KAUA‘I D iscover

Kaua‘i's past echoes across the island, often in the most unexpected moments and places. A lighthouse hugging the coastline. Sacred heiau (temples) on windswept cliffs. Fishponds that are steeped in mythology. Historic museums and meaningful festivals. You’ll also deepen your appreciation for the idea of mālama (to care for) as knowledgeable docents and guides share their passion for local cultures expressed through the enduring languages of art, music and dance.

Discover History Kaua‘i's History

Geologically, Kaua‘i is the oldest of the six main Hawaiian Islands. Kaua‘i’s distant past is filled with legends, the most well-known tells of the Menehune, a mythical race of small people talented in construction and engineering who created Kaua‘i’s aqueducts and fishponds, often in a single night. Originally nicknamed the “Sandwich Isles” after the Earl of Sandwich, Kaua‘i was introduced to the western world by Captain James Cook after he landed in Waimea Bay in 1778. During this era of western discovery, King Kamehameha I was attempting to unify all the Hawaiian Islands under his rule. Kaua‘i and Ni‘ihau (a small, neighboring island), were the only islands to deter his efforts. Later, Kaua‘i’s reigning king, King Kaumuali‘i, united peacefully with King Kamehameha I in 1810. Kaua‘i’s fertile soil provided excellent conditions for kalo (taro) cultivation. When pounded, the plant’s edible roots create poi — a staple in the diet of the native population. Today, you can still find kalo plantations scattered across the island, in verdant fields of green, heart-shaped kalo leaves.