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What was left of the Kalihiwai Bridge following
the 1957 Tsunami.
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Two major tsunamis hit the Hawaiian Islands in the 20th century. The North Coast of Kauai was very hard hit in both cases, and Haena especially devastated. In addition, Haena's isolation and its link to the rest of the island by several bridges, made rescue efforts difficult. The 1946 tsunami hit with two powerful waves, with a maximum run-up of forty-five feet in elevation. All the bridges at Wainiha were washed out, and the tiny village of Wainiha itself was flattened. At Haena , most of the damage occurred on the flat at the Wainiha end of the ahupuaa. At least fourteen people died, including many children, and several homes were washed away.
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Image courtesy of the Pacific Tsunami Museum.
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The second tsunami hit in 1957. 75 homes were demolished or damaged along the 15 mile strip between Kalihiwai and Haena--including 25 of 29 at Haena itself-- leaving around 250 persons homeless. Six Kauai bridges were washed out, including the bridge at Kalihiwai, isolating 1,000 persons on the Haena end of the road. Fortunately, no deaths or injuries resulted from this event.
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Newspaper reports from the time of each tsunami tell sadly of the damage and casualties inflicted, but also of the acts of heroism undertaken as residents struggled to save each other both during and after the waves. They also paint broader pictures of the historical conditions in Haena at the time, and suggest how the human landscape of the area was changed by these events. Clicking on a the link below will open that article in a new window:
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Despite these tragedies, Haena continued to attract visitors who came and sometimes, caught in the spell of Haena's beauty and isolation, stayed on for a while. One of the most notorious such situations was a collection of young people who had "dropped out" in the 1960s and found, in Haena, a chance to pursue an alternative lifestyle. Turn the page to learn about historic Taylor Camp.
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