Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge

What a beautiful place to watch all of the sea birds and take in the views. If this were whale watching season, we would have been for hours. Be sure to make reservations in advance. It’s a busy place. But you have time and space to see the lighthouse and take in the views.

A great place whether you're a birder or just want to learn about birds. We saw fledgling albatrosses testing out their wings, tons of nesting shearwater, frigatebirds, nene and, of course, manu-o-Kū! Definitely a great place for views, too. Staff are very knowledgeable and friendly.

Was just OK overall. Saw around eight species of seabirds and a monk seal. Understaffed and took 15 minutes inching forward in car line to get in, which shouldn’t happen when reservations are required. Glad I went because I’m a birder, but wouldn’t go back.

Amazing. I did not expect to see so many sea birds. The hill facing the lighthouse was literally dotted with birds. One can see them flying in and out, quite closeby. The ocean view is great too, with waves crashing into caves. The website and the banner outside says that pre-registration is needed. However, they do accept walk-ins, so do take a chance

This place is stunning. Definitely going to come back during whale season.

Another breathtaking location on the island. It's noted as sunset paradise on the maps but, depending on the time of year, you won't see the sunset from here. However, the road up to the point has pull outs to find the perfect spot. Still, this is a special place at sunset to watch the birds roost/nest for the night. Many threatened species nest here and you can watch the birds make their rather ungainly (comical!) landings at their nesting holes in the bank. Worth the trip!

An amazing experience. One of the park employees, Mark Simone, even went as far as retrieving my wife’s hat after it had blown off. They go above and beyond to share their knowledge of the wildlife and make sure this a great experience for all ages. I highly recommend a stop here on your trip.

So many sea birds! It's a very small area that is accessible to the public, but there are waves crashing against the coast on one side of the peninsula, a little island straight out, and views of a great beach on the other. The lighthouse itself is cool. I wish you could go inside.

What a beautiful place to watch all of the sea birds and take in the views. If this were whale watching season, we would have been for hours. Be sure to make reservations in advance. It’s a busy place. But you have time and space to see the lighthouse and take in the views.

A great place whether you're a birder or just want to learn about birds. We saw fledgling albatrosses testing out their wings, tons of nesting shearwater, frigatebirds, nene and, of course, manu-o-Kū! Definitely a great place for views, too. Staff are very knowledgeable and friendly.

Was just OK overall. Saw around eight species of seabirds and a monk seal. Understaffed and took 15 minutes inching forward in car line to get in, which shouldn’t happen when reservations are required. Glad I went because I’m a birder, but wouldn’t go back.

Amazing. I did not expect to see so many sea birds. The hill facing the lighthouse was literally dotted with birds. One can see them flying in and out, quite closeby. The ocean view is great too, with waves crashing into caves. The website and the banner outside says that pre-registration is needed. However, they do accept walk-ins, so do take a chance

This place is stunning. Definitely going to come back during whale season.

Another breathtaking location on the island. It's noted as sunset paradise on the maps but, depending on the time of year, you won't see the sunset from here. However, the road up to the point has pull outs to find the perfect spot. Still, this is a special place at sunset to watch the birds roost/nest for the night. Many threatened species nest here and you can watch the birds make their rather ungainly (comical!) landings at their nesting holes in the bank. Worth the trip!

An amazing experience. One of the park employees, Mark Simone, even went as far as retrieving my wife’s hat after it had blown off. They go above and beyond to share their knowledge of the wildlife and make sure this a great experience for all ages. I highly recommend a stop here on your trip.

So many sea birds! It's a very small area that is accessible to the public, but there are waves crashing against the coast on one side of the peninsula, a little island straight out, and views of a great beach on the other. The lighthouse itself is cool. I wish you could go inside.

We thoroughly enjoyed our visit to the Reufge. The information center and its range of videos was very informative. The weather gave us a beautiful day. I especially appreciate the assistance of a golf cart (I am disabled) up the road to the top of the viewing area. David, the volunteer driver, was exceptionally knowledgeable and charming. Thank you! Also made some purchases from the attractive merchandise in the gift shop.

The Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge is a great stop to make while driving to or from Hanalei/Princeville. Whether you are a bird fanatic or not, the refuge offers stunning views of the coastline and the lighthouse. There are many opportunities to encounter Hawaiian wildlife. Many species of birds reside here and nest along the rocks or the paths. In the spring or winter, there are opportunities to spot whales from the vantage point. Also, the educational center and gift shop is entertaining.

In Suzanne Swedo's book, "Hiking the Hawaiian Islands", she's included a "hike" at Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge. While I appreciate her calling out hikes of various lengths and difficulties, calling this particular spot a place to hike almost makes me laugh; I don't imagine it's possible to walk even 1/4 mile here, so checking this one off your list will be easy. Getting in a bit less so. One must drive in to KPNWR. Walk-ins are prohibited. Cars line up on a single-lane road that ends at the ticket booth. There, you'll pay $10 per person to enter (or if you're a senior, gain admittance through use of a National Parks pass) and, if lucky, you'll have a place to park. Ideally, you've made advance reservations through the Park service. Fail to do so and you might not be allowed in. I failed to do so but was allowed into a tour bus parking area if I promised to stay no longer than 45 minutes. Whether or not you have reservations, come a bit early as the line of cars can take about 10-20 minutes to navigate. Once in, KPNWR is a beautiful place from which to spot sea birds and sea life. Signage and stationery telescopes help you to view both and binoculars can be checked out on a self-serve basis from inside a building by the lighthouse. KPNWR is a perfectly nice experience but not a hike. Neither is it a particularly novel experience given that Kauai is full of places to stop and view nature, particularly places that don't require an admission fee or advance reservations. I was happy to have come here to check this "hike" off my list but in no way do I think it's anything one must experience when visiting Kauai.

Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge is a small but scenic stop on the northwest coast of the island. There is a fee to enter the park, and reservations are required. By sheer coincidence, we happened to visit on an admission-free day, so was only subject to the $1 reservation fee. While you can't drive through the actual refuge itself, the accessible overlook provides stunning views of the coastline, crystal blue waters, and the occasional monk seal, sea turtle or whale sighting from up above. There are also a plethora or different species of nesting birds that make the cliffs and surrounding areas their homes, and there is signage throughout the grounds that introduces us to the different species we might see. At the end of the refuge is the historic Daniel K. Inouye Kīlauea Point Lighthouse, which you can go right up to, but cannot actually enter. The driveway entrance into the refuge overlook is very steep and narrow. Intended for two-way traffic, but really just comfortably wide enough for one. So be careful as you drive up and down, as cars often have to yield to oncoming traffic. There is limited parking once inside, but the ranger at the gate will direct you to where open spots are at.

Avast, me hearties Captain 619 here! 'Tis another fine chance to catch a glimpse of the majestic Kilauea Point and its towering lighthouse from a perch above the briny deep. Ye can spy the graceful Laysan Albatross birds, their wings catchin' the wind as they soar. These creatures be true romantics, for they mate for life and serenade each other with their own special tunes. One bird be keepin' watch over the nest while the other embarks on a grand voyage all the way to Alaska in search of squid to feast upon, then returns with a bounty fit for a king. 'Tis a sight to behold, me mates, a true masterpiece of nature's design. This be Captain 619 signin' off, catchin' waves and admiring nature's wonders. Stay salty, me hearties!

We loved stopping here. It's a small park and you need to make a timed reservation for $1 on Recreation.gov (I think to manage the parking situation since it's pretty limited), but when you arrive they do take the Interagency Pass if you have that, which is nice. They allot 45 minutes for your entry. Gorgeous views of the northern coast, with a lot of educational information around about the wildlife (in the ocean) as well as of course the birds in the area. They have binoculars you can borrow as well for better viewing. We were so impressed by what we saw!

Small park, but the views of the cliffs and water are amazing! It's also great for bird watching, with many nene and albatross roaming around. If you're lucky, you can also spot sea turtles or honu in the water from the cliffs! Reservations required online through Recreation.gov, which is a $1 fee per person. Admission fee is $5 per person unless you have a National Park pass. Overall, it was a quick visit, but worth it for the awesome views!!

We made reservations on recreation.gov because they are required to control the number of vehicles due to limited parking. The refuge is managed by U S Fish and Wildlife and National Park passes are accepted for entry. The refuge provides the opportunity to see a variety of birds. It's a short walk from the parking lot to the viewing areas, Visitors center and the Lighthouse. There are a number of telescopes for public use. The interpretive signs are helpful. The visitors guide provides a detail description of 9 bird types. The view of coast is stunning. Check out the gift shop/ visitor center for history of the area.

This is excellent. We came two days, both closed but we took pics today. If you have your National Park pass you get in free. Admission on line only. There is a limit. Great place to visit

Would you drive 2 hours roundtrip just to see a lighthouse? No, well how about that combined with a wildlife refuge in the same location. We drove 38 miles from Lawai Beach Resort along the southern coast all the way to Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge, open Tuesday-Saturday 10am-4pm. There is a scenic point outside the parking area, where you can see the lighthouse at a distance, jutting on a peninsula into the stormy seas. Narrow steep curvy road descending into the parking lot. Cars only, no sidewalks and no pedestrians allowed on the road. Parking attendants directing traffic into the 12 space paved parking lot. Once this is filled, there are about 50 more spaces in the gravel overflow parking lot, marked by white spray paint. Walked to the toll both, where it's $10 per person, double the cost of a year ago, credit cards accepted, people 15 and under free. Lot of 15 year old high school kids! Free for persons with the Senior National Park entry card. Hey, we only have so many good years left! Beyond the toll booth are the bathrooms and gift shop. The bathrooms a must for my senior wife, after the long journey here. You got to pay to pee. Gift shop has some cool looking wooden models of birds hanging from the ceiling and two or three dioramas. 0.2 mile walk on paved pathway to the 52' lighthouse, built in 1913, and used until the early 1970s. Place was so desolate they had to ferry in supplies from a supply boat, as no ground access. Claim to fame was redirecting the Birds of Paradise plane, the first plane to fly nonstop from the mainland to Hawaii in 1927. Steep jagged cliffs to the east and beaches to the west. You might find a monk seal on the beach, humpback whales in the ocean, and flights of albatrosses in the sky. Home to one of the largest groups of nesting seabirds in Hawaii. In a distance we can see whales spouting, but no spinner dolphins, a few frigate birds and an occasional albatross. On busy days, a long line of cars will back up on the final quarter mile stretch of road leading to the parking lot, circling like vultures waiting for a parking space to open. Families and single Hawaiian geese crossing the road at various places, requiring me to slow to a stop. Don't want to run over the state bird, as could be fined. Don't want to contribute to the state coffers that way!

This is one of the best spots on the island for seabird viewing. We went this last June 2021, and it was perfect. Sunny day with lots of birds. If you're on the island of Kauai, make sure you visit this beautiful refuge. Stop by the gift shop too! They have educational books snd more. There is a expert biologist on site so you birders can chat with them. Very friendly and knowledgeable. Make reservations early since they only allow a few people at a time. (Check out their website) Love the historic lighthouse and all the birds nesting on the cliffs! Take photos but capturing them flying is not an easy task unless you have a great nature zoom lens like Cannon or another high end photography camera. Birders and nature lovers will not want to leave.

Was driving along the road and came across the signs for the Lighthouse. Decided to take a detour and take a look. So there's a parking lot before you drive down into the Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge. That's the place you can stop and walk to the fence to take photos from the ridge of the lighthouse. The view is stunning, the water below looks absolutely blue (not accessible). You do need to have reservations to drive down the to lighthouse area, but I'm not 100% sure as we didn't drive down, but there were signs all over saying reservations were needed.

Kīlauea Point National Wildlife Refuge in Kauai was established in 1985 to protect seabird nesting colonies. There were hundreds of birds everywhere we looked. We saw the Tropicbirds dancing over the little island just north of the point and captured a Booby carrying branches back to its nest.The Nēnē is Hawaii's state bird and is endangered. They evolved from the larger (and nastier) Canada Goose about 500,000 years ago. They disappeared from Kauai a century ago, but were reintroduced through the wildlife refuge in 1990. We saw them running all over the lawn by the lighthouse.

08/23/2017 Be careful when you enter here, as losing track of time happens instantly. Once you start gazing at the plethora of birds you get pulled into their world and become free as they are. No pesky gravity keeping you on the ground. Just flying and floating as they do all day. No wonder the Laysan albatros go for years at a time without ever touching the ground. Smart bird. List of the birds that can be seen here are the following: Laysan albatros, black footed albatros, wedge-tailed shearwater, nene, red-tailed & white-tailed tropicbirds, red-footed booby, brown booby, pacific golden plover, newell's shearwater, wandering tattler, ruddy turnstone and the great frigatebird. Impressively the refuge has restored numerous Hawaiian native coastal plants. Including; naupaka kahakai, 'ilima, hala, 'āheahea, 'akoko, akia, niu, ulei, pohinahina, pohuehue and the rear alula. This is definitely on the 'must see' list as the views are breathtaking, the birds captivating and the plants uniquely brilliant. Entrance fees to walk along the path to the lighthouse are low, we paid $5. per person. Next to the lighthouse is a small white building with historic information including a video complete with wood bench's to sit. On the way out at the bookstore you'll find t-shirts, ton's of educational and interesting items, stunning artwork of local wildlife and of course stuffed animals. Purchases support the refugee complex programs and environmental education. Additional wildlife can be seen in the waters below; Spinner dolphins, humpback whales, Hawaiian monk seals, and green turtles. Next trip we'll have to make sure to check them out.

A nice spot to catch a view of the lighthouse. It's distant, but offers a nice photo opportunity. From the ledge, look closely in the trees and shrubbery to find indigenous Hawaiian birds within feet of you. It's a gorgeous stop worth your while. Your experience here will be as good as you make it. Stop, slow down, and observe.

Absolutely beautiful!! There is a 5.00 fee to enter and we'll worth it. Loved the view and don't forget your cameras!! The pictures you'll take will be definitely worth sharing!! Have fun!!

On the north end of Kauai, a section of coast line has been set aside as a nature preserve. Visitors can stop by for free to view the area but are restricted by fence from venturing into the area that is reserved. The park is elevated from the shoreline so visitors can look out to see for marine life or down and across to view the nesting area of protected birds that nest in the area. The red-footed booby is a (generally) white bird that was easily spotted on the east hillside. The water in the bay is visited (seasonally) by humpback whales, Monk Seals, turtles, and dolphins. If you forget your binoculars, you can pay a fee and rent some from the lighthouse area that is just a bit further along the road. There is also another island beyond the lighthouse that is not visible from the rest stop area. Understand before you go that you don't get to interact with the animals. It is strictly a preserve for them, but the view is beautiful. Review #2402

Get up close & personal with the lighthouse.....although you can't climb up inside, you can stand at the base & read a plaque or 2 about its history Also signs with descriptions about the local birds you see flying all around the Point.......and there were tons of birds! $5 per person to get in

Stop here on the north side of Kauai for some beautiful views and bird watching. There is a gift shop, tours of the lighthouse and a lot of information.

To separate the lighthouse and wildlife refuge is a must on a review, but they are the same place. This is the most isolated point so both a need for a lighthouse and a place for seabirds to take refuge & have young is needed. Seeing the cliffs was cool. Seeing the seabirds (with emphasis on the small island just off shore) made realize that this important in another way than just a view. I was able to get a pic of a nesting bird upclose. I also got a great pic of the "birds only beyond this sign". I walked away happy about the $5 and time spent. The lighthouse has another site for review.

Beautiful! It was lovely to see all the birds, and the interpretative signs were great. The staff are also all very friendly and kind--especially Ranger Crista. Not only is she very knowledgeable about the area, but also gives great family counseling advice if you happen to be having a vacation family fight A must visit! It's a fairly quick stop so everyone should make time for it

Debra, the wildlife expert/staff person made this visit fantastic. We walked around and looked at all the sights, but encountered her as we approached the lighthouse. I asked her about seeing albatross, and she engaged us in awesomely informative conversation that resulted in a nest tour of one of the recently hatched Wedge Tailed Shearwater. These fascinating birds burrow a nesting area into the ground, and their hatchlings can be viewed safely from the fence area with a little polite guidance (thanks Debra). She also took the time to identify other flying birds, as shaky juveniles and sure winged adults. So cool to take the time and listen to someone who obviously loves her work and the birds. It was also cool to see her politely scold a mother and small child who were accosting two scurrying Nene's on the grassy area of the lighthouse...this is a bird sanctuary people, NOT a petting zoo! Restrain your entitled offspring! Lol...now back to the review. Definitely make this a stop on your Kauai visit. Clean restrooms, very informative and attentive staff, beautiful grounds, plentiful wildlife, we will definitely be back!!

Saw a beautiful view of the ocean and the lighthouse from the fence as it was closed on Mondays. Lots of birds flying around and along the hills. We briefly saw the whales blowing out air mist.

Wonderful bird refuge. Great to know birds like the red footed boobies are being protected.

Five hundred, I dub thee "Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge." I find you not just Hawai'i's pride, but a nation's treasure. Very wise people set you aside so water fowl and beast would be protected. Each red-footed booby, each shearwater, each albatross, each nene has a roost. How do they know to come back and back and back to your protection? They must just Understand, because you are a quiet, beautiful haven; a Natural wonder. In winter, humpback whales migrate from Alaska, Drifting and rolling out at sea, spouting, breaching. It's awesome to behold, Regal creatures accompanying the thousands of chattering birds... Every animal with its own rhythm, its own place, Delighting visitors day in and day out, unaware.

The thought will cross your mind: I'd like to be a bird and fly over this lighthouse, those cliffs, that ocean... one day. I know, sounds corny but it's true. Go, and you will hear your inner voice speak. The view is absolutely breath taking! I could have stayed here forever just looking at the water, the birds, the wind on the trees. You come here and you don't want to leave because you see how small you are in the grand scheme of things - it's comforting - the beauty is big! The best you can do to soak it all in is to just breathe. Right before you leave, take a good photo and put it somewhere you can enjoy. Tip: oxyclean gets that red dirt out of your clothes and off of your shoes.

I agree with Dave F - you should definitely seperate the reviews for both the lighthouse and the refuge, but note that they are on the same property. You have to pay the $5 entry fee inside the refuge to get access to the lighthouse. So you might as well stop and enjoy the wildlife on your walk up to the lighthouse. Truth be told, I'm not a big bird person to begin with. They're kinda "meh" to me. However, even i found pretty birds to look at and appreciate. The views are majestic and binoclaurs are found throughout the small santcuary (it really feels like a hill and that's it). There's a small giftshop and bathroom too. Also, they have golf carts to accommodate those who have trouble getting up the hill on their own. *note* as of the week of October 15-19th the lighthouse was covered up in a huge tarp for renovation. So there wasnt much to see.

= $5 ENTRANCE FEE = $5 is not a lot of money, but when you are a traveler on the island of Kauai and only had 15 minutes to stop at this location, $5/head is expensive. I guess it is okay if you think of the funds as donation to the National Wildlife Refuge for their effort to protect the seabirds and environment. Since I am not much of a birdwatcher, I decided to park my car near the entrance gate and gawk at the lighthouse from the fence with the rest of the cheapos. NOTE: Construction on the lighthouse was completed as of late May 2013.

Beautiful views and location. There's free binoculars for rent which are a must. We saw whale thanks to the binoculars. Staff is also friendly and provide great information.

$5 to go in.Lighthouse under renovation.New rails up maybe for safety. Nice vistas.

I admit I came here thinking it was going to be a tourist trap, but let me tell you that it is wrong. It's a wonderful secluded little corner of Kauai where, if you love nature, you'll fall in love with this place. There's nothing more beautiful than watching the waves crash into the shore, with hundreds of birds gracefully soaring over the cliffside with the lighthouse in the backdrop. And no...neither me or my car got hit by birds' poop bombs, which is a miracle given how many birds were out there.

There is an overlook from the highway that you can view easily. But to get closer to the lighthouse, there is a short narrow one lane driveway downhill - no pedestrian traffic allowed. There are two sites for parking, and one of them is a little bit of an uphill climb ( maybe 100 feet). The lighthouse was fenced off, under restoration, and am not sure if it's at all accessible at any other time, I think this is the smallest National park / refuge I've ever been to. Definitely worth the $5 per person fee to view the birds though. It is a wildlife refuge and there are many birds to see - I have not seen these elsewhere : crested cardinal, a Layson albatross, blue footed booby nesting on the cliffs and Nene geese walk around the property. It's possible to see marine life from this outlook. See this link: http://www.fws.gov/kilaueapoint/wildlife.html You can borrow a pair of binoculars from the ranger station to see the birds better. I think it's important to have an appreciation of nature and wildlife in general, to realize how vast, beautiful and diverse the world is. If you go in with a me-h attitude about birds, then this is not for you.

We had a great time yesterday at the lighthouse. We hired an expert birder, Hob Osterlund, (hob@hawaii.rr.com) to meet us, which was well worth it. We saw two adult albatross fly off the cliff after feeding their young, plus learned so much about the other birds we saw. If you like birds highly recommend visiting the lighthouse and consider having a tour with Hob. She also can arrange tours to see the endangered birds on the island.

Beautiful scenery! It looked like something out of a postcard. I showed pictures of it to my co-worker and he said it look like it was from UK. Definitely worth the visit and the $5 admission. The only reason I gave 4 stars because the lighthouse was under construction at the time.

offers tours of the lighthouse.. also offers accommodations for those who are disabled and would have trouble making it to the lighthouse lookout point. park rep at the entrance was courteous and there was an attendant assisting with parking ..

Came one day towards closing time (4pm) and was only able to see the lighthouse from a distance. So the fam decided to come back the next day to check out the refuge and lighthouse up close. The entry fee is $5 per person, but because the parentals signed up for a National Parks Senior Card ($10) from our visit last year to Volcanoes Park on the Big Island, 4 in our party were free and i only paid $5! You see a lot of birds along the path to the lighthouse. There was a Nene perched on the bushes, lookin like he ready to pounce on my head. So i ran...i mean, walked briskly. There's information about the different types of birds in the refuge, but i took to enjoying the scenery more than reading. Bionoculars are available for patrons to use freely, as well as the viewing scopes along the perimeter of the lighthouse (no change needed...its FREE). Good stop to take in the views. There is NO shade, so wear sunscreen or better yet, bring an umbrella.

One of the most beautiful views you will ever see. Just standing there watching the waves is peaceful enough. If you make a stop here just remember to get to the lighthouse you have to drive down to a second parking lot. It is can't miss though the view is beautiful and the lighthouse is something else too. I can't say enough so I'll just say it's a must stop.

Really pretty, naturey short walk to small center where you can borrow binoculars to view ocean, cliff and other wildlife

Went there on the warmest (80) day of out visit. Sun was out and very warm..to the uncomfortable range. just prior to entering we were informed that it would be a 10 to 15 min wait once we entered the gate for a parking spot. Once parked we took some pictures before we paid the $5 per person entry fee to the lighthouse area. There we took many photos and could see some whale activity in the distance. There are many migrating birds It was good to see once but will now delete it from my bookmarkd.

This place has it all: great views, tall cliffs, noisy seals, whale watching, dolphin spotting, a vast assortment of birds and small wildlife, bugs, and island history. I would recommend this to anyone with or without kids! The gate gets locked at sunset, so be sure to arrive with plenty of time to wander around the area. Be careful of the marked areas where birds are breeding or mothering...stay on the trails!

We arrived just after 10 on a Wednesday, and it was easy to park since the refuge had just opened. The area provides such a great view, and it is quite lovely to see all the birds soaring overhead, and there are quite a few informational signs. It was also perfect timing to sign up for the limited Lighthouse tour. Apparently the tour is only on Wed and Sat. The lighthouse is nicely restored and the docent gave an interesting talk. We enjoyed our visit!

If you want to feel like you are a part of the National Geographic Society staff, observing the real cool birds of the Hawaiian Islands roosting, nesting, learning to fly... We saw the shearwaters in little holes in the ground, they were covered in down... Immature red - footed boobies were learning how to fly, and didn't know how to raise their landing gear! I thought I heard the one that was out of control screaming at my hubby... Hey outta' my way!! Don't you see I'm flyin' here? Then we also saw great Frigate birds! those scoundrels of the skies! The boobies with their webbed feet perch in trees, which was funny to me! Also the Nene, the Hawaii state bird, which was almost eradicated by the mongoose on all the Islands, Kauai is the only Island to not have a single Mongoose. Kauai is actively trying to get the numbers up, and are having some success... while we were there, it was their mating season, and we were treated to some spectacular flying by the pairs! We lastly got to see tropic birds, which are so very beautiful!!! Some have red tails, and some white... We also saw these in the Waimea canyon. Whether or not you love birding, it's a great place to visit!

This is a small National Park that is primarily a bird and animal sanctuary and also is the location for the light house. There is a $5 entry fee to the park - but we paid it since it goes to help the work done by the parks system, a good cause. However we were disappointed that the lighthouse was under construction and covered up. This is an excellent location for bird watchers. You can stop at the viewing point just outside the park and get reasonable views of the lighthouse (accross a small inlet), the birds, etc. and not pay the entry fee.

When I visited the lighthouse (which is all we really wanted to see) was wrapped in what looked like bubble wrap. No thanks. I did not really want to bird watch, it is just not my thing, so we passed on the $5 admission. Maybe next time the lighthouse will be done and we will be able to see it.

This was a nice experience for all ages. They obviously have a lighthouse and a tour through said lighthouse. The lighthouse is fascinating and it is incredible how they constructed it and maintained in through the years. The fact that it sits on one of the best places to view the coast PLUS it is a wild bird sanctuary. There are birds nesting all around on the bluffs on the other bank or just off of the walking path! Just look closely in the bushes for holes/nests that have parents or chicks sitting in them. They do have binoculars that you can borrow from the gift shop. This is a good place for site-seers, animal lovers, history buffs, as well as the people that need to know "How did they do that?" kind of people. I am all of the above, so I really enjoyed this place. It made you aware of the violent waves below that you should always respect. They happened to have claimed the life of a tourist the day before. :(

This was a nice experience, although the 5$ per head charge was a bit steep. At least it goes to a good cause.... The lighthouse is alright, but the real beauty are the sea caves visible from this park and all of the beautiful birds. We also saw a seal here (albeit from far away)....it's worth the stop, but it isn't the most amazing thing on the island.

We came here last time on a Sunday and they were closed. So we came there again on a Saturday. To our surprise, we signed up for the free lighthouse tour. It was informative and the technology in the old days was unbelievable. It ended up to be the highlight of our trip to Kauai. Make sure you sign up for the hourly tour.

The lighthouse and the views around it are 5 star. Just the drive out to the lighthouse alone was a feast for the eyes. My wife and I spent a couple hours just taking in the scenery, snapping pictures, and watching the videos and reading all the historical plaques and signs. We used our tripod to take a bunch of pictures of us jumping in front of the lighthouse for at least 15 minutes. (It's funny what people on their honeymoon will do for fun. ;) ) How the birds live in the side of the mountain is simply fascinating. The 360 degree view you get from walking around the point is just breathtaking. This is a MUST SEE if you're on Kauai. DO NOT miss this!

We actually didn't get to tour the lighthouse since it closed around 4pm! Make sure to go early. It looked nice from the cliff!