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Published: November 5th 2013
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Monday: We drove up through Waimea this morning, after leaving beautiful Big Wave....We drove through the Parker Ranch. Founded in 1847, the Parker Ranch "is not only one of the oldest and most historic ranches in the United States, it is also noted as the country's largest privately-owned cattle enterprise. It covers thousands of acres across the island and is a lasting testament to the pioneering contributions of Hawaiian cowboys - the so-called "Paniolo'' - to the culture and growth of the state.'"
"John Parker was only nineteen years old when he jumped ship and landed on the Big Island of Hawaii in 1809, just five years after the first horses arrived here. In time, he developed a friendship with King Kamehameha I, who employed him to bring a herd of wild cattle under control. Parker later married Kipikane, the daughter of a Hawaiian chief, in 1815, and they had three children - a daughter and two sons."
A side note: David Douglas, Scottish botanist for whom Douglas Firs are named, was killed when he fell into a cattle trap pit near Waimea...he survived the fall, but unfortunately so had a bull...
We bought delicious mushroom burgers at
the Village Burger and headed out to the Waipi'o Valley Lookout to eat lunch...The view is magnificent.....
"The Waipio Valley is often referred to as the "Valley of the Kings" because it was once the home to many of the rulers of Hawaii. The valley has both historical and cultural importance to the Hawaiian people. According to oral histories as few as 4000 or as many as 10,000 people lived in Waipi'o during the times before the arrival of Captain Cook in 1778. Waipi'o was the most fertile and productive valley on the Big Island of Hawaii.
In the late 1800s many Chinese immigrants settled in the valley. At one time the valley had churches, restaurants and schools as well as a hotel, post office and jail. But in 1946 the most devastating tsunami in Hawaiian history swept great waves far back into the valley. Afterwards most people left the valley, and it has been sparsely populated ever since.
A severe deluge in 1979 covered the valley from side to side in four feet of water. Today only about 50 people live in the Waipio Valley. These are taro farmers, fishermen and others who are reluctant to
Little blue church
A friend's parents planted a memorial palm tree here years ago....it's right past the snorkeling beach... leave their simple lifestyle." The residents value their seclusion and do not welcome visitors, it is said...
We then drove to Hilo, partly on the old highway which is one lane at times....so much jungle...beautiful!
We are arrived at our rental in the late afternoon...it is a few miles outside of Hilo right on the Honoli'li Beach, the best surfing beach on this side. We walked down to watch, before heading into town for supplies.
Hilo is a former sugarcane town, whose source of income ended quite abruptly when sugar cane was abandoned in the 1990s....it has also been hit by two major tsunamis: in 1949 and in 1960. We haven't seen much of the town, since it was dark when we drove in....We'll see more tomorrow, on the way to Volcano!!!!
Off to bed, hoping to sleep despite the infestation of tiny and shrill Coqui frogs, accidently brought in from Puerto Rico several years ago....
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