A birthday hike and adventure with the beautiful Valerie and inspiring Arjuna. We started at Baldwin Beach for a morning meditation, then breakfast at Paia Inn and then a hike in Waihe'e Wetlands and Coastal Dunes refuge where active restoration programs are preserving this natural and cultural site. Waihe'e translates as Slippery Water (wai = water, he'e = octopus/slippery). On this level and flat trail along the ocean you will see an historical heiau. We were able to get some good photos of the heiau today. The heiau is not reconstructed and looks like a pile of black lava rocks. This is a delicate archeological and cultural site so practice respect and do not walk on or disturb the rocks. The trail is close to the shoreline and edged by thick piles of driftwood. At the end of the trail He'e stream meets the ocean. This is the half way point of the hike, which is 2.4 miles roundtrip. Today was perfect conditions for a dip in the stream, floating and gazing up at the sky. Watch this virtual tour for expansive aerial views and correct pronunciation for many Hawaiian words.
