Anahulu River
Encyclopedia
The Anahulu River is the longest watercourse on the island of O'ahu
in the U.S. state
of Hawai'i
. It is 7.1 miles (11.4 km) long.
approximately 7 miles (11.3 km) northeast of Wahiawā by the confluence of Kawainui and Kawai'iki streams, both perennial. It flows west-northwest descending through Kawailoa Gulch, then empties into the eastern end of Waialua Bay at Hale'iwa. It encompasses a watershed of approximately 16 square miles (41.4 km²) and a 100-year peak discharge of 16,200 ft3/s (459 m³/s).
Archaeological
evidence indicates that the valley of the river near its mouth was the site of ancient Hawaiian villages. The river valley was abandoned but was later repopulated in the early 19th century, partly as the result of a policy by King Kamehameha I
to grow food to support his military expeditions. The policy included the development of irrigated
terraces. In 1832 U.S. Protestant
missionaries
John Emerson and his wife Ursula Sophia circumnavigated Oahu and put in at the mouth of the river, located at 21°35′40"N 158°6′15"W. At the village of Hale'iwa (from hale (home) of the iwa (frigate bird)), they were welcomed by Chief Laanui and established the Liliuokalani Church in the village.
In the later 19th century the village of Haleiwa and the surrounding river valley became a popular summer vacation destination for the Hawaiian monarchs. The first hotel was built along the river by businessman Benjamin Dillingham
, who also built Oahu railroad
from Honolulu
to the north shore in 1898. The railroad and hotel made the river valley a popular vacation spot.
Oahu
Oahu or Oahu , known as "The Gathering Place", is the third largest of the Hawaiian Islands and most populous of the islands in the U.S. state of Hawaii. The state capital Honolulu is located on the southeast coast...
in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Hawai'i
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
. It is 7.1 miles (11.4 km) long.
Description
It is formed on the western side of the northern Koolau RangeKoolau Range
Koolau Range is a name given to the fragmented remnant of the eastern or windward shield volcano of the Hawaiian island of Oahu. It is not a mountain range in the normal sense, because it was formed as a single mountain called Koolau Volcano...
approximately 7 miles (11.3 km) northeast of Wahiawā by the confluence of Kawainui and Kawai'iki streams, both perennial. It flows west-northwest descending through Kawailoa Gulch, then empties into the eastern end of Waialua Bay at Hale'iwa. It encompasses a watershed of approximately 16 square miles (41.4 km²) and a 100-year peak discharge of 16,200 ft3/s (459 m³/s).
Archaeological
Archaeology
Archaeology, or archeology , is the study of human society, primarily through the recovery and analysis of the material culture and environmental data that they have left behind, which includes artifacts, architecture, biofacts and cultural landscapes...
evidence indicates that the valley of the river near its mouth was the site of ancient Hawaiian villages. The river valley was abandoned but was later repopulated in the early 19th century, partly as the result of a policy by King Kamehameha I
Kamehameha I
Kamehameha I , also known as Kamehameha the Great, conquered the Hawaiian Islands and formally established the Kingdom of Hawaii in 1810. By developing alliances with the major Pacific colonial powers, Kamehameha preserved Hawaii's independence under his rule...
to grow food to support his military expeditions. The policy included the development of irrigated
Irrigation
Irrigation may be defined as the science of artificial application of water to the land or soil. It is used to assist in the growing of agricultural crops, maintenance of landscapes, and revegetation of disturbed soils in dry areas and during periods of inadequate rainfall...
terraces. In 1832 U.S. Protestant
Protestantism
Protestantism is one of the three major groupings within Christianity. It is a movement that began in Germany in the early 16th century as a reaction against medieval Roman Catholic doctrines and practices, especially in regards to salvation, justification, and ecclesiology.The doctrines of the...
missionaries
Missionary
A missionary is a member of a religious group sent into an area to do evangelism or ministries of service, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care and economic development. The word "mission" originates from 1598 when the Jesuits sent members abroad, derived from the Latin...
John Emerson and his wife Ursula Sophia circumnavigated Oahu and put in at the mouth of the river, located at 21°35′40"N 158°6′15"W. At the village of Hale'iwa (from hale (home) of the iwa (frigate bird)), they were welcomed by Chief Laanui and established the Liliuokalani Church in the village.
In the later 19th century the village of Haleiwa and the surrounding river valley became a popular summer vacation destination for the Hawaiian monarchs. The first hotel was built along the river by businessman Benjamin Dillingham
Benjamin Dillingham
Benjamin Franklin Dillingham was a businessman and industrialist during the late Kingdom of Hawaii era, throughout the period of the Republic of Hawaii, and during the first two decades of the Territory of Hawaii.-Life:...
, who also built Oahu railroad
Oahu Railway and Land Company
The Oahu Railway and Land Company, or OR&L, was a narrow gauge common carrier railroad that served much of the Hawaiian island of Oahu until its dissolution in 1947.-Origin:...
from Honolulu
Honolulu, Hawaii
Honolulu is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Hawaii. Honolulu is the southernmost major U.S. city. Although the name "Honolulu" refers to the urban area on the southeastern shore of the island of Oahu, the city and county government are consolidated as the City and...
to the north shore in 1898. The railroad and hotel made the river valley a popular vacation spot.