Waipio Stream estuary, Hawaii 1982

Waipio Valley, also known as the "Valley of the Kings", is located on the Hamakua coast in the north-east of the island of Hawaii. Waipio is the largest and most fertile of several river valleys draining the windward slopes of the Kohala volcano, the oldest of the 5 volcanoes which built the island of Hawaii. Cliffs reaching almost 2000ft form the valley walls, with many waterfalls and a black sand beach at the estuary. Once home to many of the Hawaiian kings, including King Kamehameha I, sacred burial grounds are located in the cliffs and Waipio valley still has great cultural and historical significance for the Hawaiian people. In 1778, when Captain James Cook arrived in Hawaii, it is estimated that there may have been as many as 10,000 Hawaiians living in Waipio. Later many Chinese immigrant farmers settled in the valley. Following the 1946 tsunami, the worst in Hawaii's history, which devastated Waipio for a long way inland (but miraculously no-one was killed), most people left the valley. Today an estimated population of only 50 people live in Waipio farming taro and fishing. This image shows the estuary of Waipio Stream and black sand beach.