HISTORY
Kekahas History Filled With Sugar and aTrain Robbery?
Kekaha, a beautiful coastal community on Kauais southwestern shore, is a city rich with history. Of course, if youre renting a Kauai vacation property, youre probably not concerned about the history of Kekaha.
However, it is interesting to learn a little about a places past, thereby enriching the present. In Kekaha, this is certainly true.
Over three thousand people live in the small community of Kekaha, and get to wake up to its beautiful sights and sounds every morning. Just imagine seeing the sun rise over the ocean every day! Kekaha, like many other towns in Kauai, had an economy that revolved around sugar cane. Kekaha had a sugar mill that brought much prosperity to the area. When the sugar industry was especially big during the twentieth century, entire towns like Kekaha would be propped up by the money it brought in.
It wasnt uncommon for a family to have several generations of workers at the mill.
Unfortunately for Kekaha, the sugar mill shut down in 2000. These sorts of shutdowns happen, but with Kekaha it has just shifted their industrys focus elsewhere. Tourism is now a big part of their economy, which is great for the Kauai traveler. You know youll get treated very well!
Kekaha was also home to Hawaiis only recorded train robbery. It happened on a slow-moving train carrying loads of sugar, and the gunman got off with a reported $11,000. Since this happened in February 1920, that was certainly a lot of money!
Shortly after the robbery, a local Kekaha man was brought under suspicion due to his erratic behavior. Police found the money in a swamp near the mans home, and he was brought under arrest for the robbery. The residents of Kekaha were extremely surprised, as this sort of thing doesnt happen every day around these parts! Apparently the man was a big fan of western films, which depicted masked gunmen robbing trains.
As you can see, Kekaha has a very interesting history. As you visit its beaches and restaurants, remember that the Kekaha you see today isnt the Kekaha that has always been. This knowledge will give you a respect for the area and its inhabitants. Youll have an appreciation for where the town has been, and where its going in the future. And you can also say that you know the answer to a great trivia question about train robberies!
PACKING
Remember to Pack Appropriate Footwear for Your Kekaha Vacation
If youre packing for a beautiful vacation in sunny Kekaha, youve got to remember lots of things. Theres your identification, your itinerary, and of course all of your clothes. Since its sunny in Kauai most of the time, it will be much easier to choose your wardrobe. You wont be cold in Kekaha, so leave those sweaters behind!
But while youve probably thought a lot about what youll have on your back in Kekaha, have you ever thought about what youll have on your feet? If you rent a Kauai vacation property, chances are youll be walking around in your bare feet a lot, but what if you leave the luxury of your condo and explore the town?
If you decide to try out Kekahas beautiful beach, its easy to choose your wardrobe. Youll just have to put your swimsuit on! But what will you wear on your feet? You may see some around Kekaha with nice leather sandals, but you may not want to wear those to the beach in case you get them wet. How about a pair of athletic sandals? In Kekaha, that might be a better option. That way if you want to wade in the water, you can do so without worrying about ruining a pair of perfectly good sandals.
Some Kekaha vacationers who like things a little more minimalist may prefer a pair of flip-flops. However, its not recommended to walk long distances in Kekaha wearing just flip-flops. There just isnt a lot of support there. For some who go to Kekaha Beach and are worried about cutting their feet on a rock while in the water, a pair of aqua socks may be the best option. A good pair will stay on when in the water, and when you get on dry land, you can use them there too.
If you choose to explore the rest of Kekaha, make sure to bring a good pair of walking shoes with you. It shouldnt be a new pair. If youre trying to break them in when you get to Kekaha, thats just an invitation to get a blister! And if you have sore feet, that may put a damper on the rest of your vacation.
So if you plan on spending any time venturing out of your Kauai rental property, make sure to think about what youll have on your feet!
ATTRACTIONS
Enjoy the Majestic Beauty of Kekaha Beach Park
If you rent a Kauai vacation condo on the islands southwest shore, chances are you are in close proximity to another jewel: Kekaha Beach Park. This beach is part of Polihale, an area on Kauais west shore that consists of more than 15 miles of uninterrupted sand beach. Beautiful views of the vast ocean are absolutely stunning at Kekaha Beach Park, but you may not want to go swimming if the tide is roaring in.
Kekaha Beach is exposed to the open ocean, which means large waves can crash into the shore and create a powerful rip current. These currents are so strong that if youre not careful they can pull you out to sea. In Kekaha, like other beaches in Hawaii, the ocean is something to be respected. If waters arent calm, make sure you stay on the beach and out of the water. If you get to Kekaha Beach and the water is calm, however, by all means feel free to take a dip.
Even if you cant swim, you can always bring a picnic lunch down to the beach and eat while you watch the waves roll in. Kekaha Beach puts the awesome power of nature on display at all times, and that in itself is something to behold. You could sit all day on the shores of Kekaha Beach and not get sick of the sound of the tide rolling in.
Kekaha Beach is also a great place for a walk. Since the beach and the surrounding beaches are so long, you can walk a great distance along the waters edge. Remember not to get to close to those waves, though! You can walk along Kekaha Beach alone, or hand in hand with your sweetheart. Either way, you may want to put on a pair of sandals. The sand can get very hot on Kekaha Beach, especially when the sun has been beating on it all day. Save your feet and put something on to protect them.
And after youve spent all day at the Kekaha Beach, you might want to consider staying just a bit longer to watch the spectacular sunset. Talk about a romantic end to your day! If youre on vacation in Kekaha with your special someone you can set the mood for a wonderful evening by watching the oranges, reds, and pinks of a sunset. Its a great way to start the evening!
RESTAURANTS AND NIGHTLIFE
Comfort Food With a Twist in Kekaha
On any vacation you expect to get a little local flavor when you go out dining. The local cuisine is reflected in the menus of the restaurants you frequent in interesting and imaginative ways. When you visit Kekaha, its no different.
Kekaha is not a large city, but that doesnt mean you wont be able to satisfy your appetite. If youre staying in a Kauai vacation property in Kekaha or in the southwest portion of Kauai, youre likely very close to several dining options.
Restaurants in the vicinity of Kekaha will be able to serve you the standard fare youre used to. You can find the usual assortments of salads, sandwiches, and even hot dogs! Of course, while its nice to know that you can visit Kekaha and get the comfort of the types of food you eat back home, wouldnt it be even better to try something new?
If your answer is yes, then why not come to Kekaha? In some restaurants around the area you can try a Hawaiian-style pulled pork sandwich, slow-cooked in an imu, or underground oven. Or how about an apple salad, complete with apples, blue cheese, macadamia nuts and raisins? And that heat you feel when you take your first bite? Thats the lilikoi wasabi dressing. While you may be able to get it around Kekaha, theres a good chance you cant get that at home!
Food isnt the only unique thing youll find in Kekaha. The beverages are also different than youre likely used to. Sure, you can come to Kekaha and get coffee, soda, or bottled water. But what about lilikoi iced tea or mango-orange juice? You can get them in Kekaha, but can you find these treats back home? Or if beer is your thing, have you ever had a Kauai Sunset or Kauai Gold? You can in Kekaha!
And since no meal is complete unless its topped off with a delicious dessert, how about the sweet options you can find in Kekaha? For instance, you can introduce yourself to a lilikoi pie, made with delicious local passion fruit. Or how about a coconut pie? In Kekaha, theres chocolate on the bottom, coconut in the middle, and roasted macadamia nuts on top. That should get your mouth watering!
Your vacation in your Kauai condo will be wonderful with or without the unique Kekaha dining experience. But if you let yourself go and try what Kekaha has to offer, your vacation will be unforgettable!.