Makauwahi Cave Reserve

Cavey, didn’t realize we were driving all the way there. Once things get bumpy, you keep going and drive to a horse stable area. Easy walk for kids and families down the cave area. Home to some very endangered creatures that only call the cave home. Little local run attraction spot. Nearby tortoises to see too. Also an easy walk to the beach, saw an adorable seal!

We were grateful to be able to visit this special place. There are many dedicated volunteers who work hard to maintain and restore this place. They rely on visitor donations. So many places on Kauai also require limited reservations that are often booked days in advance. It's nice to have a special place like this open to everyone without needing a reservation.

Just be aware that it doesn't open until 10 am: we were hiking the heritage trail and got here at 9, decided to wait. While we waited we visited the tortoises, the beach, and walked the various roads around. When you're inside the cave, definitely get the tour from docent Jerry: we learned so much about the ancient history of the cave, native Hawaiian uses of it, and more.

The road is a dirt road. We parked near the horses and walked the rest of the way. It's about 10-15 minutes walking and is not wheelchair friendly. You need to crawl for a few feet to enter the cave. It is free but they suggest a $10 donation per person. A few minutes' walk from there is Gillan's Beach and the tortoise sanctuary. Worth the drive and the walk. Do all 3.

If you're looking for something different, this may be worth checking out. Unfortunately, the road that Google Maps took us on was a disaster. It was a dirt road with numerous large potholes. We felt bad for our rental car. The trail over to the caves is easy but sandy. You'll walk across a path that overlooks the cave reserve opening. You then come to a T and can choose to walk across a bridge to see the ocean and turtle reserves or you can continue straight and head to the caves. We recommend doing both. If you continue straight, you'll see a sign for the cave. And then to enter the cave, unfortunately, you have to be small and/or able to crawl. It's a very small opening. The cave itself is pretty large and then walks out into a beautiful area with some native plants. You then reach a second cave that only has one way in so it's very dark. When we went, there was a local volunteer there to tell you the history of the area.

Great tour, like going back in time 10,000 years or so. The tour is self-directed if you'd like, but I'd recommend asking the guide to walk you through the cave and its history. Jerry was outstanding with his narrative and his knowledge of the area. The trail down to the cave is narrow in a few spots, but it's not very long or difficult to navigate for anyone in average health. The road leading to the trail is pretty rough, full of potholes and rocks. Slow and steady is the order of the day here. There's a nice nature preserve that features native Hawaiian plants from ages past that's worth the 15 minute stroll. There's a great secluded beach (Shipwreck Beach) too with a shallow sandy bay and lots of natural shade, so you could easily make a day of it. Best of all is the price. It's free, though a $10 per adult donation is suggested (and for what we got out of it, 10 bucks is a steal).