Waimea Valley is recognized as a place of awe, a place of profound natural beauty and splendor; wahi pana or a special, legendary place. Ka‘apuni o Waimea – meaning to travel around or circuit through Waimea - is a program of meaningful engagement and collaborative learning, an enhanced opportunity to experience our valley.

Guests will be guided through three of our prominent cultural sites - Hale Hō‘ike, Kauhale, and Kahua Pā‘ani.

Each site is presented as a connected cultural engagement, each explained and shared through their inherent significance and supported by associated Hawaiian cultural values. The overarching cultural value being shared, presented, and emphasized during Ka‘apuni o Waimea is Ho‘okipa – which we define as being gracious, considerate, and kind, a welcoming value, attitude, and obligation. It’s hospitality from a cultural perspective, the action of treating others as we would like to be treated. We understand the significance of hospitality and implementing the positive consequence of cultural protocol.

We chose to treat all who visit as guests and ‘ohana. Participating Ka‘apuni o Waimea guests will be given an identifying stamp placed on a frameable Ho‘okipa Cultural Ambassador Certificate that signifies an engagement within each cultural site. After completing Ka‘apuni o Waimea, with guests demonstrating an understanding of the values and / or ‘ōlelo no‘eau, they will earn and be presented with a Waimea Valley Ho‘okipa Ambassador collectable pin. We are asking the guests / participants to take these values with them - not to leave them here - and share with others.

Spread the aloha, share the mana‘o.