Honopū Valley

Honopū Valley is a valley and landmark inside the Nā Pali Coast State Park along the northwest side of Kauaʻi, Hawaii. It is well known for its distinctive geological formation and contrasting rock structure. Honopu Valley has the largest natural arch in Hawaii, the arch is about 90 feet tall. The arch and beach is also known as Cathedral beach. This arch sits at the middle of Honopu Valley’s ¼ mile long beach.

Honopu Valley names comes from the arch. Winds from the North would blow into the arch, making a sound similar to a conch shell. Thus Honopu Valley means conch shell valley. [“"Valley of the Lost Tribe".” Index Stock Imagery, Inc. September 23, 2005. February 05,2008. ]

This valley is uninhabited by anyone. But it is rumor to one time be inhabit by the Menehune Tribe and may be the last home to this tribe. Honopu Valley is also dubbed The Valley of the Lost Tribe because of the Menehune Tribe. [“"Valley of the Lost Tribe.”" Index Stock Imagery, Inc. 23 September 2005. 05 February 2008. ]

History

Honopu Valley or Beach is sits along the north shore of the Hawaiian island of Kauai, along the Na Pali coast. [ “"Honopu".” Beach-Kaua’i.” Kauai Explored. 2008http://www.kauaiexplored.com/beaches/Honopu-Beach.aspx ] . Honopu Valley is very isolated and relatively unoccupied and not easily accessible from the outside world, basically people have to swim there. Swim from an off shore boat or swim from the Kalalau Valley. The Honopu Valley if often referred to as the Valley of the Lost Tribe. Until the mid-19th century pre-Hawaiian people of uncertain origins flourished in this valley, but then disappeared, that is why it’s sometimes referred to the Valley of the Lost Tribe.

Since the Valley is so hidden and isolated, it is believed to be a very spiritual coast. This is a place of temples and burial grounds, even the source of many Hawaiian legends, and the source of their myths. The burial site for the chiefs was located on the surrounding cliffs. It is believed that once a chief died, his bones held strength and heritage that if found by others they could be used against the tribe. When the chiefs died their bones were collected and taken to the cliffs where no one else could witness. The warrior that took the bones up there had to die in order to insure that no one would ever find the bones. [“"Honopu Valley".” Kauai-Hawaii. 2008. 05 February 2008. ]

The land on Honopu Valley is very fertile; a castaway could survive here because of all the wild fruit that grows along the coast such as guavas and grapefruit.

Menehune

The only knowledge we have about the ancient mythological Menehune people of Polynesia comes from the stories told from natives and foreigners. Native Hawaiians refer to the Menehunes as being the “kama'aina”, or “child of the land”. [Katharine Luomala. “"The Menehune of Polynesia and Other Mythical Little People of Oceania".” Bernice P. Bishop Museum Bulletin 203. Honolulu, Hawaii, 1951. 3-6, 10, & 19. ] Though it is hard to say if they were true aborigines of the islands, because of the two ideas that they were real people or just mythical beings. The Menehune have lived throughout many parts of the Hawaiian Islands including Kauai Island, which was one of the largest populated islands of the Menehunes. The Honopu Valley was one populated area of Polynesia and is also known as the Valley of the lost tribe because it was the last home to the Menehune. Since all we know of the Menehune has been past down as oral stories, scientists wouldn't consider this a source of direct history.

Many of the stories that have been past down for generations are from the natives of Kauai and Hawaii, who many have claimed to have seen the Menehune. These stories talk about their appearance as being dwarf like creatures, two to three feet high with stout hairy bodies. The Menehune also had artistic skills, like stonework and woodcarving. They excelled most in the building of many temples and roads. It was said these little people only worked during the night on projects, and some were even left unfinished if they weren't able to complete it in one night. These structures they have even been shown to visitors of the land.

The Hawaiian word for stranger or newcomer is “malihini”, and everyone else who isn't a Menehune on the islands would be considered a malihini. [Katharine Luomala. “"The Menehune of Polynesia and Other Mythical Little People of Oceania".” Bernice P. Bishop Museum Bulletin 203. Honolulu, Hawaii, 1951. 3-6, 10, & 19. ] It is hard to say if scientists think of this as an indirect source, but anthropologists believe it to be a cultural survival or retention. For Hawaiians the belief will still be living, growing and changing. The Menehune will always be real kama'aina.

Travel

When touring Hawaii, some of the most beautiful places you have to go see are the Valley of Honopu and Honopu Ridge which is located in Kauai. Honopu valley is located on the North shore of Kauai. It has a very famous land mark because the 1976 movie “King Kong”, was filmed there with actress Jessica Lange. Another fun fact about Honopu Valley is that the movie “Six Days Seven Nights” starring actor Harrison Ford, was filmed there as well.

To visit Honopu Ridge, you have to walk a few miles to reach it but it won’t be a problem because you’ll enjoy the view along the way including a view of the ocean and the beach of Honopu. Some of the things you may encounter while walking to Honopu Ridge are thick ferns in which you have to crawl through and staying on the right track. Some tracks may lead you to another location so it is best if you are accompanied by someone who is more familiar with the route. Other than that, Honopu Ridge is perfect for those who loves to hike.

The only transportation to be able to see the beauty of Honopu Valley is by “the various tour boats, big and small, which trundles back and forth.” [Rester, Jane. "Hawaii, Kauai: Following the Dolphins on The Na Pali Coast." 4 October 2006. 1 March 2008.] Another transportation is to travel and tour by helicopters. Taking the helicopter is an advantage to view an overall scenery of Hawaii and Honopu Valley but if a boat ride is taken, the experience is better because you will have a more realistic view of 4,000 foot cliffs cruising “along this 15 mile stretch of rugged coastline on Kauai's northwest shore.” [ "Cruise The Na pali Coast, Tours and Attraction." Things To Do, Inc. 2008. 1 March 2008.] One of many things you encounter by traveling on boat is being able to witness the remarkable Whales of Kauai. These Whales are Humpback whales and they can only be seen in Kauai. Humpback whales "measure 40 feet in length and can weigh up to 85,000 pounds." [Thomas, Daniel. "The Whales Of Kauai." 7 October 2006. 1 March 2008.] Besides seeing Humpback Whales, Sea Turtles are often seen as well. Sadly, there is to be no landing of any aircraft or boat of any kind on Honopu Valley and its beach.

Hollywood Movies

Aircraft and boats are not allow anywhere near Honopu Valley. That is the rule unless those aircraft and boats belong to Hollywood movies. Honopu Valley and the rest of Kauai have been home to many Hollywood films over the years. Honopu Valley is most famous for its appearances in the 1976 remake of the classic King Kongand in the movie Six Days Seven Nights.

The 1976 remake of the classic King Kong took place in the South Pacific in the movie but was film on the beaches and jungles of Kauai, Hawaii. Originally only the jungle scenes were to be shot in Hawaii and the rest on Zuma Beach, California. [ Morton, Ray. "King Kong: The history of a movies icon from Fay Wray to Peter Jackson." New York: Applause Theatre & Cinema Books, 2005.186-187.] Producer Dino De Laurentiis was so please with Hawaii that he picked Honopu beach and Kalakau valley to film the beach scenes as well. Honopu beach was picked because of the enormous arch that splits the beach.

The producers and production crew of King Kong were told that Honopu Valley is not inhabited by people, but on the day that they arrived to start filming, the production crews were shock to find honeymooners on the beach. [ Morton, Ray. King Kong: The history of a movies icon from Fay Wray to Peter Jackson. New York: Applause Theatre & Cinema Books, 2005.186-187.] Scenes that involved filming in the ocean were hard to film due to the 12 feet high waves, most of the crew got seasick and one filming boat almost capsizes. [ Morton, Ray. "King Kong: The history of a movies icon from Fay Wray to Peter Jackson." New York: Applause Theatre & Cinema Books, 2005.186-187.] Examples of these scenes would be the party arriving on Skull Island and the nighttime arrival to rescue Dawn; other scenes would be the arrival of equipments to capture King Kong and Fred Wilson directing the rescue mission.

The movie Six Days Seven Nights took place in French Polynesia but was actually filmed in Hawaii. Scenes that were filmed on Honopu Beach would include the scene where Harrison Ford was running from pirates and the arch is also included in the movie. [“"Honopu Valley".” Kauai-Hawaii. 2008. 05 February 2008.]

Other Hollywood movies with scenes from Honopu Valley are:
*Honeymoon in Vegas
*Acapulco Gold
*Raiders of the Lost Ark

References

External links

* [http://www.kauai-hawaii.com/destinations.php?1 Kauai-Hawaii.com]