Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Kaiholena Shoreline BEACH
If you want to get away from it all with relative ease, visit this undeveloped shoreline.
It's rocky but offers great swimming and snorkeling, including large schools of yellow
tang, and you'll probably have it to yourself. There's also the ruins of an ancient settle-
ment. Heading north on Hwy 270, turn left on the dirt road just prior to mile marker 12
and directly opposite Kaiholena Pl. The road is a bit rough but, with care, a 2WD can
make it down just fine.
Lapakahi State Historical Park HISTORICAL SITE
( 882-6207; 8am-4pm, closed state holidays) This coastal park was a re-
mote fishing village until it was abandoned in the 19th century. Today an unshaded, mile-
long loop trail traverses the 262-acre grounds, passing the remains of stone walls, house
sites, canoe sheds and fishing shrines. Nothing is elaborately presented, so you need
some imagination to appreciate the modest remains.
Lapakahi's clear waters are loaded with tropical fish and belong to a marine-life con-
servation district. The park is located just south of mile marker 14.
Mahukona Beach Park BEACH
The unusual surroundings here make this an interesting stop. Mahukona is a small aban-
doned port, once used for shipping sugar cane, with a U-shaped basin that makes for ex-
cellent swimming and snorkeling. There's a swim ladder and lots of old pilings harboring
reef fish. Monk seals are also spotted here. Heading north it's possible to follow an an-
chor chain out to a submerged boiler and the remains of a ship 25ft down.
The adjacent county park has camping facilities and is reasonably clean, but the profu-
sion of signs, porto-potties and trash bins makes nearby Kaiholena or Kapaa Beach Park
better alternatives.
Kapaʻa Beach Park BEACH
This excellent seaside park offers a covered picnic area with welcome shade, few people
and public toilets. It is simple and clean, with nice coastal and Maui views, but no swim-
ming. Camping by permit. Turn at mile marker 16.
Moʻokini Luakini Heiau TEMPLE
( 373-8000; 9am-8pm, closed Wed) It's off the beaten path, but this heiau near
ʻUpolu Point, Hawaiʻi's northernmost tip, is among the oldest (c AD 480) and most his-
torically significant Hawaiian sites. Measuring about 250ft by 125ft, with walls 6ft high,
the massive stone ruins sit solitary and brooding on a wind-rustled grassy plain. The only
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