Kauai Museum Review

Kauai's Native Hawaiian roots are well established in the art and artifacts displayed at the Kauai Museum in Lihu'e. The museum's galleries house a permanent collection of ancient Hawaiian artifacts such as poi pounders, calabashes and tapa. Here you will also find displays telling the story of pre-contact and post-contact Hawaii from ancient times to early sugar plantation life, from the missionary era to WWII memorabilia.

The museum is housed in two buildings, the Albert Spencer Wilcox Memorial Building, built in 1924, and the William Hyde Rice Building, constructed in 1960. The buildings are adjacent to one another and located at 4428 Rice St., in downtown Lihu'e. The distinctive lava rock exteriors of the museum buildings make them easy to spot.

The museum's gift shop offers a treasure trove of locally made gifts plus a comprehensive selection of Hawaiiana books with a focus on Kauai. Hard-to-find Ni'ihau shell leis and handmade koa pieces are on display.

The museum entrance is located in the Wilcox Building, which once housed Kauai's main public library and is on the National Historic Register. The two-story Rice Building houses the "Story of Kauai," a permanent exhibit. Dioramas, murals, historic models and hundreds of artifacts relate the island's history from its volcanic formation to the arrival of Polynesians.

Orchids are sold on the museum lawn on Friday and Saturday. The museum is open weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p m., and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. It is closed on Sundays. There is a small admission fee.

Other museums include:

• Grove Farm Homestead on Nawiliwili Road in Lihu'e. The 80-acre living museum was the site of one of Kauai's oldest plantations, founded in 1864 by George Wilcox. It contains the original missionary family mansion, workers' quarters and extensive gardens of tropical flowers and trees. Reservations are required.

• Kauai Historical Society Museum, located in the Old County Building on Rice Street in Lihu'e. Stop in the museum to purchase "The Kauai History Map," a very useful pictorial and written guide to The Garden Island's cultural and historical sites.

• The Historical Society takes the show on the road several times a week when it conducts a walking tour through Kapa'a. The 90-minute stroll moves toward the ocean, where a pineapple cannery once stood; passes churches built by various ethnic groups; stops at a Japanese monument originally built in 1915; and visits a few shops and buildings, first constructed by enterprising plantation workers.

• Wai'oli Mission House is located in Hanalei and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Built of coral limestone blocks in 1837, its chimney was put in place by the Rev. William Alexander, the first missionary on Kauai. The Wai'oli Mission Hall and picturesque Wai'oli Hui'ia Church (founded in 1834) are nearby.

• The Koke'e Natural History Museum in Koke'e State Park is open 365 days a year and provides interpretive programs and exhibitions about the island's ecology, geology and climatology. Basic information about trail conditions in Koke'e and Waimea Canyon parks also is available. You can call the museum for information about weather conditions in the park.

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