Nani loa na pali

Aloha kakou,

Today we visited Nualolo.  We met the crew from Captain Andy’s at Kikiola and were on our way by 6am.  The morning was overcast, but the skies gradually cleared as the day warmed up.  We traveled up Na Pali and into Nualolo Kai.  Nualolo Kai is a shallow amphitheater of a valley and shares its name with the much larger Nualolo Aina next door.  Prior to Euro-american encroachment into the Hawaiian Islands, both valleys operated in unison with Aina functioning as a large-scale agricultural center and Kai providing ocean derived sustenance and canoe harbor.  Nualolo continued as a habitation site well into the 20th century.  However, the valleys are not currently occupied and are instead maintained by Hawaii State Parks and the continued dedication of multiple grassroots organizations.  Nualolo is a treasure to Kauai and we are very lucky to have visited this special place.

Tomorrow, we are back to the field.  We will be again focusing on aerial photography.  KAP and the remote controlled single-wing will be employed for remote sensing observation of archaeological features along the Hapa Trail in Koloa.  Pictures will be posted as they become available.  Hope you had a great weekend.  A hui hou.

–  John Thornton O’Connor