Wailele

The wailele at the back of the Valley is a sacred site. The name of this Hawaiian waterfall changes depending on the amount of water that is flowing. When the water flows gently, the name is Waihe’e, meaning softly dripping water. After heavy rains, when more water is flowing, its name is Waihi, which means purging water. The rains of the Ko’olau (windward) mountains, many miles away, flow into Kamananui stream and affect the flow of the wailele. During the winter months, in times of especially high rainfall, the Valley has flooded many times throughout history, including most recently in 1990. In contrast, the waterfall sometimes disappears entirely for days at a time in the dry Summer. Wai (freshwater) is sacred to Hawaiian people. Ka wai ola, or life-giving waters, in the form of rivers, streams, springs, and ponds represent life, purity, and health. The word for wealth or value in Hawaiian is waiwai (water-water), because of its necessity for sustaining life. In the past, Hawaiians never defiled a freshwater source. All bathing and washing were done closer to the ocean, near the end of the stream or river.