Open for occasional tours, this sublimely peaceful site once held a Hawaiian heiau (temple). In 1904, however, Japanese immigrants placed 88 miniature Shingon Buddhist shrines along a steep hillside path here, symbolizing the pilgrimage shrines of Shikoku, Japan. Since the 1980s, the shrines have been beautifully restored, and a wonderful wooden temple added, the Hall of Compassion. Leisurely tours include a trail walk that amounts to a mini-pilgrimage. All welcome.
Lawaʻi International Center
Lonely Planet's must-see attractions
19.19 MILES
Hanalei Bay is Kauaʻi's postcard-perfect beach, embracing surfers, paddlers, bodyboarders and beach bums alike. It's a perfect crescent of golden sand…
Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge
22.22 MILES
The gloriously scenic wildlife refuge that marks the northernmost tip of the major Hawaiian islands protects both nesting seabirds on the coastal cliffs…
20.68 MILES
Perhaps the most beautiful spot on an island of unsurpassed beauty, this magnificent garden is a must-see stop on any North Shore itinerary. Besides…
20.88 MILES
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National Tropical Botanical Garden
2.85 MILES
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16.16 MILES
Besides the two Na Pali lookouts at the end of the paved highway, Koke‘e State Park is the starting point for almost 50 miles of outstanding hiking trails…
14.28 MILES
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Black Pot Beach Park (Hanalei Pier)
19.81 MILES
The short easternmost stretch of Hanalei Bay, alongside the rivermouth, usually offers the calmest surf among the wild North Shore swells, and is popular…
Nearby attractions
1.28 MILES
You’re only likely to visit this little park if you’re staying in Kalaheo. It’s worth a quick stop, though, to stroll through its fascinating Hawaiian…
2.84 MILES
An extraordinary tour of this garden, part of the multisite National Tropical Botanical Garden, wanders deep into Lawaʻi Valley. Robert Allerton, a…
3. National Tropical Botanical Garden
2.85 MILES
Two superb gardens in lush Lawa‘i Valley, run by the National Tropical Botanical Garden, are open to visitors. Allerton Garden, spreading back from a…
2.86 MILES
Part of the National Tropical Botanical Gardens, this gorgeous garden showcases palms, flowering and spice trees, orchids and rare endemic species, plus a…
2.96 MILES
The surf jets through like a mini-geyser through these two blowholes in the lava-rock reef. The spurts are typically less than 30ft and last only seconds,…
2.97 MILES
If driving from Lihu'e, take Maluhia Rd (Hwy 520) to navigate under the fairy-tale Tree Tunnel, a mile-long canopy of towering swamp mahogany trees (a…
3.15 MILES
Hawaii’s sugar industry, once the largest element in the islands’ economy, started with the construction of the first mill in Koloa in 1835. This memorial…
8. Kukuiʻula Small Boat Harbor
3.15 MILES
With its pavilion and camp tables, Poʻipu’s small commercial harbor is not a bad place for a picnic. Walk the jetty, check out the scuba boats and even…