Kauai's South Shore
The South Shore of Kauai is one of the driest and sunniest parts of the island, which comprises mainly Poipu, the island’s best- known beach area, and the small towns of Koloa, Lawai and Kalaheo.
Koloa
Koloa is a small, quaint, tourist-oriented town, situated approximately 7 miles west of Lihue. It is most notably the birthplace of Hawaii’s sugar industry, where the first sugar plantation of the islands was established in 1835. Old Town Koloa, in fact, is filled with restored plantation-era buildings that now house an interesting little collection of shops, boutiques, art galleries and restaurants. Here you can also visit the Koloa History Center with its sugar plantation-era treasures.
Poipu
Poipu, which lies 2 miles south of Koloa, is one of the island’s best-known beach resorts, centered around the popular Poipu Beach. Poipu Beach itself is crescent- shaped, sandy, sun-drenched, and quite possibly among the best beaches in Hawaii, with excellent swimming, snorkeling, surfing and boogey-boarding possibilities. There are other beaches here as well, among them Sheraton, Shipwreck, Baby Beach and Brennecke’s. and myriad hotels, condominiums, restaurants and shops. Besides the beaches in the Poipu area, you can also visit the Moir Gardens at the Kiahuna Plantation Condominiums, featured in the book, Great Gardens of America.
Lawai
Lawai is another small, rural town, 2 miles northwest of Koloa, which was once at the center of the island’s pineapple industry. There are two principal attractions here now, the McBryde and Allerton Gardens, both part of the larger, nationally-supported National Tropical Botanical Garden.
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