Journey Into Waipi‘o Valley: Bishop Museum Offers Historical Tour

Waipi‘o Valley, HI – Bishop Museum is offering an exclusive, guided tour into the historical Waipi‘o Valley on Saturday, March 20, 2010.  Guided by cultural resource specialist and master storyteller Tom Cummings, the tour will allow participants to visit with a family who cultivates taro, visit the sacred Paka‘alana Heiau, and trek along the Waimanu trail. 

Waipi‘o Valley resident Byron Thomas will also lead the group and provide stories on areas associated with Hawai‘i’s ali‘i.  Oral histories indicate that as many as 10,000 people may have resided in this fertile valley at the time of Captain Cook’s arrival in 1778.  Currently, only 50 people live in the Valley.

Cost for this special experience is $195 for Bishop Museum members; $210 for nonmembers.   Air travel is not included.  The Hawai‘i Forest & Trail will pick up participants at the Airport beginning at 8:00 a.m. and pick up participants who are already on island at Honoka‘a Park at 9:00 a.m. The complete itinerary and more information are posted at www.bishopmuseum.org/special/waipiovalley/html.

Reservations are being accepted now!  This guided tour is very limited.  To make a reservation, please call Courtney Chow, Director of Membership, at (808) 848-4187 or by email at courtney.chow@bishopmuseum.org.

Bishop Museum’s mission is to study, preserve, and tell the stories of the natural and cultural history of Hawai‘i and the Pacific.  To learn more, please visit www.bishopmuseum.org.

-pau-