Escape the bustle of the city for the laid-back lifestyle of Waimea, known for its rich cultural history, welcoming aloha spirit and magnificent natural beauty. Translating to “red water,” the town of Waimea is located approximately 20 miles west of Līhu‘e on Kaua‘i’s southwestern shore. Today, the sleepy town is primarily residential, with small, locally-owned shops sprinkled throughout. However, in generations past, the area played a vital role in the history of Kauaʻi and the Hawaiian Islands.

When the first voyagers reached the island of Kaua‘i between 200 A.D. and 600 A.D., they settled in the Waimea area and established a thriving farming and fishing community. When Captain James Cook, the first European explorer to establish western contact with the Hawaiian Islands, landed in Waimea in 1778, he and his crew toured this community, documenting their flora, fauna, language and more. Cook’s arrival in Waimea was pivotal in Hawaiian history, opening the island chain to European contact and introducing industry and disease.

Over time, Waimea became an important city along the whaling, sandalwood and maritime fur trade routes. Later, when pineapple and sugar became the major industries in Hawai‘i, Waimea evolved into a sugarcane community, becoming home to immigrant workers who lived side-by-side with the Native Hawaiians. Today, Waimea’s charm shines through as an off-the-beaten-path destination for visitors to explore.

Start your day coasting along Kaumuali‘i Highway, which will take you from Līhuʻe to the Waimea River, the threshold of Waimea town. After crossing the Waimea Bridge, you will be in a quiet, residential neighborhood. Head first to locally owned and operated Aloha’n Paradise for one of the best cups of coffee on the west side. Along with its freshly made drip coffee, the café is also known for its espresso-based drinks. Since you are in the shadows of the Waimea Canyon, a fun start to your day trip would be ordering the Canyon Latte, served hot or cold and topped with mac nut whipped cream and a touch of lavender. Aloha’n Paradise also offers freshly squeezed lemonade, iced tea, smoothies, Italian sodas and baked goods like fresh croissants, assorted muffins and biscotti.

You can enjoy your breakfast in the tranquil dining area of Aloha’n Paradise or head across the street to Hofgaard Park, a narrow park named in honor of Judge Christopher Blum Hofgaard and the location of the Cook Landing Site monument. At this small park, you will find benches, picnic tables and a replica of a Captain James Cook statue, which also stands in his hometown of Whitby, England. Cook’s third voyage brought him to the Pacific, where he charted several islands. On January 19, 1778, he spotted the shores of Kaua‘i, and the following day, he made landfall near the mouth of the Waimea River. Today, the Cook monument appears too far inland from the shoreline, but this distance is because, over time, the shoreline was pushed farther out due to erosion.

After breakfast, spend a few hours walking the quaint streets of Waimea and check out what the local retailers offer. One popular spot located just a stone’s throw from Hofgaard Park is Aunty Liliko‘i, a shop that has been producing passion fruit products since 1990. Melissa McFerrin Warrack and James Warrack, the husband and wife team behind Aunty Liliko‘i, specialize in manufacturing and selling their award-winning line of jellies, mustards, butters, syrups and dressings. To commemorate your trip to Kaua‘i, you can gift family and friends a jar of their award-winning Passion Fruit Wasabi Mustard or a gift box of their best-selling products.

The main street of Waimea town is lined with numerous locally-owned shops, many of which have been in business for generations. Located about three blocks from Aunty Liliko‘i, just beyond the Waimea Theater, you will find The Shrimp Station, which celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2023. Their neon green building has been a beacon for shrimp lovers, offering some of the most flavorful shrimp on the island. The signature “Got Garlic” features shrimp sauteed in butter, white wine and a healthy serving of garlic. Shrimp lovers also indulge in their Coconut Shrimp, Shrimp Tacos and Shrimp Burgers served with papaya-ginger tartar sauce.

When you’re ready for a sweet treat, a must-visit spot in Waimea is the iconic Jo-Jo’s Shave Ice, located across the street from Waimea High School. Even though there are three locations, people continue to flock to their original shop in Waimea town to enjoy their cloud-soft shave ice topped with homemade syrups and cream sauces. Open since 1992, Jo-Jo’s signature flavor combinations include the Rainbow, which starts with a scoop of creamy mac nut ice cream sitting below shaved ice topped with strawberry, banana and vanilla syrups, and the Jo-Jo Special, which starts with vanilla ice cream sitting below shaved ice topped with chocolate and butterscotch syrups, vanilla cream sauce and chocolate drizzle.

As the day starts to heat up, head to Waimea Canyon Drive, which leads to Waimea Canyon and the Kōke‘e State Park. Known as the “Grand Canyon of the Pacific,” the Waimea Canyon is a geological wonder spanning 14 miles long and 3,600 feet deep. The 36-mile round-trip drive takes you along a road filled with panoramic canyon views and through dense forests. Just past mile marker 15 is the Kōkeʻe Lodge and Natural History Museum. This modest museum offers interpretive exhibits, maps, guides and a souvenir shop.

Wind back down Waimea Canyon Drive and cross Kaumuali‘i Highway at Pokole Road to Waimea Beach, one of the only black sand beaches on the island. This tranquil stretch of beach is a popular picnic spot and place to watch the sunset. As the sun dips into the Pacific Ocean, scan the horizon for the outline of Ni‘ihau, the Forbidden Island. Located 17.5 miles southwest of Kauaʻi, the island was purchased by Elizabeth Sinclair in 1864 from the Kingdom of Hawai‘i for $10,000. Today, the island is off-limits to anyone but her descendants, and glimpses of Ni‘ihau can only be seen from specific lookout points on Kaua‘i.

After the sun has set, head to Wranglers Steakhouse and Saddle Room Bar to refuel before your trip back to town while taking in the western ambiance of the restaurant, a nod to Waimea town’s paniolo (cowboy) roots. The menu features grass-fed beef raised on the island supplied by Sharleen Andrade Balmores of Rancher’s Daughter’s Reserve, a fifth-generation Kaua‘i-born rancher. Along with a selection of Kiawe-grilled steaks, an excellent menu item to share is their Pupu Platter, which features sauteed mushrooms, fried calamari, crab cakes and an 8 oz. New York Steak. Salads, burgers and house specials like Shrimp Scampi and BBQ ribs round out their menu, offering something for everyone.

As the night winds down, the tranquil drive from Waimea to Līhu‘e will take you from this seemingly sleepy town affectionately known as “Hawai‘i’s original visitor destination.”

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Aloha’n Paradise; 9905 Waimea Road, Waimea;(808) 320-8244; Open Monday to Friday from 7 a.m. to 12 p.m..

Aunty Lilikoi; 9875 Waimea Road, Waimea; (808) 338-1296; auntylilikoi.com; Open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Jo-Jo’s Shave Ice; 9734 Kaumuali‘i Highway, Waimea; (808) 378-4712;.jojosshaveice.com; Open daily from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Kōke‘e Natural History Museum; 3600 Kōke‘e Road, Kekaha; (808) 335-9975; kokee.org; Open Monday – Friday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday and Sunday from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The Shrimp Station; 9652 Kaumuali‘i Highway, Waimea; (808) 338-1242; theshrimpstation.net; Open Friday – Tuesday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Closed Wednesday and Thursday.

Wranglers Steakhouse and Saddleroom; 9852 Kaumuali‘i Highway, Waimea; (808) 338-1218; wranglerssaddleroom.com; Open Tuesday to Saturday from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.; Saddle Room open Friday and Saturday from 5 .pm. to 10 p.m.