Discover 8 hidden attractions, cool sights, and unusual things to do in Koloa (United States). Don't miss out on these must-see attractions: Makauwahi Cave, Poipu Beach Park, and Manawaiopuna Falls. Also, be sure to include McBryde Garden in your itinerary.
Below, you can find the list of the most amazing places you should visit in Koloa (Hawaii).
Table of Contents
Makauwahi Cave
Tourist attraction in Kauai County, Hawaii. The Makauwahi Cave is the largest limestone cave found in Hawaii. It lies on the south coast of the island of Kauaʻi, in the Māhāʻulepū Valley close to Māhāʻulepū Beach, and is important for its paleoecological and archaeological values. It is reached via a sinkhole and has been described as “…maybe the richest fossil site in the Hawaiian Islands, perhaps in the entire Pacific Island region”.[1]
Poipu Beach Park
Park in Koloa, Hawaii. Poʻipū Beach Park is located in the community of Poʻipū on the southern coast of Kauaʻi island in Hawaii.
The beach is a park has lifeguards provided by county of Kauaʻi. There are swimming and snorkeling areas, and a surf break over a reef for experienced surfers only. It can get crowded on weekends. It was ranked as the best beach in America by Florida International University professor Stephen Leatherman, "Dr Beach" in 2001. It is located at 21°52′24″N 159°27′15″W. Just west of the county park are the Moir Gardens on the Kiahuna plantation.[2]
Address: Hoona Rd, 96756 Poipu (Koloa)
Manawaiopuna Falls
Waterfall in Hawaii. Manawaiopuna Falls is a privately owned waterfall in the Hawaiian Islands, located in Hanapepe Valley on Kauai Island. It is 122 metres tall. It featured in the background of several scenes in the 1993 Steven Spielberg film Jurassic Park.
The waterfall is only accessible by helicopter. Landing near the falls was forbidden until 2009, after which Island Helicopters was allowed to land a limited number of times per week.[3]
McBryde Garden
Botanical garden in Kauai County, Hawaii. McBryde Garden is a botanical garden located on the south shore of Kauai, Hawaii. It is one of five gardens of the non-profit National Tropical Botanical Garden.
The garden is situated above Lāwaʻi Bay, in a valley transected by the Lāwaʻi Stream. Queen Emma of Hawaii resided above this valley for a short interval, and a modest house that was perhaps her residence has subsequently been moved to the valley floor and renovated. The valley was purchased by the McBryde family in the late 19th century for a sugarcane plantation. This first garden of the National Tropical Botanical Garden (then Pacific Tropical Botanical Garden) was started in 1970 with the purchase of 171 acres (0.69 km2) by the institution and has since expanded. Initially called Lāwaʻi Garden, the site was renamed in 2000 as a result of a generous donation from the McBryde descendants.
Today, McBryde Garden serves as a research and conservation garden. It is home to the largest ex situ collection of native Hawaiian flora in the world, as well as extensive plantings of palms, flowering trees, heliconias, orchids and other plants collected from tropical regions. The Garden contains a major Conservation and Horticulture Center, with nursery and micropropagation laboratory, and is adjacent to NTBG's National Headquarters, with a research and education facilities, and the Allerton Garden.
McBryde Garden is open to visitors. An admission fee is charged.[4]
Address: 5017 Lawai Rd, 96756 Kōloa (Koloa)
St. Raphael Church
Catholic church in Koloa, Hawaii. Saint Raphael Catholic Church in Koloa is a parish of the Roman Catholic Church of Hawaii in the United States. Located in Koloa on the island of Kauai, the church falls under the jurisdiction of the Diocese of Honolulu and its bishop. It is named after Saint Raphael.
The oldest Catholic Church in Kauai, St. Raphael's was founded in 1841 by Father Arsenius Walsh. It was founded two years after Catholics were granted religious freedom in Hawaii after the French threatened Honolulu. The church building was completed in 1854. It was enlarged and renovated in 1936.[5]
Address: 3011 Hapa Rd, 96756 Koloa (Koloa)
Kauai ATV
Nature and wildlife tours, Hiking and camping tours, Tours, Outdoor activities
Address: 3477 Weliweli Rd, 96756 Kōloa (Koloa)
Spouting Horn Park
Spouting Horn is a blowhole located on the southern coast of Kauai in the Koloa district. This area of Kauai is known for its crashing waves. These waves erode lava rocks on the coastline which can create narrow openings, as is the case with Spouting Horn. With every wave, water shoots upward when it is forced through an opening and creates a sound suggestive of hissing. The spray can shoot as high as 50 feet in the air. The original Hawaiian name was puhi, meaning blowhole. The Spouting Horn is a part of the Koloa Heritage Trail, a 10-mile trail in the Koloa district.[6]
Address: South Shore, Koloa (Koloa)
Old Sugar Mill of Koloa
Tourist attraction in Koloa, Hawaii. The Old Sugar Mill of Kōloa was part of the first commercially successful sugarcane plantation in Hawaiʻi, which was founded in Kōloa on the island of Kauai in 1835 by Ladd & Company. This was the beginning of what would become Hawaii's largest industry. The building was designated a National Historic Landmark on December 29, 1962. A stone chimney and foundations remain from 1840.[7]