Kauai West Shore - Waimea

Island of Kauai

What to See - Waimea Canyon / Koke`e State Park

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Koke`e Natural History Museum, 808-335-9975,
www.kokee.org. Open daily from 10 am-4 pm; 10-2 on holidays. Free admission; donations are accepted. This small museum has displays on the natural history of the area. It’s a great opportunity to learn about the flora, fauna and early Hawaiian culture and history. During the summer, the museum sponsors guided hikes. The museum also sponsors workshops and conservation efforts in the area. The gift shop sells books about Hawaiian history and culture. There are also detailed hiking maps that can be picked up for a few dollars.

Waimea Canyon (Virtual Tour)

Nicknamed the "Grand Canyon of the Pacific" by author Mark Twain, Waimea Canyon is one of Kauai's natural wonders with canyons eroded by water, wind and rain. Waimea Canyon is the largest canyon in the Pacific measuring 10 miles long, 2 mile wide and over 3,500 feet deep. Like the Grand Canyon, the lines along the canyon's walls indicate the different volcanic eruptions and lava flows that have occurred over the centuries.

Waimea Canyon State Park. Traveling up the road from Kekaha is Waimea Canyon. The canyon is 10 miles long, two miles wide and over 3,600 feet deep. Stop and take in the beauty of this place, the array of colors, with different shades of red, greens, purples and blues. The canyon is a result of numerous floods and rivers coming from Mt. Wai`ale`ale over thousands of years. The colors lining the canyon walls indicate different volcanic eruptions and lava flows that have occurred over the years.

There are a few places to stop and take in the view of the canyon as you travel up toward Koke`e State Park. Each overlook offers a different view and they’re all spectacular. You can witness the vast empty space of the canyon and contemplate the obscene beauty of it all. I’d recommend coming here early in the morning for two reasons: 1) You beat all of the other tourists, even the tours that bike down the canyon. If you’re really
lucky, you might have the views all to yourself. 2) As the day progresses, clouds begin to form, which could obstruct your view.

The first stop on your way up is between mile markers eight and nine. here’s a small parking area for the Kukui and Iliau Loop Trails. There you can take a quick jaunt around the quarter-mile loop that offers a great view looking up at the canyon. It has a covered picnic area as well.

At mile marker 10, you’ll come to theWaimea Canyon Overlook. Stop, get out of the car and enjoy the view. From here, you’ll look out through the canyon. You’ll be able to see how deep the canyon really is and appreciate how far it stretches. At mile marker 13, there’s the Pu`u Hinahina Lookout, with a view of the island of Ni`ihau and the Pacific Ocean. You can see the island about 17 miles out. Here, you’re at about 3,500 feet elevation.

To see one of the more brilliant views the area has to offer, keep heading up hill past Koke`e State Park. Right at about mile marker 18, you’ll come to the Kalalau Valley Lookout. You can see the “cathedrals” that Mark Twain was referring to when he wrote about the Kalalau Valley.

Pu`u O Kila Lookout features wonderful views into the Kalalau Valley and across the Alakai Swamp to Mt. Wai`ale`ale – the wettest spot on earth. The Pu’u o Kila Lookout and the nearby Kalalau Valley Lookout offer some of the greatest views in Hawai`i. Pu`u O Kila Lookout is the end of the road, just past the Kalalau Valley Lookout.

Koke`e State Park and Koke`e Natural History Museum, at a crisp 4,000 feet, have displays of plants and animals. The staff can advise you on the park’s many seasonal activities such as plum picking and summer wonder walks. Behind the museum is a nature trail with 35 marked plants. Koke`e was said to be the last place of refuge of the Menehune. Average temperatures are 60°. “The events of WWII emphasized Hawai`i’s strategic mid-Pacific location and led to the building of three tracking stations in Koke`e State Park; the Navy runs another at the end of nearby Makaha Ridge and the Air Force constructed one near Kalakau Lookout.

Don’t forget to stop in the museum to pick up hiking maps and check out trail conditions. The staff of the museum is very knowledgeable and can give advice on what trails might be appropriate for your fitness condition. It’s also a good idea to register at the museum for safety precautions.

There’s a very easy nature trail behind Koke`e Museum, with 35 marked plants. It’s very short and easy. It should take about 20 minutes to complete – a good warm up if you plan on doing more intense hiking.

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