Wailupe Valley: Wailupe, Kulu‘i Streams

Depending on when you grew up, this area is all Wailupe, or there is a separation of Wailupe and Aina Haina. I tend to do what most folks do, which is deal with common usage, and that means this area is Aina Haina. Technically, the developed areas in the flat land is what most folks consider Aina Haina, still an ili in the ahupuaa of Wailupe. 

Update 9/4/20
Noticed that there is a side road that possibly provides a clear mauka view of the basin.

(End of update.)

Wailupe is the historical name. The physical name. Wailupe Gulch. Wailupe, the peninsula, the fish pond that was filled in and covered with houses. Wailupe Valley the school and Wailupe Valley playground, as labeled on old topography maps. Aina Haina came later with development. Residential lots. Shopping mall. 

The bushes are tall and I couldn't get a clear shot of the basin, but it's easily visible in the screenshot below.

As usual, I didn't go far, but it was deep enough to see that this is a bit different from the usual stream and valley in East Honolulu. The ferns. The moss. Within 100 yards of venturing above Hao Street, this became a forest. The stream is bone dry, of course, in mid-August. But with a bit more hoofing, I found a part of "Aina Haina" Stream that fits the bill. 

Below, a dry stream bed. It's so green here, the rain is probably fairly consistent compared to the rest of East Honolulu. And maybe that explains why the stream is so north-south. That's unusual for a stream that is barely touched. There are rock walls here and there on the way to the ocean, but none of the typical concrete channelization. 

I made it back to Aina Haina (aka Wailupe Valley) the next day. It was near sundown and the ridges of East Honolulu really bring shade and cooler temperatures a good hour or so before actual sunset. A few of the shots I enjoyed were at the side ditch on the west side of the valley coming from that giant crease in the ridge, and a few fuzzy shots of a stray cat in the dry stream in the residential area. The cat actually stared at me for several seconds while I recorded a bit of video. Seems more like a house cat who has an outdoor life. He's fed pretty well to be an outright feral cat.

First, I went to the northeast side of the valley where this unmapped stream, dry as dust, emanates from Kulu‘i Gulch.  It was only from looking at satellite map views that the stream was visible. It curves closely to the ridge, then through a recreation area — the dog park and Wailupe Community Park — before going under Hind Iuka St. From there, it meets Wailupe Stream. Ulukau.org calls it Kulu‘i Stream. 

Kulu‘i Stream

Going up the stream just 100 yards or so, it is completely overrun by foliage. Lot of lava boulders back here. Further up, it is behind a row of homes, but no access to take more photos. Just bone dry and maybe some trouble if this area is hit hard by an unexpected storm. One of the very few streams I've seen that is cluttered and jungle-ish. 

Yep, a papaya tree in the middle of Kulu‘i Stream. I'd say it rarely rains hard here, but a lot of plants are thriving. 

Below, the bridge at Ani Street, just a block-plus makai. Can't see the merge between Wailupe Stream and Kulu‘i Stream. Some of the boulders used to build walls for the stream are unusually huge. Makes me wonder how many workers it took. Maybe they had a backhoe. 

Before I went makai to East Hind Dr., I remembered the satellite view of the ditch on the west side of the valley and headed there before the sun went down. It's even more amazing to see at street level. This is on Ahuwale Street. The ridge is Wiliwilinui, where Waialae Iki hill is. I don't know if the City & County maintains this, or if they call it Ahuwale Ditch. It dips under the street and probably drains out into Wailupe Stream. 

The steep incline surprised me. 

Last photos of the afternoon: East Hind Drive. Wailupe Stream. 

1949 is a significant year for the valley as homes were built up following the closure of Hind-Clarke Dairy. Truly a suburb. Most residents in the valley, if not all, probably refer to this area as Aina Haina even though the park and school are called Wailupe. The gulches, Wailupe and Kulu‘i, will never change names. I suppose that without name changes and cartographers who didn't bother to get details, it would be easier and less fun to learn about places around Hawaii. 

Two days into this, and I have come to accept and embrace this wide area as Wailupe. On the west, up the hill, Waialii Stream is quiet and dry, but well known to the residents. To the east, the stream that empties at Wailupe Beach Park is fed by two branches, or forks. To the left, Wailupe StreamTo the right, Kulu‘i Stream from Kulu‘i Stream. The two are split by a small ridge that I have seen no name for so far. 

I wouldn't be surprised if most residents call this Aina Haina Stream. Same, same. But the signage on Kalanianaole Highway says Wailupe, and that works for me. 

After this, I headed to Manauwea Street, which has a basin at its east side. Similar to Ahuwale Street on the other side of the valley, a sharp crease in the side of a ridge creates a strong runoff. On the east, it's Hawaii Loa Ridge. But when I headed up this hill, the road to the basin is enclosed. Can't see on a satellite map which roads are open and which are actually driveways! But I managed to get a bit of video footage of the rock-walled basin. The screenshots of the phone map below show a ditch at the shoreline almost directly south of the basin at Maunawea St. 

Of course, the depth of Wailupe and Kulu‘i Gulches is a mystery to me. For now.