Hawaii - Kauai Island Attractions

Coconut Grove A few kilometers along road 56 north of Waialua, standing directly on the side of the road, is Coconut Grove one of the Hawaiian islands' largest plantations. The trees were planted in the 19th c. by a German immigrant, William Lindemann. He wanted to process the flesh of the coconut (the copra), which contains up to 65% fat, into oil and flakes. His project came to nothing, however.

The coconut trees remained and are today an attraction not only for tourists but also for film makers. Scenes from the films "South Pacific" and "Blue Hawaii" were shot here. A marriage chapel was even built here for a Rita Hayworth film, in which more that 2000 weddings have since taken place. This area is really beautiful and exudes that romantic aura expected of Hawaii but no longer found everywhere on the islands.

In the very middle of this area is Coco Palms Resort, for those tourists with sophisticated tastes. The Market Place at Coconut Plantation is dominated by an enormous shopping center where a local display, including a Hula Show, is performed.

Lihue - Grove Farm Homestead Museum Grove Farm began life in 1864 as a sugar plantation run by George Wilcox. The main building, having been enlarged several times, now serves as a museum and can be visited - together with the remaining huts, workplaces and flower and vegetable gardens - during a two-hour tour. Grove Farm remains as an example of the age when Kauai had sugar plantations and, because it has not been worked for a long time, it retains an authentic atmosphere. The different buildings, as well as the furnishings and the surrounding land, belong to what is one of the oldest, almost unchanged sugar plantations. Visiting here, the tourist is confronted by a living piece of Kauai's past, which can hardly be found anywhere else on the islands.

Hanalei Hanalei, a village with only about 500 inhabitants, lies in Hanalei Bay on the north coast of Kauai. The village, which is blessed with a fine sandy beach, is at the same time a gateway to the scenic and delightful Hanalei Valley.

A museum and a host of good restaurants invite the tourist to linger.

Hanalei Valley Lookout The finest view of Hanalei Valley is experienced from Hanalei Lookout, on road 56, which is indicated by one of the customary Kamehameha signs. Hanalei River flows like a silver thread through the whole valley, which is a patchwork of sugar cane and taro fields. Mountains, 3938ft/1200m to 4923ft/1500m high, form a backdrop.

It is possible to drive down into the valley. Crossing a bridge built in 1912 and fortified after a strong tsunamis in 1957, a road is reached which follows the river as far as the entrance to the Hanalei National Wildlife Refuge, from where it is possible to continue on foot.

Kapaa Kapaa, the most heavily populated town on Kauai, lies on the east coast, north of Lihue. In the center of the town is a large workers' housing estate, some hotels and restaurants. Tourists interested in Hawaiian church decoration should visit the Catholic St Catherine's Church in Kealia, 11/2 miles/2-3km to the north. The church's walls were painted by Hawaiian artists.

Near to Kapaa is Nonou, the "Sleeping Giant", a mountain ridge which resembles the face of such a sleeping monster. Legend has it that the giant overate at a Luau banquet and fell into eternal sleep.

Lihue - Kauai Museum Located in a building dating from 1924, which originally housed Kauai Public Library, the museum offers a comprehensive account of Kauai's history and culture. Visitors can learn about its geology, flora, ethnology and history. Kauai's main events are portrayed - its evolution, its discovery by James Cook in 1778, the attempted Russian expansion on the island after 1815, the arrival of the missionaries and the changes which they effected, life on a plantation during the 19th c. and the immigration of different ethnic groups from Europe and Asia.

A model of an old Hawaiian village is displayed on the ground floor, as well as photographs of Kauai from the turn of the century, furniture which belonged to missionaries and examples of Kauai's natural history. Exhibits on display upstairs include photographs of missionaries and a large shell collection.

An aerial film of Kauai's more inaccessible areas, above all the Na Pali Coast and the interior of the Waimea Canyon, is shown at regular intervals - it is a pity that it does not last longer than six minutes. The visitor is finally introduced to the world of the legendary Menehune.

Kilauea On Kauai's north coast Kilauea can be reached via road 56. The village began life as a plantation settlement for people working in the neighboring sugar cane fields, although sugar production here ceased years ago.

Lihue Lihue is the main town of the County of Kauai.

Only about 4000 people live in Lihue of whom a large number are state and county officials and their families. The airport, only a few kilometers away from Lihue, is becoming increasingly important as a source of income.

Lihue is also a junction for island traffic as both road 50 and road 56, which circle most of the island, meet here.

Nawiliwili Harbor is Kauai's main port and can accommodate offshore vessels.

Lihue was originally in the midst of fields of sugar cane - both of the Lihue Sugar Company's chimneys still stand tall in the center of the town and bear witness to the importance of the sugar industry to Lihue. The town offers the tourist the advantage of being only a few minutes by car away from several good beaches.

Menehune / Alekoko Fish Pond Only a few kilometers away from Lihue on Road 51 - the continuation of Waapa Road and Hulemalu Road - a vantage point is reached near Nuimalu, from which the Menehune Fish Pond, also known as Alakoko Pond, can be seen. The vantage point affords a wonderful view of the Huleia River, Nawiliwili Port, with the 2297ft/700m-high Haupu in the background and further elevations of the Hoary Head Range. The pond, whose stone edging is in many places up to 10ft/3m high and 31in/80cm thick, was used originally for the breeding of fish. Now part of it is used as an oyster-bed.

The Menehune are reputed to have built the 886ft/270m-long fish pond for a Hawaiian royal couple. The edge was built from stones which the Menehune transported across a distance of 25 miles/40km by standing in a line and passing them from hand to hand. According to legend, they insisted that no one watched them carrying out the work - but the prince and princess climbed the mountainside overlooking the pond and secretly watched them. However, the Menehune spotted the royal couple and changed them into pillars of rock, which can still be seen above the south side of the pond. The Menehune, legendary builders of temples and fish ponds, are seen as the original inhabitants of Hawaii. They are supposed to have lived on the Hawaiian islands and, above all on Kauai, even before the first Polynesians. Dwarf-like people, somewhat like goblins or gnomes, the Hawaiians called them keiki o ka'aina, which roughly means "children of the country". One of their characteristics was that they were only active at night.

Many Hawaiians still believe in their existence today. In the 18th c. King Kaumualii of Kauai reported that 65 Menehune were to be found in his kingdom, apparently living in Wainiha Valley on the north coast of Kauai. Their size was given as between 2ft/60cm and 2ft 71/2in/80cm, their bodies were very muscular and hairy. They could not speak but could only make sounds which resembled barking dogs. Excellent stonemasons, they built temples and moats overnight and disappeared before daybreak.

Other South Sea Islands know similar beings to the Hawaiian Menehune by such names as Manahune, Manahua or Makahua (this word is said to be of Tahitian origin) and even the Maoris in New Zealand have similar night creatures which they call Patupai-arehe. The similarity of such legends owes much to the relationship of the Hawaiians with the other Polynesian tribes.

Princeville Princeville, on Kauai's north coast, does not enjoy such a settled climate as the south coast, but has nevertheless been able to develop into a popular holiday resort. The name Princeville arose from a visit there by King Kamehameha IV, his wife, Emma, and their two-year-old son, Albert. The Scottish doctor, Robert Crichton Wyllie, who later became foreign minister under Kamehameha IV and Kamehameha V, was then running a sugar cane and coffee plantation. Dr Wyllie's enthusiasm for the little prince led him to name his plantation Princeville in honor of him.

The coffee plantation was later abandoned and Dr Wyllie sold the sugar cane plantation. Until 1968, cattle rearing became the main source of income.

Since 1969, Princeville has been developed into a holiday resort. Today, the place is well-known for its particularly fine golf course. Luxury hotels offer the tourist every kind of comfort and there is also plenty of sport on offer. The two available beaches are, however, relatively small.

Wailua - Smith's Tropical Paradise Park This beautiful garden is reached by turning left before the bridge over Waialua River and following a narrow path along the river's edge. Its 30 acres/12ha (which can also be viewed from a small train) are divided into various sections including an orchid garden, a Japanese garden and primeval forest vegetation. Various events take place here (musical, hula dancing and torch ceremonies).

Wailua The area around Waimea and the mouth of the river which bears the same name was colonized by native inhabitants many years ago. Before the Polynesians settled here this region was said to have been inhabited by the legendary Mu, a tribe of dwarf-like people similar to the Menehune, who apparently developed their own strange physical characteristics as a result of their centuries of isolation. Very few of the hundreds of heiaus which were built in this area remain. Near the Coco Palms Hotel Pohaku-hoo Hanau remains standing from ancient Hawaiian times. Noblewomen gave birth to their children on this birth stone. The babies' umbilical cords were hidden in the crevices to protect them as they grew up. Waialua River, which flows into the sea on the edge of the village, is the only navigable river in Hawaii. Its lower reaches are called the "Kingly Way".

South of the mouth of the river lies Lydgate State Park, containing remains of a Hawaiian temple of refuge.

Waialua (meaning "two waters", doubtless referring to the sea and the river) is a well spread-out village on road 56 with about 1600 inhabitants.

Hanalei - Waioli Mission House and Church Waioli Mission House, built in 1841 and located on Route 56 on the edge of the village, is one of Hawaii's best-preserved mission houses and therefore well worth visiting. While most mission houses are built in the New England style (including the interiors), the exterior of this house shows a definite influence of the Southern States. This can be attributed to the fact that the missionary William P. Alexander came to Kauai from Kentucky. Five years later, the Wilcox family, who were also missionaries, moved in. The rooms have been kept as far as possible in their original state and show the Hawaiian style of home decoration of the malihin (non-natives). A large part of the missionary Abner Wilcox's library can still be seen in his study including some of the earlier schoolbooks printed in Honolulu.

On the left-hand side of the street is the old Waioli Huila Church, with its roof of green shingles and stained-glass windows. It is now a community center, where Hawaiian hymns can occasionally be heard on Sundays.
The mission is undergoing some restoration work.

Lawai - National Tropical Botanical Garden / McBryde and Allerton Gardens Developed about 20 years ago, the Botanical Garden is combined with a research station for tropical plants. It is the only garden of its type in the U.S. and is recognized, according to a charter of the U.S. Congress, as a public institution. However, it is funded privately. The Botanical Garden can only be visited as part of a tour, part of which is undertaken by vehicle. As a result, no more than 15 people can join the tour at any one time. It is imperative to book a day ahead of a planned visit.

The long, narrow garden, which covers just under 1/2sq.mile/1sq.km, stretches to the Pacific. The Lawai, a small river, bisects the garden. As both endangered and useful tropical plants are grown here, there are a considerable number of plant varieties on view. Only part of the extensive selection can be mentioned here - about 800 types of palm; about 60 different banana plants; coconut trees, a large number of ginger bushes with different colored flowers; herbs such as cardamom from Southern India; cloves from the Spice Islands; Jamaican pepper and other spices; native bread fruit trees; Java plums; the similarly native taro and countless tropical flowers with anthuria. Above all, the garden includes water lilies with their large, round leaves, one of which, it is claimed, could bear the weight of a small child - namely the Victoria Amazonica from Brazil.

Leaving the Botanical Garden the visitor enters the Allerton Garden, begun by Chicago baker Robert Allerton and developed further by his son, Gregg Allerton. This land originally belonged to Queen Emma, the wife of King Kamehameha IV, whose summer house still remains today.

Poipu Poipu lies on the particularly warm and sunny south coast of Kauai where the island's finest beaches are to be found.

Until the tourism boom sugar was the main source of income for Poipu and its surrounding area. The development of tourism started relatively late here and consequently it was far more intense than in other places. Now, Poipu possesses Kauai's largest number of luxury hotels and holiday homes. An urban development regulation permits buildings to be no more than three stores high so that Poipu can protect its rural character.

Its favorable location near Lihue Airport (only 14 miles/22km away and easy to reach), together with its pleasant climate and excellent water sports opportunities, have helped Poipu to become one of Kauai's most popular resorts. The long, white, sandy beach and the clear, blue water are an invitation to swim and surf - Poipu's favorite water sports.

A stroll around Poipu's large number of inviting shops and boutiques will reveal high quality goods with prices to match.

Do not forget to visit Kiahuna Gardens. Built before 1930, the center of the garden is occupied by a house that used to be inhabited by the "sugar baron" of Poipu - today, it accommodates the Plantation Gardens Restaurant.

Waimea - Cook Monument 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.

Hanapepe Hanapepe has a few false-fronted frontier buildings which now serve art and craft shops. The town also has a swinging foot bridge and an orchid garden.

Kalalau Trail Kalalau Trail is an 11 mile/17.5km path originally made and used by the early Hawaiians. This path is difficult and taxing, even for experienced walkers. The climb begins at Haena State Park in the north and ends after almost 11 1/2 miles/18km in Kalalau Valley. To gain an impression of the landscape and vegetation, it is enough to cover the first 2 miles/3km as far as Hanakapiai Beach. This stretch is easier to walk, although after rain it can be slippery - good footwear is needed at all times.

Those who want to tackle the whole walk must take a tent and food with them and stay overnight before returning as two to three days should be allowed to complete the 22 miles/35km round distance. The path beyond Hanakapiai is steep, stony and not without danger. At the right time of the year it is possible to sample wild fruits such as mangoes, bananas, guava and apples, which grow beside the path. Campers need permission from the Division of State Parks.

Kilohana Plantation Kilohana plantation estate has been restored and turned into a restaurant, with a group of craft shops and art galleries. Of note are the gardens surrounding some of the rustic plantation worker houses. The main house dates from about 1935. Carriage rides are available around the grounds on Saturdays and Sundays.
The plantation's founder, Gaylord Park Wilcox, the nephew of Grove Farm's founder, promoted the house as a focal point of Kauai's society and culture. To this end he named the house "Kilohana", Hawaiian for "the best". Until 1970, the farm was under family ownership but was then closed and reopened for a short time as a school.

Koke'e State Park Koke'e State Park is an extension of Waimea Canyon State Park and boasts the deepest parts of the canyon.

Another major spot is the Kalalau Lookout which in theory offers a view of the Napali Coast cliffs, the only place to see this spectacular feature of Kaua'i from land. The problem is that these cliffs are often clouded in mist.

Koke'e also hosts over 43.5mi/70km of hiking trails, most of which spread out from the natural history museum and Koke'e Lodge. The Lodge serves breakfast and lunch.

Waimea - Menehune Ditch Immediately in front of the Hawaiian Church, Menehune Road bears left, ending at the famous Menehune Ditch, or what remains of it. The ditch is considered the master work of these ancient peoples because they employed a building style not seen anywhere else in the Hawaiian archipelago - here and only here polished and cut stones are found. Today, only about 66ft/20m of the upper part of the ditch can be seen, as many stones were hacked out for use in building roads and houses.

When George Vancouver landed in Waimea in 1793, he described the wall of the ditch as projecting almost 26ft/8m out of the river and mentioned that it served as a tributary of Waimea River and, as such, must have been quite long. Today nothing is to be seen of it. According to his description, the uncut rock came from a quarry 7.5mi/12km away. It remains unknown how it was transported, for the Hawaiians had no knowledge of the wheel at that stage. No wonder the Menehune had problems explaining this piece of building work. In Hawaiian, it is called kiki ola, Ola's Waterfall (Ola was one of Kauai's principal chieftains).

Na Pali Coast State Park The Na Pali Coast in the north-west of the island is one of the most inaccessible parts of the Island of Kauai. The chain of mountains, climbing in places to 3938ft/1200m, forms steep cliffs plunging into the sea, whose beauty can only be appreciated from the water or from the air. Steep valleys on the landward side divide the mountain crests. All attempts, until now, to create a road along the coast have had to be abandoned. Thanks to this seclusion, a unique variety of vegetation has been able to survive here, which, together with the high, steep cliffs, offers a fascinating view of nature. The bizarre shapes of the weathered volcanic mountains with caves and water courses, forming waterfalls, the intense greenery of the thick layer of vegetation and the hidden sandy beaches at the foot of the mountains are all worth experiencing.

It is easiest to survey this part of the coast by boat or helicopter, from which a good view of these impressive cliffs can be gained. Those who want to spend more time here and who are not afraid of strenuous exercise can explore part of the Na Pali Coast on foot.

Lawai - National Tropical Botanical Garden / McBryde and Allerton Gardens Developed about 20 years ago, the Botanical Garden is combined with a research station for tropical plants. It is the only garden of its type in the U.S. and is recognized, according to a charter of the U.S. Congress, as a public institution. However, it is funded privately. The Botanical Garden can only be visited as part of a tour, part of which is undertaken by vehicle. As a result, no more than 15 people can join the tour at any one time. It is imperative to book a day ahead of a planned visit.

The long, narrow garden, which covers just under 1/2sq.mile/1sq.km, stretches to the Pacific. The Lawai, a small river, bisects the garden. As both endangered and useful tropical plants are grown here, there are a considerable number of plant varieties on view. Only part of the extensive selection can be mentioned here - about 800 types of palm; about 60 different banana plants; coconut trees, a large number of ginger bushes with different colored flowers; herbs such as cardamom from Southern India; cloves from the Spice Islands; Jamaican pepper and other spices; native bread fruit trees; Java plums; the similarly native taro and countless tropical flowers with anthuria. Above all, the garden includes water lilies with their large, round leaves, one of which, it is claimed, could bear the weight of a small child - namely the Victoria Amazonica from Brazil.

Leaving the Botanical Garden the visitor enters the Allerton Garden, begun by Chicago baker Robert Allerton and developed further by his son, Gregg Allerton. This land originally belonged to Queen Emma, the wife of King Kamehameha IV, whose summer house still remains today.

Poipu Poipu lies on the particularly warm and sunny south coast of Kauai where the island's finest beaches are to be found.

Until the tourism boom sugar was the main source of income for Poipu and its surrounding area. The development of tourism started relatively late here and consequently it was far more intense than in other places. Now, Poipu possesses Kauai's largest number of luxury hotels and holiday homes. An urban development regulation permits buildings to be no more than three stores high so that Poipu can protect its rural character.

Its favorable location near Lihue Airport (only 14 miles/22km away and easy to reach), together with its pleasant climate and excellent water sports opportunities, have helped Poipu to become one of Kauai's most popular resorts. The long, white, sandy beach and the clear, blue water are an invitation to swim and surf - Poipu's favorite water sports.

A stroll around Poipu's large number of inviting shops and boutiques will reveal high quality goods with prices to match.

Do not forget to visit Kiahuna Gardens. Built before 1930, the center of the garden is occupied by a house that used to be inhabited by the "sugar baron" of Poipu - today, it accommodates the Plantation Gardens Restaurant.

Waimea Canyon Waimea Canyon rivals the most scenic canyons on earth. Not only is it deep, but the area's red soil, the green jungles which line its streams and waterfalls, black volcanic rock and mist cascading from the plateaus make it a colorful scene. There are two major lookouts and several hiking trails starting from the road which runs along the rim.

While the Canyon runs to the sea along Waimea Canyon Drive (SR550), the deepest part of the canyon is within Kokee State Park.