Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Kaunolu
Perched on a majestic bluff at the island's southwestern tip, the ancient fishing village of
Kaunolu thrived until its abandonment in the mid-19th century after missionary-transmit-
ted disease had decimated the island. The waters of Kaunolu Bay were so prolific that
royalty came here to cast their nets.
Now overgrown and visited by few, Kaunolu boasts the largest concentration of stone
ruins on Lanaʻi. A gulch separates the two sides of the bay, with remnants of former
house sites on the eastern side, obscured by thorny kiawe. The stone walls of
Halulu
Heiau
at the western side of the gulch still dominate the scene. The temple once served
as a
puʻuhonua
(place of refuge), where taboo-breakers fled to elude their death sen-
tences. There are over 100 building sites here.
Northwest of the heiau, a natural stone wall runs along the perimeter of the sea cliff.
Look for a break in the wall at the cliff's edge, where there's a sheer 80ft drop known as
Kahekili's Jump
. The ledge below makes diving into the ocean a death-defying thrill,
but is recommended for professionals only. It's said that Kamehameha the Great would
test the courage of upstart warriors by having them leap from this spot. More recently, it
has been the site of cliff-diving championships.
To get to Kaunolu, follow Kaumalapaʻu Hwy (Hwy 440) 0.6 miles past the airport,
and turn left onto a partial gravel and dirt road that runs south through abandoned pine-
apple fields for 2.2 miles. A carved stone marks the turn onto a much rougher but still
4WD-capable road down to the sea. After a further 2.5 miles you'll see a sign for a short
interpretive trail
, which has well-weathered signs explaining the history of Kaunolu.
Another 0.3 miles brings you to a parking area amid the ruins. One complication of a vis-
it to this spot is that your rental firm may not allow you to drive here. Check first.
