On Highway 460 just west of the town of Kaunakakai, next to Kiowea Beach Park and across from Church Row, is the historic Kapuaiwa Coconut Grove. This is one of the last of the royal coconut groves in Hawaii. One of Hawaii’s oldest coconut groves, the first trees were planted here in the 1860s by King Kamehameha V. Supposedly, 1,000 coconuts were planted to commemorate the 1,000 warriors in his army. Back then the planted area was about 10 acres, but now only a few hundred coconut trees remain. The grove was called«Kapuaiwa» after the King’s given name, which means«sacred one who is protected by supernatural powers». Posted signs warn of the danger of falling coconuts. A military bunker from World War II still stands at the edge of the grove. Should have come here to take pictures of the coconut trees in the sunset. Woulda, shoulda, coulda, but didn’t think of it. I was kidnapped to the Paddler’s Inn happy hour by a wahine who dulled my thoughts with Guinness and weaved her spell. Everything went hazy after that, but I’m told I had a good time. It’s not THAT impressive nowadays, but cool to see. Four stars b/c of the historic value. They are about to build a new picnic pavilion at adjacent Kiowea Beach Park, so the area is being improved. Maybe they should plant some more coconut trees. Just a thought. Mahalos yeah fo’ checkin’ out dis place.
