Imagine this valley. It receives almost daily rain. This makes it richly vegetated. We are in Manoa a residential neighborhood of Honolulu. It is approximately three miles inland from downtown Honolulu.
Manoa means thick solid vast depth or thickness in Hawaiian. Manoa is indeed a place of depth both literally and figuratively. Manoa Stream begins at the base of Manoa Falls. It runs through the valley. It joins the Palolo Stream. Together they form the Manoa-Palolo drainage canal. It flows into the Ala Wai Canal.
Floods have plagued residents along Manoa Stream. The most recent was on October 30 2004. Manoa Stream overflowed. Millions of dollars in damages occurred. Homes and University of Hawaii buildings suffered.
Manoa’s history is rich. It was the site of the first sugarcane and coffee plantations in the Hawaiian Islands. In 1813 Hawaiian coffee was introduced. Don Francisco de Paula y Marytin used it as an ornamental plant. In 1825 Chief Boki brought coffee trees. He sailed from Brazil on the ship HMS Blonde.
Chief Boki chose Manoa Valley. It was the historic birth site of Hawaii’s first coffee plantation. John Wilkinson helped him. He was an agriculture expert. The coffee trees survived. Their descendants went to Kona. They went to other islands later. Hawaii is the only US state that produces coffee commercially.
There are many legends of Manoa. One involves Kahalaopuna. She was born to Kahaukani and Kauakuahine. Kahaukani is the wind of Manoa. Kauakuahine is the rain of Manoa. They were brother and sister. They were born to Akaaka and Nalehuaakaaka. Akaaka is the projecting spur of the Manoa mountain range. Nalehuaakaaka is the lehua on the brow of the Manoa ridge.
Manoa is home to the University of Hawaii at Manoa. It is the flagship campus of the University of Hawaii System. Other schools are in Manoa too. They include Manoa Elementary School and Punahou School.
The central shopping area is Manoa Marketplace. It features a farmer’s market. It is open several days a week.
Manoa has grown. Its population has increased significantly. In 1920 it had just over 1000 people. Today it has over 30000 people. Its proximity to Waikiki helps. Waikiki is a popular tourist destination. Manoa also has amenities and attractions.
The Lyon Arboretum is worth a visit. It is a 190-acre botanical garden. It is also a research facility. You can hike through forests and valleys. You can visit local shops and restaurants.
The University of Hawaii sports teams are named after Manoa’s rainbows. The men’s teams are the Rainbow Warriors. The women’s teams are the Rainbow Wahine.
Manoa offers a vibrant community. It also provides a beautiful landscape. Its history and culture are rich. Manoa is a place of depth and abundance. It is a valley where legends are born and rainbows appear.