If you are looking for a different kind of adventure when visiting Hawaii, make sure you take the time to explore Makauwahi Cave in Kauai!
This enchanted place used to be a cave on the coast of Kauai, but when the roof collapsed in, it created a sink hole with a lake contained inside. Many species of plants and animals have lived here over the years. The lake is gone now, but so much remains to be found.

Where is Makauwahi Cave in Kauai?
DIRECTIONS: Find the south shore of Kauai and the town of Poipu. Head east on Poipu Road until it turns to dirt. Stay on this road passing the Hyatt and golf course on your right side. The road will come to a T in the road. Take a right and drive a short distance. Take the second right, down a dirt road. There should be signage pointing the way from here.

Makauwahi Cave Preserve
Park in the Parking area above, and take a short walk across a bridge, and go right to the entrance of the Makauwahi Cave in Kauai. You will have to get on your hands and knees to enter this cave, but the entrance is only about 8-10 feet long.

Once you are inside you will be able to stand up, but watch your head! The cave opens up into a circular amphitheater. It makes for a quiet and peaceful place to be, and you can hear the ocean ever so faintly off in the distance.


This is not a guided tour here, and it is totally free to explore the caves. You are able to donate to the preservation of the cave though. There is a person in the south end of the cave that gives out information to anyone wanting to learn more about the caves.
Whats up with the name Makauwahi?
Makauwahi in the native language translates to “smoke eye.” This is due to the legend of a Seer that used to live here when the cave had water in it. You could go to this man and ask him a question and he would throw a piece of charcoal into the water and read the smoke that would come out.

There is a lot of grass, foliage, and trees growing in the open cave. There is plenty of sunlight and rain so anything that falls or blows into the cave from afar will grow quite well.


Cave Information
Makauwahi Cave has a lot to learn. It is Hawaii’s largest limestone cave, and contains hundreds of plants and waterbirds that are native to the islands, many of which are endangered. There is always ongoing research at the cave, and they are constantly digging up more fossils, and discovering new secrets of the cave.
The ecosystem inside of the cave is different from outside of the cave surrounding it, and there is even a special ecosystem inside the small cave at the south end of the the large open cave.
The South Makauwahi Cave


I’m not sure this spot is officially called the south cave, but that’s what i’m calling it, since it seems to branch off into a separate cave. This is where you can find the dude talking about the cave, and all the discoveries being found new and old.

All the information at the cave opening is pretty cool. It talks a little about the preservation, findings, and history of the entire Makauwahi Cave. After reading the info and listening to the worker, you can go explore the cave a little.



Leaving the Cave
Once your done head back out the way you came in and don’t head back to your car quite yet. Instead, head back toward the bridge where you originally took a right, and head left. You can find a trail here that takes you up to the top, where you can look down into the sinkhole.
Looking in from above Makauwahi



When you make it up the short trail to the top, you can walk around the edge and peer into the open sinkhole. You can also see mountains off in the distance back toward the island.



Makauwahi Cave in Kauai is an amazing and interesting place filled with history, beauty, and fossils from many lifetimes, recent and prehistoric. It’s not very well known about, and is easily missed by people hiking the Maha’ulepu Heritage Trail on the south shore. If you’re going to visit the island, be sure to make time to visit.
You can learn more about Makauwahi Cave from their website here.
Check out these other blog posts from places I saw around Kauai!
- KUILAU RIDGE TRAIL
- SLEEPING GIANT (NOUNOU) TRAIL
- WAI KOA LOOP TRAIL
- ANINI BEACH
- KAUAI COFFEE CO
- DEEP SEA FISHING IN KAUAI
- SUNSET CATAMARAN IN KAUAI
- WAIMEA CANYON IN KAUAI
“I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.”
Here is a small list of gear that I take with me on my adventures.
- Camera: iPhone and GoPro
- Protective iPhone Case: Insipio Case
- Go Pro Handle: GoPro Handler
- Power Bank: Anker Bank
- Backpack: Camelback
- Jacket: Columbia Waterproof Jacket
- Boots: Vasque Boots
- Sunscreen: Sky Organics
If you loved this post and want to save it for later, pin the image down below to Pinterest and share it with your friends!

Looks like it’s out of a Jurassic Park movie. Beautiful
I believe it was in the Pirates of the Caribbean movie, but could have been in Jurassic Park, there are some other blogs I will be writing that were definitely in Jurassic Park! Thank you for visiting, and thank you for your kind comments!
I’ve actually never seen Jurassic park but I can imagine that nature looked like this thousands (millions) of years ago. Until humans pooped in it all….
you haven’t seen any of the Jurassic Parks?
Nope. I don’t like TV period and I can probably say that I haven’t seen 80% of the big box office movies.
Well I can’t blame you there, TV is generally a big waste of time and often boring, i haven’t seen too many recent movies but when i was younger i would watch a bit, and some of the stuff i watched then, when they come out with a new one or renewal i like to try to see it, but it doesn’t always happen.
TV puts me to sleep…. I rather be with my dog, doing something outdoorsy or just snuggle up. When I was growing up in Hungary even though we had TV the menu was limited. Even then I was rather outside looking for critters and climbing trees. I guess that mentality stayed with me. Thankfully I might add 🙂. Hiking makes me de stress and happy.
I can agree with all of that, I get absolutely stir crazy being inside for too long. My mind wanders and gets quite bored. I have to escape for any reason!
I guess that’s why both of us (and the other few million ppl) are out there collecting memories and fantastic adventures. I am glad I have a creative mind a restless body.
I guess so! Im glad I do as well! Otherwise i feel life would be very boring!
You will have to sit down and watch some of them! They are fun movies, i watched them as a kid and even now as they come out with new ones. And hey back then it was all the animals and dinosaurs pooping in it, so we are just another animal added into the poopery. I think there is more to the destruction of places than just humans pooping everywhere though! 🙂
Very cool! Looks like a blast. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you! It was a fun time!
There is a hiking trail from Poipu that will also take you there! It’s a fun little adventure!
Yes indeed there is, its the Maha’ulepu Heritage Trail I believe! I didn’t hike the trail this time but maybe next time!
Have you hiked that trail?
Yes! It’s a nice hike! But, It gets hot and dusty with not a lot of shade, so lots of water is needed. Being views of the ocean!
Beautiful views of the ocean, dang spell check.
I got what you meant! haha
I never saw any bad views of the ocean! Ill have to hike that one sometime. This previous trip I did however hike a few trails and found some amazing stuff I will be writing about in the near future. Thank you again as always for visiting!