According to legend, the friendly giant fell asleep on the hillside after eating too much poi at a luau.
When his Menehune friends needed his help, they tried to awaken him by throwing stones. But the stones bounced from the gaint full belly into his open mouth... As the stones lodged in the giant's throat, he died in his sleep and turned into rock.
Now he rests eternally, stretched out on the ridge with his head in Wailua and his feet in Kapaa.
Hanalei Valley is one of several National Wildlife Refuges in Hawai'i where the decline of wetlands and waterbirds is being reversed.
200 years ago, taro ponds cultivated by the Polynesians and natural wetlands supported large populations of Hawai'ian waterbirds.
SInce then, both natural wetlands and taro ponds have been reduced to less than 5% of their original acreage. Sugar cane and other developments now replace most of the waterbird habitats.
- taro ponds in the early growth stages provide excellent feeding sites rich in water-bird foods. Later growth stages provide cover from predators and bad weather, as well as some nesting habitat.
- wetland man-made ponds are the primary habitat for waterbird nesting. Well-timed draw-down and flooding exposes nesting islands and mudflats. This water manipulation also promotes desirable food plants and invertebrates. Moats and fences protect the birds from predators.
- waterbirds feed and perform courtship on the open water habitat of the Hanalei River. The river is rich in food sources, including inscts and shrimps and a variety of introduced and native fish, including the O'opu or native goby.
