H\u0101\u2018ena is Kaua\u2018i\u2019s most isolated community, steeped in tropical beauty, as well as legend and lore. It\u2019s where the Hawaiian fire goddess, Pele, is said to have dug a cavernous home, known as Waikapala\u2018e wet cave, for her lover, though her efforts were thwarted as the abode kept filling with water. Legend also has it that this north shore region was once ruled by a chiefess and was \u201cpolitically independent\u201d from the rest of the island.<\/p>\n
These stories aren\u2019t the only thing that make this location intriguing. H\u0101\u2018ena, which means \u201cred hot,\u201d is surrounded by emerald peaks and azure waters and has some of the most enchanting beaches and rainforests that truly depict a \u201cGarden Island.\u201d<\/p>\n
To get here requires driving a winding mountain-hugging road and crossing several one-lane bridges. And since word has gotten out about just how beautiful this place is, traffic tends to snarl as the day goes on, so please respect the residents and make sure to pull over when the urge to gawk settles in. As of 2019, new restrictions are in place for parking at H\u0101\u2018ena, with reservations required.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s really no wonder why so many visitors congregate here. The vistas alone, including the famed Mount Makana (also known as Bali Hai), are beyond imagination. H\u0101\u2018ena Beach Park is another one of these other worldly landscapes, and a great place to unwind or go for a dip.<\/p>\n
Across the street exists yet another natural wonder called Maniniholo dry cave. The cavern is where Menehune, believed to be the original inhabitants of Kaua\u2018i from the Marquesas Islands, are said to have stored their catch for the day, only to have the fish disappear by the time they returned. In order to find the culprit, they dug into the mountain, thus, constructing the eerie hollow.<\/p>\n
Near the grotto and adjacent to H\u0101\u2018ena Beach is yet another spectacular site, Makua Beach or Tunnels, nicknamed for its vast underwater reef terrain. This snorkeling and scuba diving haven attracts all kinds of marine life and is best enjoyed during summer months when tides simmer down.<\/p>\n
K\u0113\u02bb\u0113 Beach, located at the end of Highway 560, is also a dazzler. Sneak a peek at the dreamy N\u0101pali Coast here and, if the season is right, enjoy a lovely shoreline walk.<\/p>\n
The capstone of this gorgeous sleepy town, which doesn\u2019t have much shopping or many eateries, is Limahuli Garden and Preserve. Step back in time and meander among lo\u02bbi<\/em> (taro patches), native plants and a restored Hawaiian hale<\/em> (home), while mountain spires stand guard around you. Marvel in this ahupua\u02bba<\/em>, a land division stretching from mountains to sea that naturally sustained the ancients, because it doesn\u2019t get more environmentally divine than this.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" H\u0101\u2018ena is Kaua\u2018i\u2019s most isolated community, steeped in tropical beauty, as well as legend and lore. It\u2019s where the Hawaiian fire goddess, Pele, is said to have dug a cavernous home, known as Waikapala\u2018e wet cave, for her lover, though her efforts were thwarted as the abode kept filling with water. Legend also has it…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":109,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-81753","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-kauai"],"yoast_head":"\n