Kauai Kids
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Kokee Natural History Museum
at Kokee State Park at the top
of Waimea Canyon Road.
Admission is free
808-335-9975.
Daily 10-4.
Hiking maps and park
information are also available at the museum.
Part of the beauty of visiting
the park and museum is the drive past Waimea Canyon, the "Grand Canyon of the
Pacific" . The small museum is devoted to the flora, fauna, and natural history
of the area. It also features collections of shells and Hawaiian artifacts.
Ke'e Beach
State Park
Western end of Hwy.
56
Ha'ena, HI
You can view the
spectacular Na Pali coastline from this perfect beach. This is also where you'll
find the start of the difficult 11-mile Kalalau Trail. Another path leads from
the beach to an open, grassy meadow with a stone altar called Lohi'au's Hula
Platform. It is said that Laka, goddess of the hula, did most of her dancing on
this spot. Today's hula practitioners sometimes leave offerings here for her.
Kalalau
Lookout
Waimea Canyon Dr.,
4 miles north of Koke'e State Park
Waimea, HI
Kalalau Lookout,
near the end of the road high above Waimea Canyon, marks the head of a
challenging hiking trail that also passes Pu'u-o-Kila Lookout. On a clear day at
either spot you can gaze into the valley at sawtooth ridges and waterfalls.
Winds are strong.. If you turn your back to the valley and look to the
northwest, it is possible to see the sands of Kalalau Beach.
Kilauea
Lighthouse and Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge
Kilauea Lighthouse
Rd.
Kilauea, HI
808 - 8281413
Daily 10 - 4
A beacon for
passing air and sea traffic since it was built in 1913, the lighthouse, a
National Historic Landmark, still has the largest clamshell lens of any
lighthouse in the world, but it has laid its traffic responsibilities aside. It
is surrounded by the Kilauea Wildlife Refuge, home to eight species of seabirds,
some of them endangered.
Keahua Forestry Arboretum
Keahua Arboretum is home to
mango, monkeypod, eucalyptus trees. The streams are filled with life, and there
are pools in which to swim. Picnic tables are scattered here and there and just
beyond is access to the sacred area of Mt. Waialeale.
Kaua'i Museum
4428 Rice Street.
If you're in Lihu弾, drop in at
the Kaua段 Museum, a local history and art museum for the islands of Kaua段 and
Niihau. It features a permanent exhibit of geology, flora, fauna, pre-contact
Hawaiiana, and artifacts from the missionary and plantation periods .
Old Koloa Town
The town of Koloa was the site
of Kaua段's first sugar plantation, which was built in the 1830s by Ladd and
Company.
Koloa History Center
Located in the Old Koloa Town
Mall, the tiny history center offers a brief introduction to the history of the
area in the form of artifacts from the old plantation days.
Koke'e State Park
Donation suggested.
Daily 10-4.
Koke'e State Park,
at the north end of Waimea Canyon, is 4,000 ft above sea level, where the air is
cool and crisp and the vegetation is evergreens and ferns. This 4,345-acre
wilderness park is full of wild fruit, flowers, and colorful rare birds. A
45-mile network of hiking trails takes you to some of Kaua'i's most remote
places. Ask about trail conditions at 808/335-5871.
Lydgate State Park
Lydgate offers picnic grounds,
an excellent swimming area for the keiki (children), and a wonderful stretch of
beach. There is also a playground built by volunteers from the community. The
coconut grove here once served as a place of refuge for the ancient Hawaiians.
Those who could reach the boundaries of the refuge before being caught were
spared punishment or even death for breaking a kapu (law). The Wailua River
begins near the north end of the park.
Limahuli Gardens
Hwy. 56
Ha'ena, HI
808 - 8261053
Tues. - Fri. and
Sun. 9:30 - 4
This lovely,
natural garden is one of five gardens and three preserves known as the National
Tropical Botanical Garden. Limahuli's sometimes steep 3⁄4-mile trail passes
ancient taro loi (fields), labeled plants and trees, and mountain streams.
Picnicking is not allowed here, and reservations are required for guided tours.
Menehune (Alekoko)
Fishpond
Legends describe the
Menehune, an ancient race of "little people" who made their home on Kaua段.
These mysterious people were thought to be very industrious and used their great
strength to accomplish mighty feats overnight. The seaward end of the fish pond
was left unfinished because dawn came before the Menehune had completed their
work. Many generations later, the wall was completed. However, the stonework was
far inferior to that of the Menehune.
Na Pali
Coast and State Park
Na Pali
Coast, HI
This is Kaua'i's
ultimate hiking adventure. The Kalalau Trail dips and rises along the misty,
fluted oceanside cliffs, leaving you breathless -- and not just from the
climbing. A white-sand beach at the head of Hanakapia'i Valley is a fine
stopping point for day hikers
Tour boats no
longer take passengers along the Na Pali shore from Hanalei on the north side of
the island, but in the summer months, when the ocean is calm, boats run from
Port Allen on the west coast, and kayakers can take a guided tour or explore the
coast line in their own rental kayak
National Tropical Botanical
Gardens
Lawa'i Rd.
Po'ipu, HI
808 - 3327361
252-acre scientific
research center (Lawa'i Gardens) and 100-acre estate property (Allerton Gardens)
for botany and horticulture. The visitor center showcases 2,600 different plant
species, some of them rare and endangered Hawaiian varieties. The grounds are
open only for visitors with reservations for the guided 21⁄2-hour walking tour;
meet at visitor center across from Spouting Horn parking lot.
Old Kapaa Town
Old Kapa'a is a quaint 19th
century plantation town. The streets are lined with a variety of unique shops
and an abundance of restaurants.
Poliahu Heiau
Poliahu Heiau was named for the
snow goddess of the Island of Hawaii (legend has it she lived on Mauna Kea). The
heiau contains several terraces, idol sites, and a "god stone" five feet high.
It is the largest heiau on Kaua段.
Pohaku Ho'ohanau
To ensure that their children
would become kings or chiefs, royal Hawaiian women would go to the sacred stones
located at the Pohaku Ho'ohanau heiau to give birth.
Princeville
In 1853, R.C. Wyllie started a
coffee plantation on the site of what is now Princeville. The coffee plantation
failed, but Princeville is now the largest planned development on Kaua段. It's
home to some of Hawaii's finest resorts, golf courses and restaurants.
Princeville is also the site of three beaches, A wide reef creates pockets which
are good for snorkeling.
Russian Fort Elizabeth State
Historical Park
In 1816, Alexander Baranova
came to Kaua段 to trade pelts with the Hawaiians. Kaua段's king, Kaumuali'i, was
looking for a trade alliance with the Russians. Baranova wanted to annex the
island chain for the Russian Empire. He built two forts on Kaua段, one at Waimea
Bay and the other at Hanalei. His plan failed, and Baranova and his ships left
the islands. The Hanalei fort was at Pu'u Poa overlooking the bay. A few rocky
outcroppings remain on a flat area near the Princeville Hotel.
Salt Pond
a glimpse of days gone by is
available at the ancient Hawaiian salt ponds near Hanapepe. The art of
salt-making in earthen pans is still practiced here by families descending from
ancient saltmakers, and is a reminder of the rich Hawaiian culture of the
island. Enter the salt-making area only if permission is granted by saltmakers.
Smith's
Tropical Paradise
174 Wailua Rd.
Kapa'a, HI
808 - 8216895
Daily 8:30 - 4
next to Wailua
Marina on the east side of the island, Smith's Tropical Paradise is 30 acres of
family fun, with orchards, jungle paths, exotic foliage, tropical birds, ethnic
village settings, and tranquil lagoons. A lu'au banquet and live show are
offered Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 5 to 9, and there is free shuttle
service from Wailua. Reservations are essential for the lu'au, shuttle, and
show.
Spouting
Horn
Lawa'i Bay
Po'ipu, HI
a waterspout that
shoots up like a geyser out of an ancient lava tube. Follow the paved walkways
around this area, because the rocks are slippery and people have been known to
fall. Vendors sell inexpensive souvenirs and costume jewelry here, but you'll
also find one of the best selections of rare and treasured Ni'ihau shell
necklaces. When purchasing a Ni'ihau shell lei, ask for a certificate of
authenticity and an address in case you need to reorder or repair your purchase
at a later date.
Waioli Mission House
Call 808-245-3202
listed on the National
Register of Historic Places. Built of coral limestone blocks in 1837, its
chimney was put in place by the Reverend William Alexander, the first missionary
on Kaua段. The house was restored in 1921, and recently underwent another
restoration.. Wai'oli Mission Hall and picturesque Wai'oli Hui'ia Church
(founded in 1834) are nearby. All are historic treasures.
Waimea
Canyon
Koke'e, HI
Created by an
ancient fault in the earth's crust, the canyon has been eroding over the
centuries due to weather, wind, and the water of its rivers and streams. The
"Grand Canyon of the Pacific" is 3,600 ft deep, 2 miles wide, and 10 miles long.
Its deep reds, greens, and browns are always changing in the light.
