This Historic Park Is One Of Hawaii’s Best Kept Secrets

From the first Europeans visiting the islands in 1778 and the establishment of the Kingdom of Hawaii in 1795 to Hawaii’s admittance to the United States of America in 1959, the Hawaiian Islands are steeped in history - and sites full of history. Though the Hawaiian Islands are home to several fascinating parks, there is only one historic park in Hawaii that we can claim as one of the Aloha State's best-kept secrets: Pāʻulaʻula State Historic Site in Kauai.

This state historic park on Kauai is located on the coast just south of Waimea, and it's home to Russian Fort Elizabeth National Historic Landmark, a fascinating and often-overlooked hidden gem in Hawaii that's just waiting to be discovered.

In the early 1800s, Russia attempted to establish a foothold in the Hawaiian Islands, and Fort Elizabeth was built as a result of an alliance between the High Chief Kaumuali’i and the Russian-American Company.

The "treaty" granted Russian Tsar Alexander I a protectorate over Kauai, with the implication that Russia could capture the entire island chain from Kamehameha if desired. It is said that Kaumuali’i never intended to give up his power, but that the Russians would help him reclaim his own kingdom.

Constructed in 1817 on the east bank of the Waimea River overlooking Waimea Bay, the structure was built in the shape of an irregular octagon. Approximately 300 to 450 feet across with walls 20 feet high, the building housed a small Russian Orthodox chapel, the first Orthodox Christian church in Hawaii.

The goal was to create a fueling station in the Pacific Ocean and establish a stable trading for the shipping company, but Russia’s involvement with Hawaii was short lived and ended just a few years after it began.

Today, Russian Fort Elizabeth is the last remaining Russian fort in Hawaii and a fascinating historical park.

Though the historic fort has been reclaimed by nature in the past century, the historic park found here today is home to an interpretive trail that allows guests to step back in time and experience a slice of Hawaiian history that is too often overlooked.

With unique history, phenomenal scenery, and photo ops, Russian Fort Elizabeth should be on every Hawaii history buff's bucket list.

Russian Fort Elizabeth/Pāʻulaʻula State Historic Site in Kauai is located on Kaumualii Hwy. near Waimea and is open all day, every day. For a more detailed history of this historic park in Hawaii and Russia's involvement in the kingdom, visit the park's page on the National Park Service website or the Division of State Parks website. Have you ever visited this unique historic park? Share your experiences with us in the comments below. Dive deeper with a guided tour that includes a stop at Russian Fort Elizabeth from our friends at Viator.

To discover another slice of Hawaiian history, visit this ancient heiau overlooking Oahu’s Waimea Bay.