Sacred Falls State Park

Sacred Falls State Park (Kaliuwaʻa in Hawaiian) is a closed state park located in Hau'ula on the North Shore of the Hawaiian island of Oahu. It has been closed since the rockfall that occurred on Mother's Day in 1999. Although people caught entering the park are subject to hefty fines, hikers continue to trespass into the park 20 years later.[1] The park encompasses Kaluanui gulch and the waterfalls at its end, after which it is named. It is a place in Koolaolao, with much associated Hawaiian lore:

Sacred Falls State Park
IUCN category II (national park)
Location of Sacred Falls State Park in Hawaii
LocationHau'ula, Hawaii, Hawaii, United States
Coordinates21°34′24″N 157°54′51″W
Area1,370 acres (5.5 km2)
WebsiteDept of Land & Natural Resources

"Kaliuwaa (sic) is the most famous of all the valleys in the district of Koolauloa."[2]

According to Hawaiian beliefs, visitors were encouraged to lay leaves and place stones on them, as they entered the valley, gorge, and falls to show respect to the demigod associated with the location.[2]

Definition
Kamapua'a, demigod, wood sculptor

Kaliuwaʻa, also known as Sacred Falls, is the valley, the perpendicular cliffs, streams, and falls (Sacred Falls), located in Hauʻula, Oʻahu. A short distance below the falls is a trough-like gouge up the cliff where the pig demigod, Kamapuaʻa, is believed to have leaned against the cliff so that members of his family might climb up his body and escape their enemies. The stream and valley are also called Kaluanui.[2]

Mother's Day tragedy

The park was closed indefinitely after a fatal rockfall near the waterfall on May 9, 1999, that killed eight hikers and injured many others. Over twenty incidents where people (tourists and locals alike) had been killed or injured had occurred at Sacred Falls. After the rockfall, most of the injured were lifted by stretcher suspended from helicopter, and first responders slowly carried the other victims 2.2 miles out of the park.[3]

Prohibited access

While state officials employ many tactics to discourage visitors from illegally entering the closed park, the visitors enter anyway.[4][5] Many people disregard the danger and the warnings and say people should be allowed to go there "at their own risk", others acknowledge the risk is not worth it.[6]

Kaliuwaʻa (Sacred Falls)

Because of the danger to first responders and to the public, the Hawaii Dept. of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement (DOCARE) has been strictly enforcing and citing people $2500 for a first violation of entering the closed park, $5000 for a second violation, and $10000 for the third violation.[7] The signs posted at the entrance of the park have a QR code, targeting smart phone users, who can scan the QR code and watch a video detailing information about the location, on their mobile device.[8]

References
  1. Nakaso, Dan (May 9, 2019). "Hikers still trespassing at Sacred Falls 20 years after tragedy". Honolulu Star-Advertiser.
  2. "Kaliuwaa: Scene of the Demigod Kamapuaaʻs Escape from Olopana". Ulukau: The Hawaiian Electronic Library.
  3. Fukutomi, Bryant; Pang, Gordon Y.K.; Tighe, Lori (May 10, 1999). "A roar like thunder, then screams of agony". Honolulu Star Bulletin.
  4. "Officials remind hikers Sacred Falls State Park is closed". Department of Land and Natural Resources. U.S. Army. June 25, 2012. Retrieved 5 February 2019.
  5. KITV Honolulu News article from 2010 on the likelihood of a reopening of the park
  6. Ross, Mary. "The Tragedy of Sacred Falls, the most beautiful Park on the Island of Oahu". World of Waterfalls.
  7. "Sacred Falls Don't Risk Your Life a Fine or Jail!". YouTube. Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources.
  8. "Sacred Falls-QRC Signs Web Feature". VIMEO. Hawaii State Department of Land and Natural Resources.
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