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Keahua Forestry Arboretum
Located within the East Region on Kauai
Keahua Forestry Arboretum offers a variety of plant life from monkeypod and eucalyptus trees to exotic mango. The park has several picnic pavilions to relax on and fresh swimming pools and streams to cool off on a hot day. Several of the island's popular hikes like the Kuilau and Powerline trails begin here. You may also catch a glimpse of Mt. Wai'ale'ale if it is not wearing its customary robe of clouds.
Two easy 15-minute trails lead visitors throughout the park. To get to Keahua take Highway 56 north from Lihue. You will cross the Wailua River Bridge and then turn mauka onto Kuamo'o Road. The arboretum is 5 miles up the road.
Keahua Arboretum
Keahua Arboretum is the kind of place most tourists drive right past. Inland from Kapa'a, up a winding road with no signage worth mentioning, this free park is where locals go to swim, picnic, and escape the beach crowds.
What's Here
The Civilian Conservation Corps planted these tropical trees in the 1930s. Monkeypod, eucalyptus, and exotic mango trees now tower over the grounds. The canopy is thick and the air is noticeably cooler than the coast.
A stream runs through the arboretum with several swimming holes. Locals love this spot on hot days. The water is fresh and cold. Two short trails (about 15 minutes each) loop through the park. Picnic pavilions are scattered throughout.
Trailhead Access
The Kuilau Ridge Trail starts here. It is a moderate 2.1-mile hike with mountain and valley views. The Powerline Trail also begins nearby, connecting Kauai's east side to the north shore (though the full trail is a serious all-day commitment). On clear days, you might catch a glimpse of Mt. Wai'ale'ale from the arboretum.
Know Before You Go
The access road gets muddy after rain. 4WD is strongly recommended, especially in the final stretch. The arboretum itself can be muddy too, so wear shoes you don't mind getting dirty.
From Highway 56 in Wailua, cross the Wailua River Bridge and turn inland (mauka) onto Kuamo'o Road (Highway 580). The arboretum is about 5 miles up the road. Free entry, no facilities beyond the picnic pavilions. Bring your own water and food.
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Trade winds are strong right now, with high surf hitting the south shore today. Windward areas are seeing frequent showers through the weekend.
South-facing beaches have dangerous surf today through Sunday—stay out of the water unless you're an experienced swimmer. East-facing shores will build rough water by Sunday or Monday. The bigger picture is a tropical system, Fausto, heading our way. It's weakening but should arrive near the islands by Tuesday or Wednesday as a tropical storm or weaker system, bringing strong winds, rough seas, and heavy rain. The exact track is still uncertain, so check the forecast daily.
Get your beach time and water activities in today through early next week on the leeward side, where conditions stay calmer. Be ready to shift plans by midweek when conditions turn rough.
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Windy conditions across Maui right now, with trade winds gusting strong. South-facing shores have high surf today and will see another big swell Saturday and Sunday—the water's dangerous unless you're an experienced ocean swimmer.
Through the weekend, windward areas will get frequent showers while trade winds stay gusty. The bigger picture arrives midweek: Hurricane Fausto is weakening as it moves toward the islands and should reach Maui as a tropical storm or weaker system Tuesday or Wednesday. That'll bring rough seas, strong winds, and heavy rain. Track and timing are still uncertain, so check updates daily.
Hit the leeward beaches and snorkel south Maui coasts today through early next week, but stay out of windward and south-facing waters through Sunday.
0:000:54
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Windy conditions dominate right now with strong trade winds pushing across the island. South-facing shores have high surf today—dangerous water if you're not an experienced swimmer.
Through the weekend, those south shores see another big swell Saturday and Sunday, and east-facing shores will build dangerous conditions by Sunday or Monday. Windward areas get frequent showers. A tropical system—the remnants of Hurricane Fausto—is weakening and headed toward the islands as a tropical storm or weaker system by Tuesday or Wednesday, bringing rough seas, strong winds, and heavy rain midweek. Timing and track are still uncertain, so check updates daily.
Leeward beaches on the Kona side stay your best bet today through early next week, but avoid the water on the windward and south shores through Sunday.
0:000:57
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Strong trade winds are pushing showers across windward areas through the weekend. On Kauaʻi, expect frequent showers on the windward side.
High surf is running on south-facing shores today and will build again Saturday and Sunday—stay out of the water unless you're an experienced swimmer. East-facing shores will also see dangerous swell by Sunday or Monday. Hurricane Fausto is weakening as it moves toward Hawaii. By Tuesday or Wednesday it should reach the islands as a tropical storm or weaker system, bringing rough seas, strong winds, and heavy rain. Track and timing are still uncertain, so check updates daily through midweek.
Beach time on leeward shores works through early next week. Plan water activities for today, but be ready to shift if Fausto's track becomes clearer—conditions will deteriorate by midweek.
Created with AI from the official NWS forecast discussion · verify with NWS before heading out