Waimea - Cook Monument Attractions
Hawaii's modern history began at Waimea on the south coast of Kauai. Captain James Cook and his expedition sailed into Waimea Bay on board the two ships "Resolution" and "Discovery" and dropped anchor. Today, a memorial honoring the discoverer of Hawaii marks almost the very spot where Cook first set foot on Hawaiian soil (it cannot be missed on road 50, Waimea's Main Street).
Present day Waimea is a large village of about 1600 inhabitants. Historically an important seat of government for the early kings (like Waialua on the east coast), it is also one of Kauai's three ports together with Hanalei and Poipu-Koloa.
Present day Waimea is a large village of about 1600 inhabitants. Historically an important seat of government for the early kings (like Waialua on the east coast), it is also one of Kauai's three ports together with Hanalei and Poipu-Koloa.
Hawaiian Church
The Hawaiian Church is worth visiting primarily because it is attended by the former inhabitants of Nihau Island, who have settled in Waimea. On Sundays, the service is regularly conducted in Hawaiian. A linguistic peculiarity is that these former inhabitants of Nihau speak the old Hawaiian language from the time of the missionaries. The church stands on road 50 on the left bank of Waimea River when facing east.
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Russian Fort (Fort Elizabeth)
The main visual attraction of Waimea is the ruins of a fort built in 1817 by a Russian agent to give the Czar a foothold in Hawaii. The Czar, however, showed little support of the project so the fort was abandoned in 1846. All that remains are the volcanic stones which once made up the 30-foot-thick walls in the shape of a six-pointed star.
Visitors can walk the ramparts for a view of the sea and Waimea River which the fort was meant to guard.
The fort is now a state park.
Visitors can walk the ramparts for a view of the sea and Waimea River which the fort was meant to guard.
The fort is now a state park.
