Nuʻuanu Pali is a steep pass in the Koʻolau Range at the head of Nuʻuanu Valley on Oʻahu, linking Honolulu with Kailua and Kāneʻohe and serving for centuries as a crucial route through the mountains. Villages grew along this path, and a traditional trail climbed from Honolulu to the gap long before modern roads. The site is most famous as the scene of the 1795 Battle of Nuʻuanu, when Kamehameha I’s forces drove Oʻahu’s defenders, led by Kalanikūpule, back against the cliff, where about 400 warriors reportedly died. Later roads, the modern highway, and enduring Hawaiian traditions made the pass a place of lasting historical importance.