West Side of Kauai, Hawaii
To fully experience a Kauai vacation, you cannot miss the West Side. Visit the welcome center to learn more about some of the cultural landmarks. Polihale State Park is near the Pacific Missile Range Facility, but what that means is West Side is becoming the most technologically advanced, with up and coming companies, than the rest of the island. Miles from such technology is mythology; Polihale Heiau is a sacred site, believed to be a point where the souls rose from the dead and departed the island during the setting sun. Captain Cook's monument stands in rural town Waimea. A British captain, he landed in 1778, being the first westerner to touch Kauai's shores. In 1815, a Russian doctor, Georg Scheffer, set up Queen Elizabeth's fort after gaining confidence of the king of Kauai, King Kaumualli. But his promise to be backed by Czar Nicholas failed and Scheffer was forced to leave. Eventually, King Kamehameha used the fort to put down a rebellion as his plans were to take control over all of Hawaii. Only the remaining signs of a fort are there, not the fort itself. One historical spot to see is the Menehune ditch, an ancient aqueduct, created to divert the Weimea River. If you would like to see work passed on through generations, go to the Salt Pond at Hanapepe. The art of salt-making in earthen pans is still practiced to this day. By far the greatest of all attractions on the West Side is the Weimea Canyon. Mark Twain called it the "Grand Canyon of the Pacific", because it is 10 miles long, 1 mile wide, and 3,600 feet deep. Describing the way the light plays in the mists and clouds, coloring the canyon in a kaleidoscope that changes from lookout to lookout, hour to hour, is impossible with words for this marvel of nature. For the ultimate views, hike, hike, hike. Waipoo Waterfalls are a specific destination in the upper Weimea Canyon. Serene Pools and fragrant Kahili ginger surround the bottom of the falls and surround the senses as well. When travelling farther north, you enter Kokee State Park, which is over 4,345 acres on a high plateau. Temperatures drop into the range of 45 to 70 degrees when you climb the mountains. There is a lodge and museum to rest at and eat lunch as you traverse the park. But if you don't hike, you can drive from Weimea to Kokee State Park. Next on this trip is the must-see Napoli Coast. Get a view from the Kalalau lookout, on a boat tour, or through your sunglasses as you sunbathe on its shores. You won't want to miss these natural monuments, and if you visit the West Side, it will be hard to miss them. Some of the events in West Side happen in Kokee and Weimea, as most of the land is pure nature. In Kokee, Banana Poka Round Up has live music, conservation exhibits, lei making, basket making, and family-fun hikes and activities. Eo e Emalani Alaka'i celebrates Queen Emma, who arrived to Kokee in 1871. In Weimea, there is a weekly craft fair, featuring handmade bags, quilts, paper; exotic jewelry, such as Niihau shells, black pearls, opals, crystals. With the Napoli Coast, Kokee State Park, and the Weimea Canyons, West Side is a bastion for the nature-lover. Hiking is recommended to relish every detail, but if hiking is too time-consuming, why not travel by helicopter, plane, boat, or car? That way you can speed to the activities you care about most, either in the West Side or other areas on Kauai, such as mountain biking, ATV riding, horseback riding, on- and off-shore fishing, kayaking, windsurfing, surfing, scuba diving, snorkeling, golfing, playing tennis, whale-watching, or just feeling the rays tanning your back on the golden sands. Fly to Kauai, vacation on the West Side, and be as close to paradise as it gets!
