5/23/11 – Denny

I just spent the day in one of the most amazing places in the world, Waipio Valley. If you have seen photos of Hawaii, it is likely that you have seen some of this place. My sister Yvonne and her boyfriend Ben offered to drive me into the valley which requires a 4-wheel drive and happened to ask a friend Richard to be our tour-guide. Richard grew up in the valley, used to be a guide there and has performed several marriage ceremonies at the top of one of the main waterfalls that feeds the valley’s rivers and streams.

Not only were we fortunate enough to have a guide who grew up in the valley, but we drove past another man that Richard recognized as a fifth generation resident of Waipio Valley who was born and raised there. When we picked him up off the side of the road he said “can we just make a quick stop at the Waipio Look-out to pick up my chicken”. Most of us thought he was just kidding, but as you can see, he was not.

I have been to the valley a few times throughout my youth, but it’s hard to really appreciate the beauty of such a place when you are surrounded by beauty everyday. It has been a long time since I have been home and had more than a few days to really absorb where I was, much less have the chance to record it’s beauty. I was soo fortunate to be able to spend the day with my family and get a personalized tour by two people that had such an extensive knowledge of the history of a place that has been virtually untouched by civilization. According to Waipio Joe there are only about 40 people that actually live in the valley and his family has been living there for 5 generations. He even showed us where many of his family members were buried.

Richard and Joe also introduced me to Michael Vincent, who is a 4th generation Taro farmer who was kind enough to allow me to interview him. Once I get home from this trip I will be putting together a few videos of the projects that I am working on here and I highly recommend watching what Michael had to say. It was very inspiring and on our way to his farm we ran into a group of wild horses that Mike allows to run free through the land that he farms on. It is actually the first time I have ever had a chance to see wild horses. It was AWESOME!

I mostly shoot video when I am out, but I try to get a few stills so I can keep people posted on how things are going. I hope you enjoy the stills that I took of the valley and I highly recommend that you put a visit to Waipio on your bucket list, but PLEASE be respectful of the residents and try to enjoy the experience without impacting the ecology. It is beautiful because the people who have lived there for generations have taken only what nature has offered them and nothing more. And if you happen to run into a man with thick grey dreadlocks hitch-hiking on the side of the road, pick him up. You will not regret it. Or you can just send him an email at Waipio On Horseback.

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