Kaumalapau Harbor | Go Hawaii

Kaumālapa‘u Harbor

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Kaumālapa‘u Harbor

What: Unique harbor with unobstructed sunset views
Where: 3.5 miles (5.6 km) west of the airport at the end of Highway 440
 
Located on the southwestern coast, Kaumālapa‘u is the main commercial seaport for Lānaʻi. The original harbor breakwater was built in the 1920s by James Dole, the founder of the Hawaiian Pineapple Company. After years of hurricanes severely damaged the harbor, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers constructed a new breakwater. The project was dedicated on July 7, 2007 and now Kaumālapa‘u Harbor has a one of a kind look. Buttressed by 819 white 35-ton Core-Loc armor units — the largest of their kind in the world — the harbor appears to be surrounded by giant, jack-like concrete blocks.
 
Drive to Kaumālapa‘u Harbor, perch yourself atop a stone wall and treat yourself to a romantic sunset. This is one of the best and most accessible spots on the island to get an unobstructed view of the sunset. From December through May, you can also spot whales swimming just beyond the harbor. And throughout the year you may catch pods of spinner dolphins splashing offshore. The drive to Kaumālapa‘u Harbor is also quite scenic, giving you distant views of western Lānaʻi’s dramatic sea cliffs. Note that access to the harbor is limited on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays due to security matters and freight activity. There are also no facilities at the harbor.