Anahulu River facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Anahulu River |
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Anahulu River
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| Country | United States |
| State | Hawaii |
| Region | Oahu |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | confluence of Kawainui and Kawaiiki streams 21°34′43″N 158°00′57″W / 21.57861°N 158.01583°W |
| River mouth | Pacific Ocean Waialua Bay 21°35′40″N 158°6′15″W / 21.59444°N 158.10417°W |
| Length | 7.1 mi (11.4 km) |
| Basin features | |
| Basin size | 16 sq mi (41 km2) |
The Anahulu River (sometimes called Anahulu Stream) is a cool waterway on the island of Oahu in Hawaii, a U.S. state. It's about 7.1 miles (11.4 km) long. Its Hawaiian name means ten days.
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Where Does the Anahulu River Flow?
The Anahulu River starts on the western side of the northern Koolau Mountains. It's formed when two smaller streams, Kawainui and Kawaiiki, join together. Both of these streams flow all year round.
The river flows west-northwest through a place called Kawailoa Gulch. It then empties into the eastern part of Waialua Bay, near the town of Haleiwa. The area of land that drains into the Anahulu River is about 16 square miles (41 km2).
A Look Back in Time: Anahulu's History
Long ago, archaeologists found signs that ancient Hawaiian villages once stood in the river valley near where the Anahulu River meets the ocean. These villages were later left empty for a while.
How the River Valley Grew Again
In the early 1800s, people started living in the Anahulu River valley again. This happened partly because King Kamehameha I had a plan to grow more food for his military trips. His plan included building special water systems to water farm fields.
In 1832, two Protestant missionaries from the U.S., John Emerson and his wife Ursula Sophia, sailed around Oahu. They landed at the mouth of the Anahulu River. In the village of Haleiwa, they were welcomed by Chief Laanui. They then helped to start the Liliuokalani Church in the village.
A Popular Vacation Spot
Later in the 1800s, the village of Haleiwa and the river valley became a favorite summer vacation spot for the Hawaiian monarchs (the kings and queens of Hawaii).
The first hotel along the river was built by a businessman named Benjamin Dillingham. He also built the Oahu railroad from Honolulu to the north shore in 1898. The railroad and the new hotel made the Anahulu River valley a very popular place for people to visit and relax.
