View source for Wailau

{{about| the valley on the North Shore of Molokai, Hawaii|the extinct shield volcano|East Molokai Volcano}}
{{Infobox valley
|name           = Wailau Valley
|photo          =
|photo_size     = 224
|photo_width    =
|photo_caption  =
|map            = Hawaii
|map_size       = 200
|map_width      =
|coordinates    = {{coord|21|08|33|N|156|50|08|W|type:landmark_region:US-HI_dim:5000|display=inline,title}}
|location       = Hawaii
|elevation      = {{convert|321|ft|m}}
|elevation_ref  =
|direction      =
|length         =
|width          =
|area           = {{convert|4|sqmi|km2}}
|age            =
|boundaries     =
|topo           =
|towns          =
|traversed      =
|watercourses   = [[Wailau River]], Pulena Stream, Waioke'ela Stream, Waiakeakua Stream
|footnotes      =
}}
'''Wailau''' is an isolated valley on the North Shore of the island of [[Molokai]], [[Hawaii]], It can be reached by boat (only in the summer), helicopter or by [[Wailau Trail]] from the southeast shore of the island which is heavily overgrown and virtually impassable in places.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://latitudeoptions.blogspot.com/2013/02/wailau-valley-secrets-molokai-hawaii.html|title=Latitude Options: Wailau Valley Secrets, Molokai, Hawaii|first=|last=Catherinebuchanan.com|date=19 February 2013|publisher=}}</ref>
The valley was an ancient [[ahupuaa]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.useapencil.org/soehren/pdfs/molokai_lanai.pdf|title=A Catalog of Moloka'i Place Names|author=Lloyd J. Soehren|year=2003|accessdate=2014-02-04}}</ref> and well-populated until the 19th century, and contained many [[taro]] plantations.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nps.gov/pwro/piso/minkstdy/nscliffC.htm#summary|title=Kalaupapa Settlement Boundary Study. Along North Shore to Halawa Valley, Molokai|publisher=National Park Service|date=2001|accessdate=2014-01-29}}</ref>  The valley is nearly unpopulated today, although Molokai residents occasionally camp by the beach at the mouth of the valley in the summer.
==Geography==
Wailau valley was formed by stream erosion of the [[Wailau River]], after the massive collapse of the [[East Molokai Volcano]] enabled streams from this part of the island to flow north. Numerous major landmarks dominate the area, such as [[Olokui]], [[Molokai]]'s second highest peak, and the Kukuinui Ridge. Others such as Malahini Cave<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.topozone.com/hawaii/|title=Hawaii Topographic Maps by Topo Zone|website=TopoZone}}</ref> are very difficult to access.
In the [[Hawaiian language]] ''wai lau'' literally means "many waters".<ref>{{Hawaiian Dictionaries |Wailau |dic=pp |accessdate= November 12, 2010 }}</ref>
== References ==
{{Reflist}}
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[[Category:Valleys of Hawaii]]
[[Category:Former populated places in Hawaii]]
[[Category:Landforms of Molokai]]
{{Hawaii-geo-stub}}