Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Shoreline
. Starting near the trailhead parking lot, newer dirt paths roll downhill to the
ocean, where you'll find pocket beaches for swimming, sunbathing and snorkeling.
Sea Life Park
THEME PARK
MAP
(
259-2500;
www.sealifeparkhawaii.com
; 41-202 Kalaniana'ole Hwy; adult/child 3-11yr $30/20,
parking $5; 10:30am-5pm;
) More like a circus than an aquarium, Hawaii's only mar-
ine park offers a mixed bag of run-down attractions that, frankly, aren't worth your time.
The park's 300,000-gallon aquarium is filled mostly with marine animals not found in
Hawaiian waters. Theme-park entertainment includes choreographed animal shows and
pool encounters with imported Atlantic bottlenose dolphins, a controversial activity
(
Click here
)
.
There's also a penguin habitat, a turtle lagoon and a seabird 'sanctuary' with native
ʻi-
wa
(great frigate bird). The park works to rehabilitate some injured seabirds and also
maintains a breeding colony of green sea turtles, releasing young hatchlings back into the
wild.
THE BATTLE OF NUʻUANU
Oʻahu was the linchpin conquered by Kamehameha the Great in his campaign to
unite the Hawaiian Islands under his rule. In 1795, on the rural beaches of Waikiki,
Kamehameha landed his fleet of canoes to battle Kalanikupule, themoʻi(king) of
Oʻahu.
Heavy fighting started around Puowaina ('Hill of Sacrifice,' now nicknamed
Punchbowl), and continued up Nuʻuanu Valley. But Oʻahu's spear-and-stone warri-
ors were no match for Kamehameha's troops, which included a few Western sharp-
shooters.
Oʻahu's defenders made their last stand at the narrow ledge near the current-
day Nuʻuanu Pali Lookout. Hundreds were driven over the top to their deaths. A
century later, during the construction of the Old Pali Hwy, more than 500 skulls
were found at the base of the cliffs.
Some Oʻahu warriors, including their king, escaped into the forest. When
Kalanikupule surfaced a few months later, he was sacrificed by Kamehameha to
the war god Ku. Kamehameha's taking of Oʻahu was the last battle ever fought
between Hawaiian warriors.
