Kauai's South Shore

Last of my Kauai blogs--August 9, 2011. We traveled near the airport in Lihue since this was our last day of sight seeing. We started at Lydgate Park just behind our hotel, with its historical heiaus and a nice walk down the path above the beaches and the man-made snorkeling bay, where kids supposedly learn to snorkel. The better snorkeling spot, however, is Poipu Beach Park, especially for a novice like me with a leaking snorkel mask. The water is calm and the fish are plenty, and flavored shaved ice and taro chips are in the market across the street. Following Poipu and Lawa'i roads from east to west, we started at shipwreck rock. A hike to the top of the rock gave us spectacular views of the crashing sea below. Stunt doubles have dived off this rock in probably more than one movie, but if any of us did it, curtains. It's a long way down and a nice long trail along the top of the bluffs where sea fishermen cast a very, very long line. West of Poipu Beach Park is Prince Kuhio beach, another small snorkeling beach. Prince Kuhio, the last reigning prince in Hawaii, was thought to be responsible for bringing Hawaii to statehood with the United States congress. Continuing west, we visited the spouting horn--a large jetty of rocks with holes that cause waves to shoot water up like a geyser. With each eruption, the legendary mo'o (a lizard) trapped beneath the rocks hisses at the people above.
We left the area the way we came in, through the beautiful Eucalyptus tree tunnel on Maluhia Road between old Koloa town and the main Kaumualii highway. Heading back towards Lihue, we visited the thousand-year-old fish pond. In ancient days they diverted the river to capture fish, but now it serves threatened and endangered birds in one of Kauai's wildlife refuges. Our final adventure was searching for the Point Anini lighthouse in Lihue, but it stands abandoned in disrepair. The light that replaced it can now only be seen from the Hyatt Regency golf course. It's a good thing the State of Hawaii requires private resorts to allow public access to their sites. If it was all private, we would not be able to enjoy the beaches, cliffs, and spectacular views along Kauai's shorelines.