THE
WATERFALLS IN RAIDERS
Indiana
Jones pauses meaningfully at a set of waterfalls deep
in the Chachapoyan jungles. The falls are obviously
another landmark on his map, and indeed it is the final
waypoint on the piece of tattered paper that has guided
him this far. The archaeologist now stands at the foot
of a slope leading up to the Temple of the Chachapoyan
Warriors.
The rest of the map's crucial information is contained
on a separate fragment possessed by his unreliable guides,
Barranca and Satipo. As Jones accepts their fragment
and joins it to his map to see what the two pieces reveal
together, Barranca draws his pistol. The time for betrayal
has arrived, and in this moment we will see just what
Jones is made of.
The
Waterfalls will also be the site of Indy's later confrontation
with an old acquaintance and his local friends. Events
here will determine the destiny of the fabled Golden
Idol of Fertility... as well as that of Indiana Jones
himself. So the Waterfalls are a significant location
in the adventure of Raiders of the Lost Ark.
FINDING
THE WATERFALLS
Deep
within the tropical jungles of the Hawaiian island of
Kaua'i, the waterfalls seen in Raiders of the Lost Ark
continue to pour into a natural pool today. A systematic
search that took me across the entire island during
my stay on beautiful Kaua'i revealed that the Raiders
Waterfalls site is a small hidden location known as
Kipu Falls.
Be
forewarned: this site is not included on the tour offered
by Hawaii Movie Tours. You will have to get there on
your own, but of course the real adventurer would have
it no other way. The location is on private land, but
it may be reached by discreet travelers--who as a mark
of honor must leave no trace of their passing. You can
reach the Raiders Waterfalls via Kipu Road off Kaumuali'i
Highway 50 from Lihue. Just before you come to a bridge
over the Hulei'a Stream, take a dirt road off to the
left, which leads to the little falls. Swimming is not
recommended here owing to local accounts of a parasite
in the water.
For
those who know Raiders well, standing at this site will
produce a strange feeling. You may not quite be sure
anymore where the line is between reality and fantasy.
This is the reward of searching out the locations of
a powerful film that has left its mark on you.
From
this very spot, Indiana Jones walks up an embankment
to the Temple of the Chachapoyan Warriors. This ancient
ruin holds many secrets, including the extraordinary
true story behind the real thing....
