We wanted to share with you, this super fun and a short walk (guess it could be a hike for some) that just about anyone will enjoy. This experience is suitable for any age.
I mean, CMON! Does this even look REAL? It is!
Leaving Princeville Shopping Center, heading back East towards Kilauea (just like you were going to the airport) on the right-hand side is the Kilauea mini golf course. You should check that place out too because it’s a super unique spot. Part mini-golf and part botanical gardens ;). Instead of going right, head just a little bit further past to a large sign for “Common Ground”. Make a right on Kuawa road at the common ground sign. It’s just past the Shell gas station on the left. You can probably also Google the words “common ground kauai” and get to the start of this almost flat, 1 mile hike. Here’s a map to help you understand where to park. We recommend bringing water and sunscreen from your Princeville Rental Home or Condo. It can get hot out here.
When you see the sign below, take a picture of it with your cell phone so you know where you are at don’t get lost. If you decide to come back here we recommend talking with the guys at the bike hut next to the mini golf entrance, renting a bike from them and spending a few hours mountain biking this area. You’ll have a blast!
The best EASY hiking on the North Shore.
Once you park the car, head towards the Namahana mountain range. If you don’t know which mountain range that is, it’s the only one you can see from common ground parking lot in the directions above. So head Mauka (toward the mountains) on the dirt road that leads into the jungle. On the right-hand side you will see horse pasture and beautiful open acreage that has been given back to the community by the Porter family. Bill Porter made his fortune in the online stock trading business.
(Bill Porter) He found it a little company called E*TRADE. It later became the online traders choice platform for trading their stocks. Bill died in 2016, but his wife still lives in Princeville. They are definitely some of Kauai’s most generous philanthropists.
As you’re heading back into the jungle, check out all the signs along the way. There’s a little bit of education and information about the food in the area being grown for local fresh farmers to be sold at the neighboring health food stores and farmers markets. The Porter family had a dream for this to be a large chunk of land Groomed for sustainable farming. I think that dream has come true. It’s such a beautiful place to spend part of your day on Kauai. Pack a lunch!
About three quarters of a mile in you will see the road start to veer to the left and fork off to the right. Stay left to head down a short hill to the prize. The stone dam waterfall! Words can’t really describe the type of Shangri-La experience you’ll have here. There’s fresh water being brought down through the lush little valley by an aqueduct as well as some of the greenest grass you can ever imagine. There’s also cool little bridges to walk across and even up on the other side of The Dam, there’s a rope swing. There’s also a little spot to barbecue and sun your self in the tranquil setting this spot provides.
Please make sure if you are eating/snacking during this short walk that you pack your trash out with you. It would be a shame to litter or mess up the special place in any way.
It’s such a fun walk you may want to continue back around the rest of the loop which is another 3 miles to make it a complete circle. This is a common place for walkers or trail runners, or joggers that are looking to get a little bit of exercise on a dirt path as opposed to jogging along Princeville’s paved trails. Once you’ve conquered this trail, here are more places you may want to hike and adventure on Kauai. Be safe and HAVE FUN!
Aloha Pumehana from the Princeville Vacation Rentals Hui.
