Kauai South Shore - Poipu

Island of Kauai

What To See - Koloa

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Driving from to Po`ipu, you’ll be greeted by the Tunnel of Trees, an amazing one-mile stretch lined with eucalyptus trees. They were planted
by Walter Duncan McBryde, a Scot who was a cattle rancher on Kaua`i.
The trees are eucalyptus robustus, a native of Australia. This is one of over 50 eucalyptus species that introduced to Hawai`i for various purposes. Although the trees were damaged by Hurricanes Iwa and Iniki, they still form a beautiful canopy to welcome you to the South Shore.

To see the Tunnel of Trees, take Kaumuali`i Highway (Highway 50) west from Lihu`e. Turn left on Maluhia Road (Highway 520). The Tunnel of Trees lines the first section of the road on the way to Po’ipu. Roll down the windows and breathe!

Knudsen’s Gap is a narrow passage between the Haupu Mountain Range and Kahili Ridge. Its primary function was as a small sugar farm planted by the Knudsen family. Old stories say that crossing this area in the late 1800s was extremely dangerous as robbers hid here and ambushed travelers passing through. The land is privately owned, but you can still see Knudsen’s Gap just before you turn off of Kaumuali`i Highway to Maluhia Road.

Waita Reservoir is the largest man-made reservoir in the State of Hawai`i. It was built in 1906 and still supplies the area with its water. It’s also known for very good bass fishing. Koloa means “long sugar” in Hawaiian. Seems rather appropriate, considering the history of the region.

Koloa Sugar Plantation. In 1833, William Hooper, Peter Brinsdale and William Ladd formed Ladd & Company in Honolulu as a trading company.
In 1835, they leased over 900 acres in Koloa and started planting sugar. The plantation was successful right away and grew very rapidly. Homes for
workers were built, stores were opened. Koloa soon grew into a self-sufficient town with churches (some are among the oldest on the island) and schools. Immigrants from all over the world came to Kaua`i to work at the plantations. People came from other Hawaiian islands, China, Japan, Europe and the Philippines in droves.

In 1837, these plantation workers were the first to use plantation scrip to purchase goods, which brought a new style of commerce to Hawai`i. The mill closed in 1996.

What remains of the plantation is very little. In an open field as you enter Koloa Town, you can see the quiet remains of the old sugar mill. There’s also a memorial dedicated to the immigrants and Hawaiians who toiled the fields. You can see the Old Koloa Sugar Mill at the end of Weliweli Road.

Your visit to Koloa is not complete without a trip to the Koloa History Center. The center is small, but it’s packed with old photographs and artifacts that detail the intriguing history of the area. You can also pick up a map of the Koloa Heritage Trail. To get to the Koloa History Center, drive down Maluhia Road (Highway 520) into Koloa Town. The center is in Old Koloa Town shopping center, next to the Salvation Army Church.

The Koloa Heritage Trail is a 10-mile walking trail that will take you through 14 historic and cultural sites in Koloa and around the South Shore. You’ll learn the history and stories behind Koloa Landing, Moir Gardens, Po`ipu Beach, Keoneloa Bay,Yamamoto Store, Koloa Hotel, the Koloa Jodo
Mission and Koloa Missionary Church. You can pick up a bro-chure at Koloa History Center and at racks and hotels throughout the island. Start out at any point on the trail. You don’t have to start at Spouting Horn. If walking 10 miles seems a bit daunting, you can bike or drive the trail.

Koloa Church. This gorgeous white church was built in 1859 and was once the site of the Koloa Mission. You can’t miss the white steeple, which seems somewhat out of place. Its official name is The Church at Koloa, but it’s also known as Koloa Church or White Church.

Koloa Union Church is made of black lava rock and has a very rich history dating back to the mid 1800s. In the 1920s the church underwent a major renovation and formally chartered itself as Koloa Union Church. You can see the church next to Koloa Church as you drive along Po`ipu Road.

St. Raphael’s is the first Catholic church on Kaua`i. Although missionaries were allowed to practice their religion freely, the Hawaiian Kingdom did not allow Catholics to celebrate Mass until 1939. Father Arsenius Robert Walsh originally went to Honolulu in 1936 but was denied entry by the Hawaiian Kingdom. The captain of a French ship convinced the Hawaiian government to allow Father Walsh to stay and they relented. During that time, Catholics were persecuted by Congregationalists, who had good relations with Hawaiian Kingdom. In 1939, the French threatened to attack Hawai`i if Catholics couldn’t practice their religion. The Hawaiian Kingdom conceded. FatherWalsh went to Kaua`i in 1841 to establish the church and named it after St. Raphael the Archangel. The first Catholic Mass was celebrated on Christmas 1841. The existing church was built in 1856 and was renovated in 1936. There’s also an old cemetery on the grounds of the church. St. Raphael’s Catholic Church is at 3011 Hapa Road in Koloa. To get there, take Weliweli Road and bear right on Hapa Road. The church will be at the end of the road.

Koloa Landing, In the mid-1800s, Koloa was a major center of commerce on Kaua`i. It was the third-largest whaling port in the Hawaiian Islands and was the only port used for imports. The landing was used extensively by the sugar industry until 1912.

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