Old Koloa Town | Go Hawaii

Old Kōloa Town

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Old Kōloa Town

What: Charming town rooted in its plantation past
Where: About 20 minutes west from Līhuʻe
 
Historic and picturesque, the Kōloa district spans from Old Kōloa Town to Kauaʻi’s beautiful South Shore in Poʻipū. Kōloa opened its first sugar mill in 1835 and set the precedent for commercial sugar production across the islands. The sugar era opened the door to a wave of immigrants that make up Hawaiʻi’s multicultural population today.
 
The gateway to the Kōloa/Poʻipū area is called the Tree Tunnel, a stretch of Maluhia Road lined with eucalyptus trees first planted a century ago. The Tree Tunnel still thrives and welcomes visitors today.
 
Old Kōloa Town has retained much of its charm with shops now occupying the plantation buildings along Kōloa Road. Stroll by old-fashioned storefronts and discover special local gifts. Stop by the Kōloa History Center any day of the week from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. to learn about the town’s sweet heritage. Then cool down with an island-style Lappert’s ice cream cone under the shade of the large monkey pod trees. Lappert’s Ice Cream Store is a Kauaʻi original and is still made fresh daily in nearby Hanapēpē. Hawaiʻi-inspired favorites include Heavenly Hāna, Big Island Inspiration and Kauaʻi Pie.
 
You can also explore the Kōloa Heritage Trail, which covers 14 cultural, historical and geological sites from Old Kōloa Town to Poʻipū. But to really experience all that this area has to offer, go to the Kōloa Plantation Days Celebration (July), an annual summer event that celebrates Kauaʻi’s rich plantation past. Further south you’ll discover the resorts around beautiful Poʻipū Beach, a modern change from charming Old Kōloa Town.