Waiheʻe Valley Exploration with KMWP & BWS

Get to know Waiheʻe Valley by exploring the BWS water tunnel as well as a KMWP restoration area. Youʻll learn about the areaʻs history, how and why it became an important source of water from Kahaluʻu to Kailua, and some of the challenges that it faces. Weʻll mālama ʻāina first then take a cold underground shower in the tunnel.

Meet time/location: 9 am at Kahaluʻu Regional Park (47-114 Waiheʻe Road, map attached in “Confirmation” file) to use restrooms. There are no restrooms/water fountains past the park.

Carpool into Waiheʻe: Weʻll take as few vehicles as possible into the valley (~ 5 or 6). BWS has a van that seats about 12. Vehicles driving in need high clearance but not 4WD.

Weather/environmental conditions: This is a rain or shine event that is canceled only in the most extreme cases, such as due to extremely high winds that cause trees/branches to fall. We will likely encounter mosquitoes plus wet, muddy, cold (tunnel/water), & warm (fenced area) conditions.

What to bring/wear:

1. For mālama ʻāina      sturdy closed-toe shoes with good tread, hat, lightweight pants,      lightweight long-sleeved shirt if sensitive to sun/mosquitoes/pokey      plants, short-sleeved shirt is also okay, gloves, rain gear, sunscreen,      insect repellant
2. For the tunnel     shoes that can get wet or slippers, clothes that can get wet/rain jacket,      towel, headlamp or flashlight (nothing too big or bright)
   1. Please noteà you do not need to get       more than your shoes wet if you don’t want to
3. Other items      reusable water bottle(s) with lots of water, snacks, lunch, clean &      dry clothes for ride home, bags (for cameras, trash, & muddy/wet      shoes/clothes)

* Tools & community gloves will be provided by KMWP/BWS but feel free to bring your personal items if you like

Activities: Mālama ʻāina activities are planned by KMWP but is often sickle/hand weeding, bark stripping of invasive trees, planting, and/or laying weed mat. Weʻll also walk in about 1-2 inches of water through a 1,500 ft tunnel to explore the Waiheʻe Tunnel water source. Youʻll be able to get thoroughly soaked by the mountain waters if youʻd like, or you can keep dry (with the exception of your feet!). Depending on group size, we might split into subgroups and rotate activities or we may stay as one group.

Head back to vehicles: We’ll leave the valley by about 1:00 pm

* Please note: regulations do not allow BWS to provide untreated water to customers. Visitors will not be allowed to drink or collect tunnel source water for drinking purposes. We can allow water to be collected for non-drinking purposes – such as for water testing or cultural reasons. Participants need to bring their own containers for these types of collections.