Haʻena State Park

ʻena State Park

Haʻena State Park

Keʻe Beach from the Kalalau Trail
North Shore Kauai
Location Hawaii, U.S.
Nearest city Hanalei, Hawaii
Coordinates 22°13′15″N 159°34′42″W / 22.22083°N 159.57833°W[1]
Area 230 acres (0.93 km2)
Governing body Hawai'i Department of Land and Natural Resources
http://www.hawaiistateparks.org/parks/hawaii/Index.cfm?park_id=8

ʻena State Park is a state park located on the north shore of the Hawaiian island of Kauaʻi. It is often referred to as the "end of the road" and marks the end point of the Kuhio Highway.[2] The park provides access to beaches, trails, and several ancient Hawaiian sites, including sea caves estimated to be more than 4,000 years old. Archaeological sites associated with the hula, including a Heiau (shrine) dedicated to Laka, are located above the park's beaches.[3]

Description

A little over an hour's drive from Lihue and 5 miles (8.0 km) west of Hanalei, Hawaii, the 230-acre park is at the terminus of the Kuhio Highway (Hawaii Route 560) at 22°13′15″N 159°34′42″W / 22.22083°N 159.57833°WCoordinates: 22°13′15″N 159°34′42″W / 22.22083°N 159.57833°W.[4]

The small parking lot was not large enough to accommodate all the visitors, so an overflow parking lot was built. Though the beach has a relatively safe lagoon, very strong currents have been reported at the bay, especially in the winter. Amenities at the park include pay phones, picnic tables, restrooms and outdoor showers.[1]

Limahuli Stream enters the ocean at the eastern edge of the state park. To the south of the park, Makana mountain soars above Limahuli Garden and Preserve in the valley.[5] Just before the Kēʻē beach is the Kalalau Trail trailhead, an 11-mile (18 km) foot path that is the only land access into the Nā Pali Coast State Park. The area surrounding the beaches is vegetated by ironwood trees, coconut palms, ti, and guava.

Beaches

Haʻena, looking west

External links

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 "Hā‘ena State Park". Hawaii State Parks web site. Retrieved October 13, 2010.
  2. Luci Yamamoto (2006). Kaua'i. Lonely Planet. p. 154. ISBN 978-1-74059-096-9.
  3. John R. K. Clark (2004). "lookup of ʻē ". in Hawai'i Place Names: Shores, Beaches, and Surf Sites. Ulukau, the Hawaiian Electronic Library, University of Hawaii Press. Retrieved October 13, 2010.
  4. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Hāʻena State Park Retrieved October 13, 2010.
  5. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Limahuli Stream
  6. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Kē‘ē Beach Retrieved October 13, 2010.
  7. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Tunnels Beach
  8. John R. K. Clark (2004). "lookup of Tunnels ". in Hawai'i Place Names: Shores, Beaches, and Surf Sites. Ulukau, the Hawaiian Electronic Library, University of Hawaii Press. Retrieved October 13, 2010.
  9. Kauai County Visitors Bureau
  10. Mary Kawena Pukui, Samuel Hoyt Elbert and Esther T. Mookini (2004). "lookup of ʻē ". in Place Names of Hawai'i. Ulukau, the Hawaiian Electronic Library, University of Hawaii Press. Retrieved October 13, 2010.
  11. Pukui, Mary Kawena. Place Names of Hawaii. University of Hawaii Press. ISBN 0-8248-0524-0.
  12. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Hā‘ena Retrieved October 13, 2010.