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Waimea Canyon State ParkOf all Kaua‘i’s wonders, none can touch Waimea Canyon for grandeur. Few would expect the island to hold such a gargantuan abyss of lava rock; popularly…
Must see attractions in Waimea Canyon & the Westside
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Salt Pond Beach ParkOne 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…
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Kokeʻe State ParkBesides the two Na Pali lookouts at the end of the paved highway, Koke‘e State Park is the starting point for almost 50 miles of outstanding hiking trails…
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Waimea Canyon DriveThis magnificent scenic drive traces the entire length of Waimea Canyon’s western rim and continues into Kokeʻe State Park, climbing 19 miles from the…
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Puʻu o Kila LookoutA mile beyond the Kalalau Lookout, the paved park road dead-ends at the Pu‘u o Kila Lookout. The views of Kalalau Valley, plummeting 4000ft below, are…
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Awa‘awapuhi LookoutRight at the end of the 3.1-mile Awa‘awapuhi Trail, this incredible overlook affords hard-earned views over a tortuous, sheer-walled valley that snakes…
- PPolihale State Park
The endless expanse of Polihale Beach is as mystical as it is enchanting. The long slow drive here, along a rutted 5-mile dirt road, brings you to the…
- Kalalau Lookout
Shortly before the end of the highway, the Kalalau Lookout commands a fabulous overview of Kalalau Valley, sweeping around its towering green-swathed…
- PPu’u Hinahina Lookout
The main viewpoint at this large lookout (elevation 3640ft) faces down the deep gorge carved by Waiahulu Stream as it races to join Waimea Canyon. Look…
- KKoke‘e Natural History Museum
This two-room museum doubles as the visitor center for Koke‘e State Park. Helpful staff provide detailed current hiking advice, and sell useful, albeit…
- WWaimea Canyon Lookout
This breathtaking vista, at an elevation of 3400ft, stands at the intersection of several almighty raw red cracks in the earth. The views here are very…
- SSwinging Bridge
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…
- KKilohana Lookout
The reward for hikers who make it all the way through bog and forest to the far end of the Alaka‘i Swamp Trail, the Kilohana Lookout (4022ft) commands…
- WWaipo'o Falls
Although they're across on the far wall of the canyon, these 800ft falls cam be seen from several vantage points along Waimea Canyon Dr, including the Pu…
- KKauai Coffee Company
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…
- MMenehune Ditch
Little is now visible of Hawaii’s most remarkable example of pre-contact cut-and-dressed stonework, supposedly constructed within a single night by the…
- RRussian Fort Elizabeth State Historical Park
A Russian fort in Hawaii? Yes, really. Constructed in 1817 above the southern bank of the mouth of Waimea River on the site of an ancient heiau (temple),…
- KKekaha Beach Park
The Westside is renowned for its unrelenting sun and vast beaches. At the west end of Kekaha town, this long stretch of sand is best for beachcombing and…
- PPihea Lookout
Sitting at 4284ft, atop a ludicrously steep and slippery little hillock, this high-arching lookout provides great views down across the valleys. To reach…
- PPu‘u Ka Pele Lookout
This canyon-edge lookout, across from a picnic area equipped with restrooms and drinking water, is a superb vantage point from which to admire the 800ft…