Places on Kauai: Prince Kuhio Park

Basic Information

• Name: Prince Kuhio Park
• Where: Poipu, Kauai
• Cost: Free
• Hours: Anytime
• More Information: Ancient Sites of Kauai

Directions

From Lihue take the Kaumualii Highway west until it reaches Highway 520.  Take Highway 520, also called Maluhia Road, south towards the small village of Koloa.  In Koloa make a right and then an immediate left on to Poipu Road.  Follow Poipu Road south until it reaches a traffic circle.  At the traffic circle exit on to Lawai Road.  Follow Lawai Road along the coast for a short distance until Prince Kuhio Park is visible on the right.

Parking

There is no designated parking lot which means visitors will need to park along the side of the road.

Narrative

On the south side of Kauai is the small Prince Kuhio Park.  The park is significant in Hawaiian history for being the birth place of Hawaii’s first Native Hawaiian Congressman, Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalaniana’ole in 1871:

The prince was the great grandson of Kauai’s last monarch, King Kaumuali’i.  He was born in a traditional Hawaiian “hale” or hut that would have been constructed on one of the rock platforms located in the park:

Prince Kuhio had a very interesting early life that included being jailed for a year for participating in a rebellion against the Republic of Hawaii that was founded after the monarchy was overthrown in 1893.  After he was released from jail he went on a world tour with his wife and ended up serving in the British military.  During his time in the British military he saw combat action during the Second Boer War in Africa.  He eventually made his way back to Hawaii and became active in politics.  He joined the Republican Party and was elected to Congress in 1903.  He served in Congress until his death in 1922.  In the middle of the park there is a large memorial to Prince Kalaniana’ole:

Here is a closer look at the memorial:

Besides being the birthplace of Prince Kuhio the park was also once the location of a traditional Hawaiian fishing shrine called Ho’ai Heiau.  The fishing shrine is considered unusual in Hawaii because of it having a raised stone platform when most heiaus were constructed on the ground with a rock wall around it:

In front of the heiau there was also a small fishpond which is believed to have been much larger in ancient times, but today has been cut off from the ocean by the road:

Conclusion

For those not interested in native Hawaiian history and culture the park is probably not worth going out of your way to visit.  However, for those visiting the Poipu area who would like to learn a little more about Hawaiian history Prince Kuhio Park is an easy place to stop and spend a few minutes to checkout before moving on to other attractions in the area.