Anahulu River
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The Anahulu River (also called Anahulu Stream) is the longest watercourse on the island of O'ahu in the U.S. state of Hawai'i. It is approximately 12 mi (19 km) long,
Description
It is formed on the western side of the northern Koolau Range approximately 7 mi (12 km) northeast of Wahiawā by the confluence of Kawainui and Kawai'iki streams, both perennial. It flows WNW descending through Kawailoa Gulch, then empties into the eastern end of Waialua Bay at Hale'iwa. It encompasses a watershed of approximately 16.0 sq mi (42 sq km) and a 100-year peak discharge of 16,200 ft3/s (1510 m3/3).
Archaeological evidence indicates that the valley of the river near its mouth was the site of ancient Native 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 O'ahu and put it at the mouth of the river. 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 Hale'iwa 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 J. Dillingham, who also built a railroad from Honolulu to the north shore in 1898. The railroad and hotel made the river valley a popular vacation spot.
External links
- Archaeology in the Anahulu Valley (http://www.ttsfo.com/sbcteis/feis/text/07_11.pdf) (PDF)
- EPA: Anahulu Stream (http://oaspub.epa.gov/pls/tmdl/enviro.wcontrol?p_id305b=HI-3-6-08_01)
- Hawaii.gov: Critical Coastal Areas (http://www.hawaii.gov/dbedt/czm/IV-Critical_Coastal_Areas.pdf) (PDF)
- Univ. of Hawaii: Nonpoint pollution in Anahulu River (abstract) (http://www.wrrc.hawaii.edu/publication/project_report/PRabstracts.html#PR-95-11)