Waimea Pier Kauai

The Waimea Pier (officially the the Waimea State Recreation Pier) is located on Kauai’s southwestern shore in the town of Waimea. Today, the pier is a peaceful place to pole fish, relax and take in beautiful Hawaiian sunsets.

The original wharf at this spot was built in 1865 as a port-of-call for whaling ships. Waimea was one of Kauai’s original trading areas (Waimea was where Captain Cook first set foot on Hawaii in 1778), and the wharf facilitated trade in sugar, sweet potatoes, taro, yams, rice, cattle and goats. In 1898 a railroad was built from Polihale to Waimea to transport sugar and rice to a warehouse at the pier (the foundations still remain to the left of the pier). Trade at the pier contributed to the expansion of the sugar industry in southwestern Kauai and the growth of nearby sugar plantation towns such as Kekaha and Makaweli. The pier continued to be one of Kauai’s important trading centers until the deep water harbors at Port Allen and Nawiliwili were completed in the 1920s and 1930s. A fleet of small fishing boats known as sampans continued to use the pier prior to World War Two.

With trade moving to other locations on the island, the pier is now a place of rest and relaxation. There are advantageous views of the “Forbidden Island” of Niihau to be found here, as well as amazing sunsets. The beach is black, or at least dark gray, and there are nice views up and down the coast of rustic Waimea Beach. The waters often have a reddish hue due to the Waimea River emptying nearby with its runoff of the island’s famous red dirt.

The pier is a regulated fishing area of Kauai. Fishing is limited to one pole per person. Spears, fishing nets (except crab nets) and fish traps are prohibited within 50 yards of the pier.

There is a small park at the pier that has restrooms, a water fountain and several picnic tables. The pier is within walking distance of the town center of Waimea.

Location at Google Maps