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Waimea Swinging Bridge
Located within the West Region on Kauai
Walking the Waimea Swinging Bridge
The Waimea Swinging Bridge is a pedestrian suspension bridge spanning the Waimea River in the center of Waimea town on Kaua'i's west side. The original bridge dates back to the early 1900s, built to connect residents to farms on the far side of the river. It's been rebuilt several times -- most recently after Hurricane Iniki destroyed it in 1992.
The bridge sways and bounces as you cross. That's by design. The cables and wooden planks flex with your weight, which is part of the experience. It's perfectly safe, just a little unnerving the first time you feel it move under your feet.
What to Expect
This is a quick stop -- five minutes, maybe ten if you linger for photos. The bridge is free to walk and open during daylight hours. From the center of the span, you get a nice view up and down the Waimea River, with the red-dirt canyon walls visible in the distance.
It's walkable from Waimea's main road. Park anywhere in town, grab a shave ice at Jo-Jo's, and stroll over. The bridge sits just off Menehune Road, less than a mile from Highway 50. If you'd rather drive, the turn onto Menehune Road comes up just before mile marker 23 (on your right heading west from Hanapepe) — the bridge appears on the right after a short stretch through a residential neighborhood.
Pairing with Other Stops
Waimea is the gateway to Waimea Canyon, so most visitors pass through here on the way up or down from the canyon lookouts. The bridge pairs well with a stop at the Captain Cook monument on the waterfront or a plate lunch in town. It's a small piece of old Kaua'i history that takes almost no time to see.
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Dry conditions on Oʻahu today, with breezy wind in exposed areas. Drier weather continues through Wednesday as moisture clears out.
A medium-sized northwest swell will bring elevated surf to north and west-facing shores tonight through Sunday morning—conditions may briefly reach advisory levels. East-facing shores stay rough through the weekend. Winds remain breezy through Sunday, easing slightly Monday and Tuesday before picking up again Wednesday. A Small Craft Advisory is active through Monday morning for most coastal waters due to wind and sea state. Scattered showers arrive Thursday into Friday.
South and west shore beaches work well through Sunday for calmer conditions. North shore is worth watching tonight and Sunday morning if you're drawn to bigger waves.
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Skies are drying out across Maui today through Wednesday as moisture clears. Winds will be noticeably breezy, especially in exposed and terrain-favored spots.
North and west-facing shores will see elevated surf tonight into Sunday morning as a medium-sized northwest swell moves in—conditions may briefly reach advisory levels. East-facing shores stay rough through the weekend. A Small Craft Advisory is in effect through Monday morning for coastal waters due to wind and sea conditions. Winds ease slightly late Monday and Tuesday, then strengthen again Wednesday. The next chance of scattered showers arrives Thursday through Friday.
If you're heading to the beach, south and west shores are your best bet through Sunday. North shore is worth watching tonight and Sunday morning if you're into bigger waves.
0:000:53
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Mostly clear and dry today on the Big Island, with noticeably breezy winds in exposed areas and terrain-favored spots. That breeze continues through Sunday.
North and west-facing shores will see elevated surf tonight into Sunday morning as a medium-sized northwest swell arrives—conditions may briefly reach advisory levels. East-facing shores stay rough through the weekend. South shores stay small. A Small Craft Advisory covers most coastal waters through Monday morning due to wind and sea conditions. Winds ease slightly late Monday and Tuesday, then pick up again Wednesday. Scattered showers arrive statewide Thursday to Friday.
Head to the south and west shores for beach and snorkeling through Sunday. If bigger waves interest you, the north shore has surf to watch tonight into Sunday morning.
0:000:49
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Drier air is moving in through Wednesday. Winds will be noticeably breezy, especially in exposed areas.
Tonight into Sunday morning, a medium-sized northwest swell will push elevated surf onto the north and west shores—conditions may briefly reach advisory levels. East-facing shores stay rough through the weekend. A Small Craft Advisory is in effect through Monday morning for coastal waters due to wind and sea state. Winds ease slightly late Monday and Tuesday, then pick up again Wednesday. Scattered showers arrive Thursday or Friday.
Hit the south and west shores for swimming and snorkeling through Sunday. If you want to watch big waves, the north shore is worth a look tonight into Sunday morning.
Created with AI from the official NWS forecast discussion · verify with NWS before heading out
