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Wailua River State Park

Shutterstock / Abbie Warnock-Matthews

ʻŌpaekaʻa Falls, a waterfall located on the ʻŌpaekaʻa Stream in Wailua River State Park on the eastern side of the island of Kauai, Hawaii, United States.; Shutterstock ID 1378671545; purchase_order: 65050; job: ; client: ; other: 1378671545

To ancient Hawaiians, the Wailua River was among the most sacred places across the islands. The river basin, near its mouth, was one of the island’s two royal centers (the other was Waimea) and home to the high chiefs. Here you can find the remains of many important heiau (ancient stone temples); together they now form a national historic landmark.

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