Landmark· Kauai· Hawaii
Waimea Town and Russian Fort Elizabeth
21° 57.1′ N · 159° 39.9′ W
Waimea, the old west-side town at the mouth of the river, has the star-shaped lava-rock walls of a fort built in 1817 by an agent of the Russian-American Company under Kauai's chief Kaumualii - a National Historic Landmark.
Practical
Built April-October 1817 by Georg Anton Schaffer on the east bank of the Waimea River overlooking the bay; known in the Kingdom as Fort Hipo (Paulaula o Hipo); NHL 1962, NRHP 1966. State Parks listed Paulaula State Historic Site as closed for construction improvements in 2026; check notices. Captain Cook made his first Hawaiian landing at Waimea in January 1778 (Coast Pilot). The town has a hospital and a Big Save supermarket; Waimea Canyon Drive (Route 550) starts here.
Best for
History stop ashore from Waimea Bay
Nearby
- Waimea Bay Anchorage (Kauai)0.2 NM away
- Waimea Town Celebration0.5 NM away
- Hoanuanu Bay Anchorage1 NM away
- Kikiaola Small Boat Harbor1.5 NM away
- Salt Pond Beach Park4.6 NM away
- Hanapepe Town Friday Art Night4.7 NM away
- Port Allen Small Boat Harbor5 NM away
- Big Save Eleele (Port Allen Provisioning)5.1 NM away