When Lopaka Kapanui stands in Waimea Valley, he feels the breath of the ancients in the wind. By sharing their stories, he hopes to help others make that connection with Hawaii's past, too.

Beginning Saturday, Kapanui, a noted Hawaiian historian and storyteller, will be leading a new monthly evening tour called “;Whispering Walls of Waimea.”; He spent several months researching the verdant 1,875-acre valley, which is one of Oahu's last nearly intact ahupuaa (land divisions extending from the mountains to the sea) and repositories for Hawaiian history and traditions.

“;As I learned more about Waimea Valley, it struck me that its story needs to be told,”; Kapanui said. “;It's a living example of a self-sustaining ahupuaa. Everything you need to survive is contained within it.”;

The two-hour walk will focus on the spiritual aspects of Waimea, including legends, the healing powers of its abundant plant life and the meaning of certain pohaku (stones).

In 1090 Kamapuaa the pig god, the first ruler of Oahu, awarded stewardship of Waimea to the kahuna nui (high priests). It became a religious center and a training ground for those who had been chosen to become kahuna.

Hawaiians (many of whom were descendants of the priests) lived in the valley until 1898, when torrential floods destroyed their villages and crops. They salvaged what they could and moved to other areas of the island.

Seventy-eight archaeological sites have been documented in Waimea, including religious shrines, agricultural terraces, fishponds and hale (houses). Also of note are dozens of native plant species, which provided food, medicine, clothing, tools, utensils and shelter for ka poe kahiko (the people of old).

Waimea Valley opened as a visitor attraction in 1974. Over the ensuing years, paintball, camping, ATV tours and other activities disrupted the tranquil setting; operated as a theme park, it was not given the respect it deserved as a cultural, historical and botanical treasure.

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs acquired Waimea in 2006. A year later it established Hiipaka, a nonprofit limited-liability company, to hold the deed to the property, manage it and protect it from commercial development. Hiipaka's mission is to “;preserve and perpetuate the human, cultural and natural resources of Waimea for generations through education and stewardship.”;

“;'Whispering Walls of Waimea' supports Hiipaka's mission,”; Kapanui said. “;Yes, the valley is beautiful, but people also should know that it is a sacred place with great historical significance.”;

To prepare his narrative, Kapanui consulted with John Charlot, professor of Hawaiian and Polynesian religion at the University of Hawaii at Manoa; read every book about Waimea he could find, including historian Rudy Mitchell's comprehensive study of its archaeological sites; and spent many days walking through the valley, examining firsthand its many wonders.

Stops include the Kau Hale, a living site containing stones that may have been used as altars to worship family gods; Hale o Lono, a reconstructed heiau (temple) dedicated to Lono (god of agriculture) that dates back at least 300 years; and Hale Iwi (House of Bones), a 40-by-30-foot platform of stacked boulders rising 7 feet high which is believed to be the burial place of a high-ranking priest or chief.

Great ideas often spring from casual conversations. So it was with this tour, according to Gail Ann Chew, interim executive director of Waimea Valley. “;When I was asked last year to assist Hiipaka, many people began to share their special stories and experiences about Waimea with me,”; she said. “;It was easy to envision a master storyteller doing the same thing with visitors in the valley.”;

Assuming that role is an honor and a privilege, said Kapanui. “;I'm one more voice that is speaking on behalf of the valley,”; he said. “;I'm part of a chorus, long silent, that is now being heard.”;