Natural Hawaii

The island of Kauai invites the visitor to its rounded mountains softened with years of erosion. You can visit a fern grotto, farm homesteads and plantations, musems, and so much more. It is rich in beauty and history.

Fern Grotto:

On the Wailua River.

Popular tourist attraction, and setting for hundreds of weddings each year. Cave, with huge, overhanging ferns inside. Reached only by boat.

Tours depart every half-hour, 8-4 daily; $10.00 adults, $5.00 children.

Grove Farm Homestead:

Nawiliwili Rd., Lihue.

80-acre plantation estate established in 1864. Artifacts, furnishings and fixtures.

Guided tours by reservation, Mon., Wed., Thurs. Admission: $3.00. (808) 245-3202.

Kamokila Hawaiian Village:

6060 Kuamoo Road, 2 miles west of Wailua.

Recreated Hawaiian village with exhibits and demonstrations of poi making and weaving.

Open 9-4 daily. Admission: $5.00. (808) 822-4866.

Kauai Lagoons:

Kauai Marriott in Lihue.

800 acres of man-made lagoon with tours in canoes or 19th-century carriages drawn by Clydesdales.

Canoe tours $18.00 adults/$10.00 children; 55-minute Carriage rides, $49.00 adults/$14.00 children. (808) 245-2222, 241-6067, (800) 367-2914.

Kauai Museum:

4428 Rice Street, Lihue.

Features video, “The Story of Kauai”, artifacts and exhibits.

Hours: 9-4.30 Mon.-Fri., 9-1 Sat. Admission: $3.00 (children under 18 years, free). (808) 245-6931.

Kauai Village Museum:

4-831 Kuhio Hwy., Waipouli.

Exhibits and artifacts on Hawaiian lifestyle. Displays include scale model of Hawaiian village, also stone tools and utensils, and old photographs.

Open 10-8 Mon.-Sat., 10-6 Sun. Free. (808) 822-4904.

Kilauea Point Wildlife Refuge:

Kilauea Rd. in Kilauea.

A refuge for endangered seabirds and home of the Kilauea Lighthouse, built in 1913 and still in operation.

Hours: 10-4 Mon.-Fri. Admission: $3.00.  Call for reservations for guided hikes. (808) 828-1413.

Kilohana Plantation:

Kaumuali’i Highway (50), Puhi.

Former sugar plantation estate on 35 acres including shops, art galleries, and a courtyard restaurant.

Open 9:30a.m.-9:30p.m., Mon.-Sat., and 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. on Sundays. (808) 245-5608.

Kokee Natural History Museum:

Kokee State Park, on Kokee Rd., 16 miles north of Waimea.

Features exhibits of artifacts and wildlife, books, local maps and trail maps.

Open daily, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Free. (808) 335-9975.

Koloa History Center:

Koloa Rd. in Koloa.

Museum is in the old Koloa Hotel complex built in early 1900s. Features barber shop with antique fixtures, photographs of Koloa Landing and Old Koloa Town, and artifacts.

Hours: 9 a.m.-8 p.m. daily.

Menehune Ditch:

Menehune Rd. off Kaumuali’i Hwy. north of Waimea.

Unique construction by the island’s legendary people. The original ditch was built as an aqueduct, 24 feet high to irrigate the valley.

Menehune (Alakoko) Fishpond:

Hulemalu Road, west of Nawiliwili Harbor.

An ancient Hawaiian fishpond, with 100 ft. long walls, believed to have been built overnight by the menehune. Fishpond is on private property but can be seen from roadway.

National Botanical Garden:

Hailima Rd. off Koloa Rd. in Lawai.

186-acre garden devoted to research of tropical plants. Adjacent is the 100 acre Allerton Gardens.

Admission fee: $15.00. (808) 332-7361, 332-7324.

Olu Pua Gardens:

Kaumuali’i Hwy. in Kalaheo.

12-acre gardens featuring over 5,000 species of tropical plants, trees and flowers.

Guided tours of grounds, Mon.-Fri. Admission: $10.00. (808) 332-8182.

Opaeka’a Falls:

Kuamoo Rd., 2 miles west of Wailua.

Scenic 40-foot waterfall. Roadside viewing of Wailua River as well.

Russian Fort:

Kaumuali’i Hwy. (50), 6 miles west of Hanapepe.

17-acre park on the Waimea River. Ruins of a Russian fort, originally built in 1815.

Open during daylight hours. (808) 241-3444.

Smith’s Tropical Paradise:

Wailua Marina State Park, Wailua.

30 acre cultural and botanical garden, with self-guided tours through landscaped grounds, with replicas of Japanese, Filipino and Polynesian villages.

8.30-4 daily. Admission: $5. (808) 822-4654.

Spouting Horn:

Lawai Rd., 3 miles west of Poipu.

A blowhole where water blows like a geyser from the pressure of the sea swells through a lava tube.

Wailua Falls:

5 miles N. of Lihue, at the end of Ma’alo Road.

80-foot twin falls featured in the opening scenes of the TV series, Fantasy Island.

Wai’oli Mission House Museum:

West of mile marker 3 in Hanalei.

Former home of missionaries Abner and Lucy Wilcox built in 1837, restored in 1921. Features original missionary furnishings & books.

Hours: 9-3, Tues., Thurs., Sat. (808) 245-3202.

Waimea Canyon:

Kokee Rd.

Billed as the Grand Canyon of the Pacific and in many ways more beautiful. Can be seen from many points along the road. A must see! Many hiking t rails. Cooler weather due to higher elevation.