Waialua River State Park contains numerous historic and cultural sites, as well as the opportunity to experience the vast tropical vegetation that Kauai is known for. The park is free to the general public and can be an all-day adventure with its various attractions
disbursed abundantly throughout the 1,093-acre grounds. The vast area runs from the mouth of the Wailua River, up into the valley to Wailua Falls on the southern side, and reaches to Wailua Reservoir and Keahua Aroboretum to the north. Because of the large area encompassed within the park region, many of the noteworthy sites have their own access point for entrace.
Fern Grotto is easily the most popular and well-known natural
attraction of Waialua River State Park. It is a giant amphitheater
filled with massive amounts of ferns, which flourish abundantly in the
natural misty-walled conditions of the cavern. A local tour group
will take visitors under their wing and cart them up into the grotto
on large barges equipped to meet the needs of the dozens of tourists
who flock to the site each day. It's a two-mile trek up the river,
but, along the way, crew members share colorful legends of the area,
Hawaiian songs, and hula demonstrations to pass the time.
Route 580 and Route 56 offer ample opportunity for visitors to stretch
their legs a bit and see authentic roadside attractions that date back
to pre-contact days.
Hauola O Honaunau (Pu'uhonua O Hauola) and
Hikina A Ka La Heiau are two sites along Rt. 56 that can be recognized
by the low walls that encircle each.
Hauola O Honaunau (Pu'uhonua O Hauola) and Hikina A Ka La Heiau are
two sites along Rt. 56 that can be recognized by the low walls that
encircle each relic. The former was a city of refuge where those who
had broken the sacred kapu (laws) and were sentenced to death could
find sanctuary and be redeemed by priests in the temple. Once a
person made it to Hauola O Honaunau or other similar sites, their
slate was wiped clean and they were allowed to go on with their lives.
Hikina A Ka La Heiau was a place that was used for rituals and
prayers to the rising sun by priests.
Closer to the mouth of the
Waimea River visitors can find some of the few petroglyphs that have
been found on Kauai when the tide is low. Further down the road is
what is said to be the largest heiau on the island, Malae Heiau. This
mysterious site has no known origin and folklore claims that it was
built by the Menehune, dwarfish creatures who were secretive of their
life and ways.
On Rt. 580, the first historic site is Holoholoku Heiau where
kapu-breakers who were caught before they entered the grounds of the
city of refuge were sacrifice to the gods for punishment.
Nearby
stand the remains of Pohaku Ho’o Hanau, home to the royal birthing
stones where much of the alii and Hawaiian monarchy was born. At the
end of the journey down Rt. 580, beyond the dirt track, past two large
boulders is a bell stone. When these stones were pounded they could
be heard for miles and were used to announce that royal mothers had
successfully given birth.
Further up the road is a turn-off that
leads to ‘Opaeka’a Falls that is worth taking the time to see. Once
past the pull-off to ‘Opaeka’a, the last heiau is Poli’ahu Heiau that
was used by the last king of Kauai, King Kaumuali’i.
Kauai also is home to a Hindu Temple that is located about four miles
from the ocean on the south side of Rt. 580. The temple and monastery
are open 365 days of the year at no charge to visitors, and special
tours can be taken for a more extensive inspection of the grounds.
Modest dress is requested for this place of worship—no T-shirts,
shorts, short skirts, revealing blouses, or swimwear.
