Run, Ride or Walk the Coconut Coast

Located on the east side of the island, the Coconut Coast is a visitor destination that is situated, more or less, along the shoreline from the Wailua Golf Course to Kealia Beach Park. It includes the town of Kapa'a and surrounding areas, which is the island's largest population center, home to about 16,000 residents.

It is named for the towering coconut palms that unceremoniously deposit their heavy fruit in groves along the highway. It's a place where the ruins of ancient historic sites are cherished, and natural assets, like the navigable Wailua River, mysterious Fern Grotto, sheltering Sleeping Giant, refreshing waterfalls and cold ponds, give definition to a surprising miscellany of eateries, shops, nightspots and visitor accommodations.

Its crowning feature is the glorious shoreline opening to a municipal golf course and beautiful beaches, two of which are large, multi-purpose beach parks with lifeguards. An under-construction coastal bike/pedestrian path meanders along the shore offering exceptional views. When it is completed, the coastal path will stretch from a point near the Lihu'e Airport to the town of Anahola. Currently, a 2.3-mile segment in Lydgate Park is open and most of another 4.5-mile segment from the Waika'ea Canal to a point past Kealia Beach is in use.

The latter stretch moves along the shore through Kapa'a. One way to access the path is to turn off Kuhio Highway (Hwy. 56) on Kaloloku Street (across from Burger King) and go to the Lihi Boat Ramp at the end of the street where a high bridge will come into view. The path begins here, passes over two more bridges and eventually reaches Kealia Beach.

The wide, paved path is intercepted with covered rest areas , and in the winter, it offers a perfect opportunity for humpback whale sighting. The path, projected to cost some $30 million, is being constructed with federal and county funds, primarily to protect shoreline access for residents and visitors.

Kauai's east side was the first to see mass tourism, and still claims the bulk of the island's more moderate priced hotels and condos. Waipouli Beach Resort & Spa, the first new resort to open on the east side in years, is a beachfront property located across the highway from the Safeway shopping center. New restaurants like the Tahitian Lanai Bar & Grill, at the Waipouli Beach Resort, and Island Palm, next to the Lemongrass Grill, add spice to an already diverse line up of eateries.

Sadly, plans for reconstructing the legendary Coco Palms Resort, shuttered since Hurricane 'Iniki in 1992, were scrapped recently when developers decided to abandon the project and sell the property. The resort, opened in 1953, was known for its meticulous brand of hospitality and popularized in the Elvis Presley hit movie "Blue Hawaii."

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