South Shore Tour
Koloa, Poipu, Poipu Beach and Shipswrecks Beach/Mahaulepu Trail, Spouting Horn
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Duration:
depending on your plans, about 4-6 hours Koloa: 1 hr Poipu Beach: 2-3 hrs Mahaulepu Trail: 2hrs Spouting Horn: 30 min Distance: Hanalei – Poipu: 44 miles (~ 71 km), 1.25 hrs Lihue – Poipu: 13 miles (~ 21 km), 30 min Waimea – Poipu: 19 miles (~ 31 km), 40 min |
What to bring:
Sunscreen and rash shirt, water and food, camera and/or underwater camera, beach gear Getting here from Hanalei: Drive HWY 560/56 to Lihue and merge onto 50 towards Eleele and Waimea. After 6.7 miles make a left onto Maluhia Road/Route 520 towards Koloa and continue on Poipu Road to Poipu. Coming from Waimea: Take HWY 50 towards Lihue and exit in Lawai onto Koloa Road/Route 530 to Koloa. In Koloa take either Ala Kalanikaumaka Street and merge onto Poipu Road or continue on Koloa Road to Poipu Road (right). |
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1st stop: Koloa Town
The quaint little town of Koloa is the gateway to the South Shore and definitely worth a stop. On your way you drive along tall eucalyptus trees that are building a beautiful tree tunnel. The first sugar plantation on Kauai and the Hawaiian Islands was opened in Koloa 1835, the beginning of the sugar production on the archipelago. With the sugar production many workers from other countries moved to Hawaii looking for work. By today most residents are the descendants of these plantation workers that brought a big diversity to the islands. |
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The little town of Koloa kept the charm of a plantation town until today. Many of the old buildings are well-preserved and now occupied by small shops. The town’s origin is celebrated every year with the Koloa Plantation Days with a parade, games, and music.
Koloa Road is the center of the town with huge monkeypod trees, beautiful old storefronts, and a good variety of shops, small markets, and restaurants. http://www.oldkoloa.com/
Koloa Road is the center of the town with huge monkeypod trees, beautiful old storefronts, and a good variety of shops, small markets, and restaurants. http://www.oldkoloa.com/
2nd stop: Poipu and beaches
Poipu Beach is known for high class resorts, world famous golfing, and white sandy beaches that are protected by reefs.
The area of Brenneke’s Beach is popular with surfers, boogie boarders, and snorkelers while the far left/west of Poipu Beach is safe for swimming. Often monk seals and sea turtles are cruising the shore around Poipu and sometimes even come to shore.
The mentioned resorts are lined next to each other between Brenneke’s and Shipwrecks Beach. In front of them runs a small promenade from where you get closer views on the different amenities like fresh water lagoons, pools with water slides, ponds, private cabanas, etc.
From Shipwrecks Beach starts a beautiful hike along the high ocean bluffs of Poipu to an ancient heiau, along the famous Poipu Golf Course to a beautiful and remote beach. This trail is called Mahaulepu Heritage Trail.
First you hike through a pine forest before you approach sand dunes that are called Paa Dunes. At the height of the golf course is heiau Hoouluia, which was known as place of worship for the god of the sea. Later you approach Mahaulepu Beach that was the place of an ancient battle when a former King of Big Island tried to take over all islands for the first time in the Hawaiian history. Along the whole shore you can see green sea turtles and in winter whales passing the islands. More info about the sights along the trail is available under: http://www.hikemahaulepu.org
Poipu Beach is known for high class resorts, world famous golfing, and white sandy beaches that are protected by reefs.
The area of Brenneke’s Beach is popular with surfers, boogie boarders, and snorkelers while the far left/west of Poipu Beach is safe for swimming. Often monk seals and sea turtles are cruising the shore around Poipu and sometimes even come to shore.
The mentioned resorts are lined next to each other between Brenneke’s and Shipwrecks Beach. In front of them runs a small promenade from where you get closer views on the different amenities like fresh water lagoons, pools with water slides, ponds, private cabanas, etc.
From Shipwrecks Beach starts a beautiful hike along the high ocean bluffs of Poipu to an ancient heiau, along the famous Poipu Golf Course to a beautiful and remote beach. This trail is called Mahaulepu Heritage Trail.
First you hike through a pine forest before you approach sand dunes that are called Paa Dunes. At the height of the golf course is heiau Hoouluia, which was known as place of worship for the god of the sea. Later you approach Mahaulepu Beach that was the place of an ancient battle when a former King of Big Island tried to take over all islands for the first time in the Hawaiian history. Along the whole shore you can see green sea turtles and in winter whales passing the islands. More info about the sights along the trail is available under: http://www.hikemahaulepu.org
3rd stop: Poipu Shopping Village
The open-air shopping mall in Poipu is the largest around and offers free Hawaiian dance shows to its guests. Within the mall you find a variety of shops, art galleries, restaurants, and gift shops.
4th stop: Spouting Horn
The drive from Shipwrecks Beach to the Spouting Horn along Lawai Road is scenic and opens views over several small and pitoresque bays and beaches.
When the ocean water runs into a lava tube during large swells the water is pressed through a hole in the lava and exits the tube through an opening with up to 50ft high shots.
To have a change in scenery I recommend to either take Aka Road along several reservoirs back to HWY 50 or Halewili Road/Route 540 to Eleele. Taking the latter recommendation you come across the Kauai Coffee Company that offers walking tours over their estate and orchards and complimentary coffee tastings.
5th stop: Hanapepe Overlook
The name Hanapepe Overlook is a bit misleading since everyone assumes that it is located in Hanapepe. As you can guess this isn’t true. 2.5 miles east of Eleele/Hanapepee on HWY 50 lies the lookout facing the colorful valley with its lush vegetation. Coming from Lihue you have the best view. From the other direction park your car at the curb and cross the two lane highway. In particular during sunset the colors of the valley are beautiful.
