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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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Founder & certified Hawai'i travel expert with 20+ years in Hawai'i tourism, University of South Carolina climate-research training, and NOAA weather-station experience.
Trades are breezy right now with scattered showers on the windward side and mountains; the leeward coast stays mostly dry. Tomorrow stays breezy with the same pattern.
A tropical disturbance southeast of the islands is likely to become a tropical storm by mid-week and approach the state Thursday through Saturday. The exact track is still uncertain. If it comes closer, expect heavier rain over a longer stretch; if it stays farther out, impacts will be shorter and lighter. Winds will increase late this week, with potential gusts over 70 miles per hour on the highest summits.
Plan your leeward beach time and snorkeling for today through Tuesday. Save summit drives and offshore water sports for after Saturday, and check updates daily as this develops.
0:000:53
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Trade winds are pushing across Maui right now and staying breezy through tomorrow. Windward slopes and peaks will see scattered showers; the leeward side stays mostly dry. Rough seas mean a Small Craft Advisory is in effect through Tuesday evening.
A tropical disturbance southeast of the islands is likely to become a tropical storm by mid-week and approach the state Thursday through Saturday. The track remains uncertain. Late this week, winds will increase across Maui, with summit gusts potentially exceeding 70 mph on Haleakala. The Big Island—especially Hilo and Puna—faces the highest risk of heavy rain and flooding if the storm tracks close.
Leeward beaches and snorkeling work best today through Tuesday. Avoid summit hikes and offshore water sports Thursday through Saturday.
0:000:55
Voice
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Trades are kicking today with moderate wind and rough seas. Windward slopes will see scattered showers; the leeward side stays mostly dry. A Small Craft Advisory is in effect through Tuesday evening.
A tropical disturbance southeast of the islands is likely to become a tropical storm by mid-week and approach the state Thursday through Saturday. The track remains uncertain, but the Big Island faces the highest risk of heavy rain and flooding, especially in the Hilo and Puna areas. Summit winds could exceed 70 mph late in the week. Check forecasts daily as the situation develops.
Leeward snorkeling and beach time work well through Tuesday. Save summit drives and windward hikes for today or tomorrow, and avoid offshore water sports and high elevations Thursday through Saturday.
0:000:58
Voice
Read the transcript
Trades are steady now with scattered showers on the windward side and ridges; the leeward coast stays mostly dry. Through Tuesday it stays breezy with rough seas around Maui and the Big Island, where a Small Craft Advisory is in effect through Tuesday evening.
A tropical disturbance southeast of the islands is likely to become a tropical storm by mid-week and approach the state Thursday through Saturday. The exact track is uncertain. Winds will increase across the eastern islands late this week, with potential for summit gusts over 70 mph on Maui and the Big Island if the storm intensifies.
Get your beach and snorkel time in today and tomorrow on the leeward coast. Avoid summit hikes and offshore water sports Thursday through Saturday as conditions deteriorate. The track could shift significantly—check updates daily.
Created with AI from the official NWS forecast discussion · verify with NWS before heading out
