Historic Kauai

Hanalei: The history and charm of Old Hawai'i lingers in the north shore town of Hanalei. Its lush pastoral landscape, combined with the cultural and historic way of life, make Hanalei a place of extraordinary beauty.

The Waioli Mission is where one of Kaua'i's most influential families got its start. Former home of missionaries Abner and Lucy Wilcox, this nineteenth century New England-style structure was shipped in pieces from Boston around Cape Horn to Kaua'i. The home displays koa wood furniture and other items of the period. Open to the public Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Guided tours available at no charge. Contact: Waioli Mission House Museum, P.O. Box 1631, HI 96766. Phone: (808) 245-3202

Hanapepe: From World War I to the early 1950s, west side Hanapepe was one of Kaua'i's busiest towns. During the second World War, the coastal village was alive with thousands of GIs and sailors who were sent from the Mainland and the rest of Hawai'i to train for Pacific Theater duty and to shore up Kaua'i's defenses.

Today, Hanapepe exudes an old-fashioned appeal, with its vintage cars, plantation-era buildings and slow-paced lifestyle. One of the most fascinating sites in Hanapepe is the salt pond. Hawaiian families hold special deeds to the shallow red clay soil pits and they work hard to dry the salty sea water into rock salt, used to cure meat and for medicinal purposes.

Koloa: This 19th century plantation town was the site of Hawai'i's first successful sugar mill. Remains of the old mill still exist. Nearby is a sculpture that depicts the history of the area and the various ethnic groups that made their mark on Kaua'i's sugar industry.

Koloa residents were the first to use plantation scrip to purchase goods, initiating a new style of commerce in the islands. The town also boasts the island's first Catholic church and elementary school. Koloa Landing, on the edge of town, was the state's third largest whaling port in the 1800s and also was used for the export of raw sugar and sweet potatoes.

Lihu'e: Kaua'i's history can be traced to the beginning and growth of the sugar plantations. A visit to the Grove Farm Homestead in Lihu'e provides visitors with a fascinating look into the island's past. Grove Farm, one of the earliest sugar plantations, was founded in 1864. Today, this historic site museum showcases the old sugar days and Hawai'i's politics from the monarchy to statehood. A two and one-half hour tour takes visitors throughout the property, which includes the gracious old Wilcox home and the cottage of the plantation housekeeper situated amidst tropical gardens, orchards and rolling lawns. Cost is $5 per person and the tours are given on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday. Reservations are required. Contact: Grove Farm Homestead Museum, P.O. Box 1631, Lihu'e, HI 96766. Phone: (808) 245-3202.

Kilohana is a 60-year-old, 16,000-square-foot Tudor mansion that was once the home of one of the island's most prominent families. Today, it is a center for arts and crafts shops and museum displays. The 35 surrounding acres reflect the genteel, traditional plantation life. Visitors can tour the grounds and cane fields on carriages and wagon tours. Contact: Kilohana Information Center, 3-2087 Kaumuali'i Hwy., Lihu'e, HI 96766. Phone: (808) 246-9380.

The Kaua'i Museum, housed in a lava rock structure in Lihu'e tells the story of Kaua'i with fascinating displays. Visitors can learn about the volcanic eruptions that formed the islands, the Polynesians who arrived on canoe, the missionaries who introduced their way of life to the islanders, the sugar planters and the different ethnic cultures who contributed much to Kaua'i's history. Admission is $5 for adults, $4 for seniors, $3 for children 6-18 and $1 for children under five. Contact: Kaua'i Museum, 4428 Rice Street, Lihu'e, HI 96766. Phone: (808) 245-6931

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