KAWAIHAE

deepwater port lying along Kawaihae Bay, on the northwestern coast of Hawaii Island, Hawaii, U.S. It marks the northern point of a 40-mile (64-kilometre) stretch known as the Gold Coast, a resort-beach development area that follows the Queen Kaahumanu Highway around Anaehoomalu and Kiholo bays. Kawaihae was a busy port in the 19th century for whalers and traders but declined with the advent of steamships. By the late 20th century, however, harbour improvements including piers and terminals for shipping bulk sugar and cattle on the hoof (from ranches inland) had made Kawaihae the island's second port after Hilo. Just south of the harbour is Puukohula, one of the best-preserved Hawaiian heiaus (temples), dedicated in 1791 by Kamehameha I. Nearby, around Puako, are vast fields of shallow rock carvings of early Polynesian life.