources of Waimea for generations through education and stewardship.
The overarching theme of the Kaʻapuni o Waimea is the Hawaiian cultural value of hoʻokipa – which we define as being gracious, considerate, and kind, a welcoming value and obligation; the act of treating others as we would like to be treated.
The kaʻapuni (the circuit) is through three prominent Waimea Valley cultural sites: Hale Hō‘ike, Kauhale, and Kahua Pā‘ani. Each site is presented as a guided engagement; explained and shared through their inherent significance and supported by associated Hawaiian cultural values. At each of the three sites, participating guests will earn an identifying sticker by learning a cultural value.
Visitors learn about Waimea Valley as an intact ahupuaʻa and the responsibility of preserving its natural resources at Hale Hōʻike.
Hale Hōʻike (the house of wisdom and welcome) is the orientation area of the valley where visitors are introduced to the significance of the botanical collections and cultural sites. Spending time at Hale Hō’ike is important for enhancing the visitor’s sense of place and sense of respect for the sacred space they have entered. At Hale Hō’ike the visitors are introduced to the foundational concepts of aloha (sharing the breath of life), kuleana (responsibility) and makawalu (knowledge from combined experiences and sources), representing the shared responsibility for the preservation of the natural resources at Waimea.
The Kauhale cultural site interpretation focuses on family and traditional ways of living, with a Hale Ola station dedicated to lāʻau lapaʻau.
Kauhale (a living site) is the living site comprised of seven reconstructed hale on the archeological footprint of a kauhale once inhabited by the ancestral ‘ohana of the valley. At Kauhale, to earn a hale sticker the visitor must retain the terms and meanings of ‘ohana (family), laulima (helping hands) and mālama (to care for and protect). This site represents the perpetuation of the tangible and intangible cultural resources of Waimea Valley.
Visitorʻs can play ʻulu maika at Kahua Pāʻani, a station dedicated to Hawaiian games.
Kahua Pāʻani (a site for play) is the games site, where visitors can try traditional games such as ‘ulu maika (stone rolling game), ʻōʻō ihe (spear throwing), and kōnane (strategy board game) – to name just a few! This site is action-oriented and layers the learning outcomes with the hands-on experience. At Kahua Pāʻani the visitor is invited to understand the concepts of pono (righteous action), lōkahi (harmonious balance) and hōʻihi (respect). These learning points connect us to the human resources cultivated in the valley.
Upon visiting all three sites and demonstrating retention of the values they’ve learned on their kaʻapuni, visitors can earn a collectible pin. The guest is taught that the pin signifies the completion of the program, and the commitment to becoming a Waimea Valley “Hoʻokipa Ambassador”, to carry forward the values taught during their experience.
It is the Waimea Valley’s hope that through this program, visitors will learn about the positive impact of hoʻokipa and carry this attitude forward throughout the island. The educational staff at the valley are experts in educating a diversity of audiences, both visiting and local. For our kamaʻāina audiences and visitors who may already be familiar with these cultural concepts there are enhanced learning outcomes with specific ʻōlelo noʻeau (proverbs/poetic sayings that hold and reflect the beauty, wisdom, and flavor of the Hawaiian worldview) associated to each site.
Visitors may experience the program daily between 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM during Waimea Valley’s regular hours of operation. There is no additional fee for the program, the chance to participate and earn a pin is included in the price of regular admission to the valley! Tickets can be purchased at our ticket booth or reserved online at www.waimeavalley.net. Please check the website for the many free and half-price kamaʻāina days!