Waimea Valley Day 2

Dear Waimea Valley,

I arrived a few days after the flood. The rains on Oahu caused flash floods all over the North Shore. The hillside just west of Sunset Beach came rushing down and ruined a few homes. In Waimea Valley the flood waters rose 10 feet above the high line of the river and washed a tractor down the valley until it crashed into a concrete bridge, crumbled and destroyed.

Yet, your flowers and sacred places and waterfall are beautiful as always. I spent two days hiking every inch of the valley to collect data for a mapping project. I saw your rare Blue Jade flowers that look like orchids, your sacred iwi burial and pohaku, your cheeky polka dot taro.