Spouting Horn Beach Park is located on Lawa'i Road in Po'ipu in south Kauai. The ocean attraction can be viewed from the top of a small hill with a guard-rail. This is a popular spot for tour buses, so expect to share some space at the rail. Like other blowholes, Spouting Horn is caused by a hole in a lava shelf. The ocean rushes under the shelf and up through the hole with a mighty force that sends water shooting into the air. What makes this blowhole slightly different is the addition of a second hole that only emits wind and creates a great moaning sound.
Spouting Horn puts on quite a show at high tide but is equally entertaining most of the time. It is possible, although not encouraged, to go beyond the guard-rail and explore the lava bench. This activity is done at your own risk as some unfortunate souls have been injured or killed when a large wave sucked them into the blowhole. There are rest rooms in the park. It seems that this area is also popular with local merchants who will set up booths of souvenirs. If you have some time, be sure to take a second to peruse your way through their booths. You might just find a treasure worth taking home. Take Highway 50 from Hanapepe toward Lawa'i. Just past Mile Marker #11 turn right on Koloa Road (Highway 530). Continue to Po'ipu Road and turn right again. The road forks near the ocean, go right on Lawa'i Road. Spouting Horn is approximately one mile down the road on the left. Park and walk down to the overlook.
Visiting Spouting Horn
What to Expect
Spouting Horn is a natural lava tube blowhole on Kauai's south shore in Poipu. Ocean waves push through an underwater lava tube and blast water up to 50 feet into the air. The bigger the surf, the bigger the show. You'll also hear a distinctive hissing/moaning sound — Hawaiian legend says it's a giant mo'o (lizard) trapped in the tube.
The blowhole sits behind a guardrail at a small county park. Most visits take 15-20 minutes. Go when the surf is up for the most dramatic spouts. Late afternoon light is best for photos, and you might catch a rainbow in the mist.
Vendors & Shopping
Local artisans set up booths in the parking area selling jewelry, crafts, and souvenirs. Prices are reasonable and you're buying direct from makers. Worth a browse — the shell jewelry is particularly nice.
Getting There
From Poipu, head west on Lawai Road. Spouting Horn is about a mile past the National Tropical Botanical Garden entrance, on the left. Free parking. Restrooms on site. No entry fee.
Nearby Attractions
Allerton and McBryde Gardens (National Tropical Botanical Garden) are a short drive away. Poipu Beach is about 10 minutes east. Pair Spouting Horn with a garden tour for a solid half-day on the south shore.
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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.
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Created with AI from this HawaiiGuide page and read by a computer-generated voice. Double-check fees, hours, and reservations on the full page before you head out. Hawaiian pronunciation is tricky for synthesized speech and a few words may land slightly off; mahalo for your patience as we keep refining.
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