Waipio Valley

{{Short description|Valley on The Big Island, Hawaii}}

{{for|the community on the island of Oʻahu (Hawaii)|Waipio, Hawaii}}

Image:Waipio Lookout View.jpg

Image:Waipio waterfall.jpg

Image:2006 Hawaii earthquake.JPG]]

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}

Waipi{{okina}}o Valley is a valley located in the Hamakua District of the Big Island of Hawai{{okina}}i. "Waipi{{okina}}o" means "curved water" in the Hawaiian language.[http://ulukau.org/cgi-bin/hpn?e=q-0mahele--00-0-0--010---4----dtt--0-0l--1en-Zz-1---20-about-waipi%27o--00031-00010escapewin-00&a=d&c=mahele&cl=search&d=HASH595340c6c5afff98ac906f lookup of Waipi{{okina}}o] on Hawaiian place names web site

The valley was the capital and permanent residence of many early Hawaiian Aliʻi (chiefs/kings) up until the time of King {{okina}}Umi. This was a place celebrated for its nioi tree (Eugenia reinwardtiana) known as the Nioi wela o Paka{{okina}}alana ("The burning Nioi of Paka{{okina}}alana"). It was the location of the ancient grass palace of the ancient "kings" of Hawaiʻi with the nioi stands. The first chief who had a court in this valley was called Kahaimoelea. In the 18th century, Kahekili II (king of Maui) raided Waipi{{okina}}o and burned the four sacred trees to the ground.

The shore line in the valley is a black sand beach, popular with surfers. A few taro farms are located in the valley.{{Cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/travel/la-tr-travel-hawaii-cultural-awareness-20190421-story.html|title=Learning Hawaii's history may be key to avoiding cultural insensitivity|last=Hitt|first=Christine|date=April 21, 2019|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|access-date=2019-04-22}} Several large waterfalls fall into the valley to feed the river which flows from the foot of the largest falls at the back of the valley out to the ocean.[http://gohawaii.about.com/cs/bigislandland/a/waipio_valley.htm History of the Waipi{{okina}}o Valley]

The valley floor at sea level is almost {{convert|2000|ft|m|abbr=on}} below the surrounding terrain. A steep road leads down into the valley from a lookout point located on the top of the southern wall of the valley. The road rises {{convert|800|ft|m}} in {{convert|0.6|mi|km|1}} at a 25% average grade, with significantly steeper grades in sections. Some portions of the road can reach up to a 45% grade,{{cite news |last1=Russo |first1=Carla Herreria |title=The 10 Steepest Streets In America |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/steepest-streets-america_n_4871559 |work=HuffPost |publisher=BuzzFeed, Inc. |access-date=10 May 2022}}{{cite web |last1=Jennings |first1=Ken |title=Is This Hawaiian Street the World's Steepest Road? |url=https://www.cntraveler.com/stories/2014-10-20/is-this-hawaiian-street-the-world-s-steepest-road |work=Condé Nast Traveler |date=October 20, 2014 |publisher=Condé Nast |access-date=19 February 2022}}{{cite web |title=Waipio Valley Road in HI is the steepest road in the USA |url=https://www.dangerousroads.org/north-america/usa/394-waipio-road-usa.html |website=Dangerous Roads |publisher=dangerousroads.org |access-date=3 May 2021}}{{cite web |last1=Baray |first1=Alexa |title=4 Steep U.S. Streets That Will Make Your Palms Sweat |url=https://www.traveltrivia.com/steepest-us-streets/XqgZkXU1XQAGkiWS |website=Travel Trivia |publisher=Inboxlab, Inc. |access-date=10 May 2022}} which would make Waipio Valley Road the steepest in the world, compared to Baldwin Street's 35%. This is a paved public road but it is open only to 4 wheel drive vehicles. It is the steepest road of its length in the United States.Summerson, J: "The Complete Guide to Climbing (by Bike)", page 165. Extreme Press, 2007

A foot trail called Waimanu or Muliwai Trail leads down a steep path to the Waimanu Valley, which is only accessible by the trail or by boat. The trail is accessible to hikers, who need a Waimanu camping permit from the state unless they do the trek as a strenuous day hike.{{Cite news|url=http://www.gohikeit.com/2017/07/hawaii-hikes-waipio-valley-beach-hiking-trail.html/|title=Waipiʻo Valley Beach Hiking Trail {{!}} Hawaii Big Island Hikes|date=2017-07-01|work=Go Hike It|access-date=2017-08-08|language=en-US}} At the upper end of the valley, Waimanu Gap at {{convert|2089|ft}} elevation leads to the south end of Waimanu Valley.{{cite web |url= http://ulukau.org/cgi-bin/hpn?e=p&a=q&l=en&q=Waimanu%20Gap&d=HASH6b0e80e2e9f441120acd20 |title=lookup of Waimanu Gap |work= on Hawaiian place names |author= Lloyd J. Soehren |year=2004 |publisher= Ulukau, the Hawaiian Electronic Library |accessdate= 2010-04-13 }}

Waipio Valley Road was closed to visitors from February 25, 2022 "as a precautionary safety measure and to further assess and mitigate the road’s conditions". Officials stated there was roadway and slope failure and the closure includes visitors both in vehicles and on foot.{{cite news |title=Waipio Valley Road on the Island of Hawaii Closed to Visitors Indefinitely, Effective February 25 |url=https://www.hawaiitourismauthority.org/news/news-releases/2022/waipio-valley-on-the-island-of-hawaii-closed-to-visitors-indefinitely-effective-february-25/ |access-date=10 May 2022 |agency=Hawaii Tourism Authority |publisher=Hawaii Tourism Authority |date=2022-02-25}}{{cite web |title=Mayor's 02/25/2022 Waipio Valley Road Emergency Rule No. 1 |publisher=Mayor of Hawaii County |url=https://www.hawaiicounty.gov/Home/Components/News/News/3094/720 |access-date=February 27, 2022}}

On April 26, 2022, a group of Big Island residents announced they would be suing Mayor Mitch Roth and Hawaii County's Public Works Director Ikaika Rodenhurst over the closure of the road. The plaintiffs argued that the closure of Waipio Valley Road to all but residents violated their constitutional rights to equal protection against intentional and arbitrary discrimination.{{cite news |last1=Dobbyn |first1=Paula |title=Big Island Residents Sue Mayor And Public Works Director Over Waipio Road Closure |url=https://www.civilbeat.org/beat/big-island-residents-sue-mayor-and-public-works-director-over-waipio-road-closure/ |access-date=2022-05-02 |agency=Honolulu Civil Beat |publisher=Honolulu Civil Beat Inc. |date=2022-04-26}} After mediation, the mayor amended the proclamation.{{cite web |title=Mayor's 09/16/2022 Waipio Valley Road Amended Emergency Rule No. 1 |publisher=Mayor of Hawaii County |url=https://www.hawaiicounty.gov/Home/Components/News/News/3217/720 |access-date=September 28, 2022}} The access to the valley floor with a covered 4WD vehicle was reopened September 19, 2022 for Big Island residents, county-permitted tour company operators and those seeking to practice their Native Hawaiian traditional or customary rights.{{Cite news |last1=Subiono |first1=Russell |last2=Harriman-Pote |first2=Savannah |last3=Tom |first3=Emily |last4=Rados |first4=Krista |date=2023-07-14 |title=The dispute over Waipiʻo Valley raises questions of belonging in Hawaiʻi |url=https://www.hawaiipublicradio.org/local-news/2023-07-14/the-dispute-over-waipio-valley-raises-questions-of-belonging-in-hawaii |access-date=2023-07-15 |work=Hawai'i Public Radio |language=en}}