Waihe'e Preserve LbNA #15406
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Add Location| Owner: | Adoptable |
|---|---|
| Plant date: | Apr 5, 2005 |
| Location: | |
| City: | Waihe'e |
| County: | Maui |
| State: | Hawaii |
| Boxes: | 1 |
| Planted by: | Playmakers  |
|---|---|
| Found by: | Not yet found! |
| Last found: | N/A |
| Last edited: | Apr 5, 2005 |
DESCRIPTION
The loss of Maui’s pristine open shorelines has become a major concern on the Valley Isle. Once coastline is developed or in unfriendly private hands, the landscape and access may be changed forever.
The Maui Coastal Land Trust (“MCLT”) has been formed to preserve and protect Maui’s best coastal areas in the long term best interest of both the community and the landowners.
The MCLT is working to create dynamic partnerships with Maui residents, visitors, government and landowners to preserve Maui’s open spaces for now and future generations.
The MCLT was formed in December, 2000 with this mission:
”To acquire, preserve and protect coastal lands in Maui Nui (Maui, Moloka’i, Lana’i and Kaho’olawe) for the integrity of the natural environment and the enjoyment of current and future generations”.
This is a wonderful organization with outstanding staff and volunteers. We are proud members of the MCLT. Check this organization out. Perhaps you can help this most worthwhile cause. Their phone number is: (808) 244-5263.
The Waihe’e Preserve is a good example of the MCLT exercising its mandate.
The MCLT acquired the old Waihe’e Dairy site in NW Maui through a partnership formed among government, nonprofit groups and businesses in helping to purchase the land from Waihee Oceanfront Hawaii Inc. for $4.8 million. The last $1 million to complete the purchase of the 277-acre Waihee Preserve, including wetlands and ancient sand dunes, was provided through the coastal and estuarine land conservation program of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
The preserve has been described as a "conservation jewel" with wetlands, an ancient Hawaiian village and a 1.5-mile pristine shoreline.
At various times, the Waihee Dairy site was seen as a potential homegrown resort, the home for nuclear-bomb displaced Bikini Atoll residents and as an exclusive Japanese-owned golf course and resort. Only the realities of world financing problems that surfaced in the 1980s and 1990s prevented development of what may be one of the oldest residential areas in the islands. Preliminary archeological digs indicate the area was settled during the first wave of Polynesians to reach Maui’s shores.
To get to the Waihe’e Preserve, go north from Kahului, and get onto Highway 340, the road which goes around the top end of West Maui towards Kapalua. Your destination is just past the town of Waihe'e.
To access the Waihe’e Preserve, you have two options. First, you can take the sideroad in Waihe’e that leads to the Waiehu Golf Course. Along the road, at the sign into the golf course, do not turn right. Instead proceed straight ahead on the gravel road. The Waihe’e Preserve is on your left and runs NW to the Waihe’e River. This is a good route to explore the Waihe’e Preserve. The road into the Preserve at this end is generally chained to prevent vehicle access.
To access the Waihe’e Preserve and the Letterbox, you will not turn off highway 340 to go toward the Golf Course. Instead, you will continue along highway 340 about a mile and a half. Turn around at the Waihe’e River Valley road and park on the mauka (mountain) side of the road. If you get to the Waihe’e River bridge you have gone about 150 yards too far
Access to the Waihe’e Preserve is on the makai (ocean) side of the road across from the Waihe’e River Valley road. There is a small sign indicating the access trail.
CLUES
Follow the trail past the sign up the sand dune to the old Hawaiian graves. About 10 paces back toward the start of the trail from the graves, there is a path leading SE through the grasses.
Follow this trail about 35 paces and you will see a downed barbed wire fence crossing the trail with a steel post on either side.
The Waihe’e Preserve Letterbox is hidden under some lava rocks at the base of the steel post on your left.
When you find the Waihe’e Preserve Letterbox, you will be greeted by an old Hawaiian vase.
Once you have found the Waihe’e Preserve Letterbox and signed in, thank you for replacing the Letterbox to ensure the integrity of its hiding place.
Please ensure that there are sufficient lava rocks hiding the Letterbox so that it is well protected from the view of passersby. Thank you.
We hope you enjoy the Waihe’e Preserve, its history and the fabulous views.
Please contact us by email at peter@brill.ca to let us know you
found this box and the condition it is in, plus any other comments
you may have. We look forward to hearing from you.
Happy Letterboxing!
The loss of Maui’s pristine open shorelines has become a major concern on the Valley Isle. Once coastline is developed or in unfriendly private hands, the landscape and access may be changed forever.
The Maui Coastal Land Trust (“MCLT”) has been formed to preserve and protect Maui’s best coastal areas in the long term best interest of both the community and the landowners.
The MCLT is working to create dynamic partnerships with Maui residents, visitors, government and landowners to preserve Maui’s open spaces for now and future generations.
The MCLT was formed in December, 2000 with this mission:
”To acquire, preserve and protect coastal lands in Maui Nui (Maui, Moloka’i, Lana’i and Kaho’olawe) for the integrity of the natural environment and the enjoyment of current and future generations”.
This is a wonderful organization with outstanding staff and volunteers. We are proud members of the MCLT. Check this organization out. Perhaps you can help this most worthwhile cause. Their phone number is: (808) 244-5263.
The Waihe’e Preserve is a good example of the MCLT exercising its mandate.
The MCLT acquired the old Waihe’e Dairy site in NW Maui through a partnership formed among government, nonprofit groups and businesses in helping to purchase the land from Waihee Oceanfront Hawaii Inc. for $4.8 million. The last $1 million to complete the purchase of the 277-acre Waihee Preserve, including wetlands and ancient sand dunes, was provided through the coastal and estuarine land conservation program of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
The preserve has been described as a "conservation jewel" with wetlands, an ancient Hawaiian village and a 1.5-mile pristine shoreline.
At various times, the Waihee Dairy site was seen as a potential homegrown resort, the home for nuclear-bomb displaced Bikini Atoll residents and as an exclusive Japanese-owned golf course and resort. Only the realities of world financing problems that surfaced in the 1980s and 1990s prevented development of what may be one of the oldest residential areas in the islands. Preliminary archeological digs indicate the area was settled during the first wave of Polynesians to reach Maui’s shores.
To get to the Waihe’e Preserve, go north from Kahului, and get onto Highway 340, the road which goes around the top end of West Maui towards Kapalua. Your destination is just past the town of Waihe'e.
To access the Waihe’e Preserve, you have two options. First, you can take the sideroad in Waihe’e that leads to the Waiehu Golf Course. Along the road, at the sign into the golf course, do not turn right. Instead proceed straight ahead on the gravel road. The Waihe’e Preserve is on your left and runs NW to the Waihe’e River. This is a good route to explore the Waihe’e Preserve. The road into the Preserve at this end is generally chained to prevent vehicle access.
To access the Waihe’e Preserve and the Letterbox, you will not turn off highway 340 to go toward the Golf Course. Instead, you will continue along highway 340 about a mile and a half. Turn around at the Waihe’e River Valley road and park on the mauka (mountain) side of the road. If you get to the Waihe’e River bridge you have gone about 150 yards too far
Access to the Waihe’e Preserve is on the makai (ocean) side of the road across from the Waihe’e River Valley road. There is a small sign indicating the access trail.
CLUES
Follow the trail past the sign up the sand dune to the old Hawaiian graves. About 10 paces back toward the start of the trail from the graves, there is a path leading SE through the grasses.
Follow this trail about 35 paces and you will see a downed barbed wire fence crossing the trail with a steel post on either side.
The Waihe’e Preserve Letterbox is hidden under some lava rocks at the base of the steel post on your left.
When you find the Waihe’e Preserve Letterbox, you will be greeted by an old Hawaiian vase.
Once you have found the Waihe’e Preserve Letterbox and signed in, thank you for replacing the Letterbox to ensure the integrity of its hiding place.
Please ensure that there are sufficient lava rocks hiding the Letterbox so that it is well protected from the view of passersby. Thank you.
We hope you enjoy the Waihe’e Preserve, its history and the fabulous views.
Please contact us by email at peter@brill.ca to let us know you
found this box and the condition it is in, plus any other comments
you may have. We look forward to hearing from you.
Happy Letterboxing!