Swinging Bridge

Waimea Canyon & the Westside


First erected to span the Hanapepe River in 1911 and rebuilt after the 1992 hurricane, this wood-and-cable suspension footbridge is just three planks wide. A thrill for children especially, it swings and sways and moans with every tread – or even just in the wind. Upstream, the river snakes inland between stark red-earth cliffs.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Waimea Canyon & the Westside attractions

1. Glass Beach

1 MILES

While certainly not a swimming beach, this little cove lures visitors to pick through the well-worn debris along the shoreline. The glass hasn’t come far;…

2. McBryde Sugar Company Cemetery

1.08 MILES

Recently unearthed following decades of neglect, this cemetery above Glass Beach has an impressive view. Worker camps encircled this area during the 19th…

4. Hanapepe Valley Lookout

1.49 MILES

Well before you reach Hanapepe as you approach from the east, shortly after Mile 14 on the highway, this roadside lookout offers a view deep into Hanapepe…

5. Salt Pond Beach Park

1.59 MILES

One of Kaua‘i’s safest and loveliest-looking beaches, a favorite with local families, Salt Ponds owes its off-putting name to the separate saltwater flats…

6. Kauai Coffee Company

1.88 MILES

With more than 4 million trees planted on former sugar fields, Hawaii’s largest coffee estate produces around 60% of the state’s entire crop. In the…

7. Kukuiolono Park

3.86 MILES

You’re only likely to visit this little park if you’re staying in Kalaheo. It’s worth a quick stop, though, to stroll through its fascinating Hawaiian…

8. Lawaʻi International Center

5.05 MILES

Open for occasional tours, this sublimely peaceful site once held a Hawaiian heiau (temple). In 1904, however, Japanese immigrants placed 88 miniature…