Kauai Landmarks and Monuments

(Kauai, Hawaii - HI, USA)

All over the island of Kauai you will find some really incredible landmarks and naturally formed monuments, which are at times, nothing short of jaw-dropping. Manawaiopuna Falls is one such landmark on Kauai and has really never been more visited, thanks in no small part to its very famous appearance in the 1993 Steven Spielberg epic movie blockbuster, Jurassic Park. Other very noteworthy waterfalls also include the Opaekaa Falls and the Wailua Falls.

No trip to Kauai can really be considered to be complete without first paying a visit to the Waimea Canyon, which was created over literally hundreds of thousands of years, by water running off Mount Waialeale. Man-made landmarks and Hawaiian monuments are also very much present on Kauai, with the most significant including both the Kilauea Point Lighthouse and also the Hanalei Pier, which has a unique history all of its own.

Kilauea Point Lighthouse

Address: Kilauea Lighthouse Road, Kilauea, Kauai, HI-96754, Hawaii HI, USA
Tel: +1 808 828 1413
The Kilauea Point Lighthouse has become one of the most notable man-made landmarks on the island of Kauai, not just because of its age and history, but because it marks the northernmost spot of all Hawaii's main islands. Constructed in 1913 to guide ships around the Orient, the Kilauea Lighthouse proudly stands on a narrow peninsula strip and is very traditional in its appearance, being bright white and cylindrical, and topped with a huge glass lantern and red roof. The views here are superb, and if you bring your binoculars, you will be able to clearly see the colony of Hawaiian monk seals, who live on the neighboring islet of Mokuaeae. Kilauea Point Lighthouse measures some 16 metres / 52 feet in height and is open to members of the public, featuring its very own gift shop.
Open hours: daily - 10:00 to 16:00
Admission: charge, children under 16 years old are free

Wailua Falls

Address: Maalo Road, Kauai, Hawaii HI, USA
The very elegant Wailua Falls cascade down some 25 metres / 82 feet and easy to reach, being just a short walk from the road and on the eastern side of the island. Depending upon the flow of the river and the recent rainfall, the appearance of this waterfall can vary greatly, comprising three individual waterfalls created by naturally formed channels, which come together to form one impressive foaming mass of water. Tourists find this landmark especially interesting, since it featured on the opening titles of the past television series, 'Fantasy Island'.
Open hours: daily - 24 hours
Admission: free

Manawaiopuna Falls (Jurassic Park Falls)

Address: Hanapepe Valley, Kauai, Hawaii HI, USA
This dramatic waterfall was filmed in the legendary sequence in Jurassic Park, where the helicopter lands on the island, first hovering next to the dramatic Manawaiopuna Falls and clearly the surrounding lush foliage within the Hanapepe Valley.

In fact, due to this relatively recent claim to fame, the waterfall has now become known as simply the 'Jurassic Park Falls'.
Open hours: daily - 24 hours
Admission: free

Opaekaa Falls

Address: Route 580, Kauai, Hawaii HI, USA
The Opaekaa Falls is simple to find, being located just over a mile from the very beginning of Route 580. There is even a handy car park close by, which comes complete with a good vantage point, where you can see this spectacular waterfall in all its glory. Nearby and over the road, the views of the Wailua River are not to be overlooked.
Open hours: daily - 24 hours
Admission: free

Waimea Canyon and Kokee State Park

Address: Kokee Road, Highway 552, Waimea, Kauai, Hawaii HI, HI-96752, USA
Tel: +1 808 274 3433
Stretching for more than 16 km / 10 miles and used in the Jurassic Park movie, this seemingly endless landmark is just an awesome sight are can be reached along the Highway 550. In some places, the valley of Waimea Canyon is around 1.5 km / 1 mile wide, and over 1,000 metres / 3,280 feet deep. Often referred to as the 'Grand Canyon of the Pacific', the Waimea Canyon is very rocky and quite red / orange in its overall appearance, although the distinct desert feel contrasts greatly with the surrounding greenery. Directly above the canyon, the views from the Kokee State Park are awesome, and camping is available here, along with a number of exceptional hiking trails.
Open hours: daily - 24 hours
Admission: free

Hanalei Pier

Address: Weke Road, Black Pot Beach Park, Hanalei, Kauai, Hawaii HI, HI-96714, USA
Tel: +1 800 464 2924
Hanalei Pier is a particularly historic landmark on the northern shore of Kauai, since it dates as far back as the latter part of the 19th century. Situated within the Black Pot Beach Park, Hanalei Pier was originally constructed to enable local farmers to load their good onto boats, which were often destined for neighboring Hawaiian islands. Today, the pier is a popular attraction in its own right, with many tourists and locals choosing to meet and relax here, jump into the water, or even try their hand at fishing from the very end of the pier.
Open hours: daily - 24 hours
Admission: free