Kauai 2009 Travel Planner - (Page 20) great spots to learn to surf or snorkel, and the swimming is idyllic. Adjacent Nukumoi Point has a well-populated reef with angel fish, striped damsels, Moorish idols, black tangs and schools of canary-colored butterfly fish sharing the clear waters. Families who gather for picnics on weekends enjoy Po‘ipu ¯ Beach Park. It is a sharp contrast to Shipwreck Beach, separated from the rest of Po‘ipu ¯ by a rocky coastline etched with a few nature trails. A dawn walk along the cliffs is exhilarating, and a popular excursion. The beaches of Po‘ipu draw ¯ sun-lovers of all species, including the endangered Hawaiian monk seals that scoot up on the sands and stretch out to rest after a strenuous night of hunting. Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalaniana‘ole, a ¯¯ delegate to the United States Congress and a tireless worker for the rights of native Hawaiians, was born along the Po‘ipu coast at Kukui‘ula in 1871. The ¯ foundation of the royal home and its fishpond are incorporated into Prince Kuhio Park. His birthday is a state ¯¯ holiday celebrated every March on Kaua‘i with cultural events. Further up the coast, a lava tube forces spumes of salty surf as high as 50 feet in the air. Called Spouting Horn, this natural wonder is a photographer’s dream, especially at sunset when it becomes incandescent with the colors of the rainbow. Everyone stops here at least once. Nature also has painted the gardens of Kaua‘i with vivid hues. The United States Congress chartered the National Tropical Botanical Garden at La wa‘i ¯ in 1964. This magnificent preserve claims the world’s largest collection of rare and endangered plants. The Herbarium contains over 56,000 specimens of tropical flora. Adjoining are another hundred acres comprising the oceanfront Allerton Garden. It was originally planted in the 1870s by Queen Emma who found solace here after the loss of her husband and only child. The garden is an enchantment of sculpture, pools, fountains and flowers set amid pathways beside a stream and along the sea. Koloa stands out because of its place ¯ in history. Koloa Landing was once the ¯ main port of entry for the island. It was a favorite haven of the Yankee Pacific Whaling Fleet, and later, interisland steamers called. The remains of the island’s first sugar mill are here. There is great nostalgia for those simple days, so people pull out all the stops for the Koloa Plantation Days celebration in ¯ July. There’s a craft fair, parade, music, sports and storytelling. The M¯h¯‘ulep¯ aa u Heritage Trail is a series of unmarked paths along a section of wild coastline. The Koloa Heritage Trail, a self-guided ¯ 10-mile walk, bike ride or drive,includes 14 historical landmarks of the area. 20 KAUA‘I Hawai‘i’s Island of Discovery™ KTP07 Poipu Beach Resort 1.6V 1 9/21/07 12:10:13 PM http://www.poipubeach.org http://www.oldkoloa.com http://www.poipubeach.org http://www.oldkoloa.com
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