Hawaii Route 560
Encyclopedia
Route 560 or Kaua'i Belt Road-North Shore section, is a ten-mile (16 km) scenic road on the northern shore of the island of Kauai
in Hawaii
. The entire belt road is signed as the Kuhio Highway and Hawaii Route 56 was once signed on this route before it was downgraded to become Hawaii Route 560 in the late 1960s. The Kuhio Highway is named after Jonah Kūhiō Kalaniana'ole
, the second non-voting Congressional Delegate from territorial Hawaii.
designation in Princeville
at 22°12′46"N 159°28′17"W. The road drops in elevation heading towards the Hanalei River
with lookout points giving breathtaking views of the river valley and the northwestern shore of Kauai. It then goes through the only major town on this route Hanalei
, and past the Hanalei Bay
. It follows a foot trail used by ancient Hawaii
ans.
An early record is given in the 1849 diary of William DeWitt Alexander
, who lived at the Waioli mission
which still can be seen along the road. William Tufts Brigham
recorded boats used to cross the rivers in 1865. The Hanalei Pier
is just north of the road on the bay. At one time the valley was home to rice fields, and the Haraguchi Rice Mill is one of several built along the river.
The road is narrow at times and features eleven one-lane bridges with the first five constructed in 1912. County engineers J. H. Moragne and R. L.
Garlinghouse supervised building the bridges and paving through the 20th century.
Many of these bridges have restricted weight limits and some of them are wooden. Traffic must yield at these bridges and it is custom to allow the greater traffic to cross first or after five to seven cars have passed your side of the road to allow to the other side to pass. The road becomes narrower with each passing mile as the Nā Pali Coast begins to inch closer towards the coast. The road dead ends at Haena State Park
.
allowing one to circumnavigate the entire island in the 1960s; however, those plans were dropped due to environmental concerns and lack of traffic demand.
The Hawaii Department of Transportation
was planning to replace these bridges with two-lane bridges, but the plan was later abandoned in 1987.
The area is popular for films, although they can cause traffic congestion since there are no alternate routes.
The new bridge was officially dedicated in November 2003. A 1960s structure under the roadway supports the heavier weight of modern traffic.
Route 560 was added February 11, 2004 to the National Register of Historic Places listings in Hawaii as site 03001048.
Kauai
Kauai or Kauai, known as Tauai in the ancient Kaua'i dialect, is geologically the oldest of the main Hawaiian Islands. With an area of , it is the fourth largest of the main islands in the Hawaiian archipelago, and the 21st largest island in the United States. Known also as the "Garden Isle",...
in Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
. The entire belt road is signed as the Kuhio Highway and Hawaii Route 56 was once signed on this route before it was downgraded to become Hawaii Route 560 in the late 1960s. The Kuhio Highway is named after Jonah Kūhiō Kalaniana'ole
Jonah Kuhio Kalaniana'ole
Prince Jonah Kūhiō Kalanianaole Piikoi was a prince of the reigning House of Kalākaua when the Kingdom of Hawaii was overthrown by international businessmen in 1893...
, the second non-voting Congressional Delegate from territorial Hawaii.
Route
Kuhio Highway ends its Route 56Hawaii Route 56
Route 56, also known as Kuhio Highway, is the main highway on the north and east shore of Kauaii island.-Route description :Route 56 runs , stretching from Hawaii Route 50 at the junction of Rice Street in Lihue, Hawaii to the junction of Hawaii Route 560 in Princeville on the island of Kauaii...
designation in Princeville
Princeville, Hawaii
Princeville is a census-designated place on the north shore of the island of Kauai in Kauai County, Hawaii, United States. The population was 1,698 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Princeville is located at ....
at 22°12′46"N 159°28′17"W. The road drops in elevation heading towards the Hanalei River
Hanalei River
The Hanalei River on the island of Kauai in Hawaii flows north from the eastern slopes Mount Waialeale for until entering the Pacific Ocean at Hanalei Bay as an estuary...
with lookout points giving breathtaking views of the river valley and the northwestern shore of Kauai. It then goes through the only major town on this route Hanalei
Hanalei, Hawaii
Hanalei is a census-designated place in Kauai County, Hawaii, United States. The population was 478 at the 2000 census. Hanalei means "lei making" in Hawaiian...
, and past the Hanalei Bay
Hanalei Bay
Hanalei Bay is the largest bay on the north shore of Kauai island in Hawaii. The town of Hanalei is at the mid-point of the bay.Hanalei Bay consists of nearly two miles of beach, surrounded by mountains. In the summer, the bay offers excellent mooring for sailboats, stand up paddle boarding and...
. It follows a foot trail used by ancient Hawaii
Ancient Hawaii
Ancient Hawaii refers to the period of Hawaiian human history preceding the unification of the Kingdom of Hawaii by Kamehameha the Great in 1810. After being first settled by Polynesian long-distance navigators sometime between AD 300–800, a unique culture developed. Diversified agroforestry and...
ans.
An early record is given in the 1849 diary of William DeWitt Alexander
William DeWitt Alexander
William DeWitt Alexander was an educator, author and linguist in the Kingdom of Hawaii and Republic of Hawaii.He then constructed maps for the Territory of Hawaii.-Life:...
, who lived at the Waioli mission
Waioli Mission District
The Waioli Mission District at Hanalei Bay, on Route 560 along the north shore of the island of Kauai, is the site of a historic mission. The first permanent missionaries to the area arrived in 1834, and the district was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973.-Description:Wai oli...
which still can be seen along the road. William Tufts Brigham
William Tufts Brigham
William Tufts Brigham was an American geologist, botanist, ethnologist and the first director of the Bernice P. Bishop Museum in Honolulu.-Biography:...
recorded boats used to cross the rivers in 1865. The Hanalei Pier
Hanalei Pier
Hanalei Pier is a pier built into Hanalei Bay on the northern shore of island of Kauai in the state of Hawaii.-History:The wetlands of Hanalei Bay were used to grow taro by ancient Hawaiians...
is just north of the road on the bay. At one time the valley was home to rice fields, and the Haraguchi Rice Mill is one of several built along the river.
The road is narrow at times and features eleven one-lane bridges with the first five constructed in 1912. County engineers J. H. Moragne and R. L.
Garlinghouse supervised building the bridges and paving through the 20th century.
Many of these bridges have restricted weight limits and some of them are wooden. Traffic must yield at these bridges and it is custom to allow the greater traffic to cross first or after five to seven cars have passed your side of the road to allow to the other side to pass. The road becomes narrower with each passing mile as the Nā Pali Coast begins to inch closer towards the coast. The road dead ends at Haena State Park
Ha'ena State Park
Hāena State Park is a state park located on the north shore of the Hawaiian island of Kauai. It is often referred to as the "end of the road" and marks the end point of the Kuhio Highway. The park provides access to beaches, trails, and several ancient Hawaiian sites, including sea caves estimated...
.
Past aspirations
There were plans to extend the road to Route 550Hawaii Route 550
Route 550 is a fourteen mile road stretching from Route 50 in Waimea to Kōkeʻe State Park on the island of Kauai.-Route description:...
allowing one to circumnavigate the entire island in the 1960s; however, those plans were dropped due to environmental concerns and lack of traffic demand.
The Hawaii Department of Transportation
Hawaii Department of Transportation
The Hawaii Department of Transportation is a state government organization which oversees transportation in the U.S. state of Hawaii. The agency is divided into three divisions dealing with aviation, maritime, and roads.-Airports Division:...
was planning to replace these bridges with two-lane bridges, but the plan was later abandoned in 1987.
The area is popular for films, although they can cause traffic congestion since there are no alternate routes.
Preservation
Instead, a massive renovation project began for the Hanalei River bridge, promoted by a community preservation group with cooperation of the Hawaii Department of Transportation. A Pratt truss was built as a replica of the original 1912 one-lane structure.The new bridge was officially dedicated in November 2003. A 1960s structure under the roadway supports the heavier weight of modern traffic.
Route 560 was added February 11, 2004 to the National Register of Historic Places listings in Hawaii as site 03001048.