Kaʻaʻawa is a small community and census-designated place (CDP) located in the windward district of Koʻolauloa, City & County of Honolulu on the Island of Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi. As of the 2000 Census, the total population for Kaʻaʻawa was 1,324. In Hawaiian, kaʻaʻawa means "the wrasse (fish)". The word always delights visitors who stumble on pronouncing three as in a row. In Hawaiian spelling (Kaʻaʻawa), it is seen that each a is pronounced separately and distinctly, set apart by the two glottal stops (i.e., /kaʔaʔaʋa/).
Kaʻaʻawa is north of Kāneʻohe Bay (north of Kaʻōʻio Point, also Kalaeokaʻōʻio), and the Pacific Ocean shore here is fronted by a broad fringing reef with a narrow, but quite inviting beach (Kanenelu Beach, Kalaeʻōʻio Beach Park, and Kaʻaʻawa Beach Park). The around-the-island-highway (Kamehameha Highway, State Rte. 83) and the houses and other buildings comprising the town, are confined to a relatively narrow belt along the coast. However, a long valley extends inland. Kaʻaʻawa Valley is part of Kualoa Ranch and used for various tourist activities as well as filming. Major films incorporating significant views of the valley include George of the Jungle and Jurassic Park.
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