Lau pahoehoe Beach
Laupahoehoe is known for its scenic views, but it also holds a tragic past. It was here where a tsunami killed 19 schoolchildren and 5 adults on April Fool’s Day in 1946. The names and ages of the victims were engraved on a rock, which serves as a memorial in the park. The village was later relocated further inland to avoid another tragedy.
Laupahoehoe is known for its scenic views, but it also holds a tragic past. It was here where a tsunami killed 19 schoolchildren and 5 adults on April Fool’s Day in 1946. The names and ages of the victims were engraved on a rock, which serves as a memorial in the park. The village was later relocated further inland to avoid another tragedy.
Waipio Bay
Waipio valley was home to old Hawaiian kings and once upon a time was densely populated. Now however, Waipio valley is mostly wilderness interspersed with taro fields and a couple of dozens of inhabitants.
Waipio (or Waipi’o) is named after the river that runs through the valley (wai-pi’o means curved water in the Hawaiian language) and is about one mile wide and six miles deep. Towards the back the valley splits into many ‘fingers’, each with its own waterfall. The valley meets the ocean with a beautiful black sand beach that is cut in two by the river.
One of the reasons Jason had wanted to rent a jeep was to take the steepest road in North America down to the beach. It was bumpy and scary at times but Aiden and I sat in the back seat just laughing as we bounced around.
The trip to the beach was worth the effort, however, as we saw tiny jellyfish washed up on the shore and saw one of the waterfalls.
Life's An Adventure 