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Spouting Horn
Rating Details »
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
24 reviews for Spouting Horn
Either you get it or you don't. The one and two star reviewers don't and should probably stick to Waikiki or Vegas. But for those who enjoy water spouting high through volcanically formed lava tubes, this is an appealing place. You can observe the gaping hole created by the early 20th century sugar cane plantation manager to keep the salt spray off his crops. In an act of hubris, he dynamited it and it no longer spouts as high. I've never seen turtles here as some have. That would be very cool.
On the walkway between the parking lot and the fenced overlook there are vendors in permanent kiosks. This used to be a great place to shop, featuring locally made crafts at very reasonable prices. I've bought several interesting pieces from different vendors over the years. In recent years I've notice the quality and selection of the merchandise steadily deteriorating, to the point that now much of it is generic. From Spouting Horn we drove to Hanapepe, where we wandered from gallery to gallery. I chatted w/ a gallery owner who used to have a kiosk at Spouting Horn in the early days. She confirmed my sense of the change in quality. She said in three years there will be no more vendors there because it will become a state park. That seems appropriate because nature is really the draw there.
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Perhaps I've been spoiled by other, more impressive similar features elsewhere in the islands but the horn didn't do it for me. In fairness, the history I heard suggests the effect was much more exciting before someone dynamited the hole to prevent spray from contaminating adjacent agriculture.
The visual aside, the sound it makes suggests a congested dinosaur and that is actually kind of cool.
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yeah, i'm gonna say that the spouting horn was pretty boring also. Don't get me wrong... it makes a cool noise and you can see a rainbow in the spray when the sun's hitting it at the right time but... you can only spend a few minutes watching.
You can't get very close to the 'spout' and have to stand behind a fenced off area. You're looking down on the spouting horn and therefore it looks smaller than it actually is. Someone recommended we go there during sunset because of the cool rainbows it produces ...but the sun is setting to the right of you as you're watching the spouting horn. I wanted to have the spouting water water in between me and the setting sun!!
Anyways, don't mean to hate on a natural phenomenon but there's other things out there.
Love the Spouting Horn.
There is nothing like nature's wonders.
The Spouting Horn is a delight for those who love the outdoors, have patience, and enjoy life's simple pleasures. Every few minutes or so, the ocean rushes in and a small spout of water shoots up from a blowhole. My little one used his binoculars to get an up close effect. He ended up making friends with another boy who was also excited to use the glasses. Twenty minutes later, my son still wanted to watch.
As you walk from the parking lot to the site, there are vendors selling jewelry and other souvenirs. We did not buy anything, but it was interesting to look.
Add this side trip to your drive to Koloa or Waimea.
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Eh, you've seen one blowhole, you've seen 'em all... I wouldn't necessarily go out of my way to come here, but it's a pretty neat sight.
It's a lot more appealing to tourists but it's still a pretty cool natural effect nonetheless. When the tide is coming in, water shoots up in a geyser effect and there is a lowing sound much like what I imagine a whale makes. It's also a nice beachy picnic area where you may get lucky and see sea turtles swimming by. Sunset is by far the best time to get a good photo but if you can incorporate a rainbow in as well then you are looking professional lol. Lots of free parking as well.
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The Spouting Horn was pretty boring to me. I would not waste your time with this.
It is cool and I got some great pics. I didn't know about the rainbows as it comes up so that was a bonus. We came after the vendors were done so I am not sure beyond jewelry what they sell.
Remember Aunt Bertha and Grandpa George back at the Fern Grotto?
In the words of Richard Marx, they "will be right here waiting for you" at nature's wonderous Spouting Horn.
Just go there. Everybody does. Just be smart and go at sunset when it is at its most spectacular; that's when you will see bright rainbows in the ocean sprays.
Every spot in the parking lot is filled with Enterprise and Budget rent-a-cars, so you might as well park yours there for a while, too.
Oooh & Aahh at the ocean's fury or just stop to shop for puka shells and trinkets at the cute outdoor flea market with the beautiful backdrop of the roiling ocean.
Be sure to say hello to the roosters and Mo'o, the legendary lizard that's said to be moaning in hunger down below the lava tubes.
THREE PAWS UP
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It was a nice place right by Poipu beach. You need to go at the right time of the day. I would recommend when the tide is coming in much better views. I'd say you need to go and check it out. And if your lucky and go at the right time also you'll see turtles swimming and seals around going after fish for dinner. its pretty cool
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In Kauai, everything tourist-related is expensive. Instead of paying $100/pp to be occupied for about 3 hours, my husband and I rented a car for the week and just droved all around the island a few times.
We got to the Spouting Horn by accident. We were trying to find the Poipu Beach and took the wrong turn.
It was delightful natural phenomenon. And yes A+ for Free activities!
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It's free and it's utterly cool. Spouting Horn is a natural wonder which occurs when water rushes under a lava shelf and bursts through a small opening at the surface.
Spouting Horn can spurtasalt water as high as 50 feet into the air though on the day of our visit the waves weren't as high but we were still able to capture the essence of the whole natural phenomenon.
When you're done viewing this, walk a few hundred yards to an arts and crafts market.
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I honestly don't see what all the fuss is about. Seriously. Guidebooks quote someone (jack london? mark twain? gloria estefan?) as having said that this is the "old faithful of the pacific." Um... okay... except, "old faithul" isn't in the Atlantic, Indian, Southern or Arctic oceans... In fact, it's smack in the middle of the North American continent and is a geyser that results from an amazing natural phenomenon of ERUPTION.
Spouting Horn is more of a blowhole that waves shoot through. Sure, it's cool to look at, but, if I'da been staying as far north as Princeville and come all the way down and over just to see this.... well... I'da been feeling preeettty ripped off.
Also, it doesn't improve things that the parking lot has mega spaces for tour buses (we were there after hours, so I'm guessing that during mid-day it's a tourist fiesta), and there's a giant crap-shack set up in the lot - a series of tents strung together with various merchants selling junk-o-la. Kinda takes the luster off the natural wonder of the surroundings when there are carnies trying to hawk their wares at you while you're marvelling at God's creations. But hey, that's just me.
Perhaps following this vein of capitalist thrall, it would be a good idea to plop a Starbucks on the top of Everest.
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A beautiful work of nature, that is extremely unique. I love the shopping there as well. It is MUCH cheaper than most of the stores, and a great place to get souvenirs.
It was a natural volcano that is now inactive.. Mainlanders think of it like the Pacific Islander Ol' Faithful. Yea it is great to check out and there are tons of little shopping spots on a mini strip where you can get jewelry or some of Aunty Lilikoi's crack marinades.... Ana and I sat underneath a shady tree on a bunch while the rest of our group took some myspace worthy pictures.
Best part-- this place is freezy!
Nice couple of blow-holes and some local merchants selling their wares. The bonus was watching the turtles just of the edge of the rocks.
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This was a nice little spot to hang for a half hour or so. The water spout is cool and there's a nice little jewelry stand, too. Several vendors hawk their wares there. It's nice to just look out at the water.
Ok, the natural water spout stuff going on here is pretty cool, but the view and sunset is really worth fighting a rail spot with (tourists and their cameras) over. PLUS- the booths that are set up near by have a ton of over priced, yet still cheap crap that is perfect for last min. purchases. among the junk here you may find some really well handcrafted shell jewelry and unless you know someone who can make seashells into a necklace, just pay it. its worth every penny.
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Well, you can't really beat free. When on vacation, especially in tourist havens like Hawaii, you sort of expect to pay for every inch you travel. So it's nice to be surprised by something entertaining and cool to look at and is also absolutely free. The water shoots up through the hole in the lava shelf decently high and makes for a neat photo opportunity. This, combined with it's proximity to Poipu beach makes it a good place to stop off.
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Seeing all the volcanic rock was pretty cool. Hubby and I got some really great photos here, good spot to take a family photo with the ocean in the background. It is free to park and enter the area.
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really cool natural spouting thing that i dont even know how to describe. you just have to see it for yourself. Basically, water comes from underneath the cliffs and as the waves hit the cliffs, a hole in the cliffs causes the water to spout out and make a noise similar to a whale. It's not a place i would stand at all day to watch, but its cool for about 15 min. we did see a lot of turtles in the sea from afar tho, which kept my interest for like 20 minutes. I thought it was cool and it was on the way from where we were =)
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Worth a visit. It's one of the better spouting hole where the ocean waves come crashing through. The noise that's made is cool and eerie.
It was London that called it the "Old Faithful" of the Pacific, and for those who don't understand what all the fuss is about, they obviously haven't done much reading. There is alot of Hawaiian folklore behind Spouting Horn, as well as some pretty interesting natural phenomena. There are tents set up, but the people selling their stuff are far from "carnies trying to hawk their wares at you". They are back away from the viewpoint, and every time we've been there they have been pretty laid back. They didn't try to sell us anything, or even approach us for that matter. If you're staying up North, you might be disappointed if you come all the way down and it's not "spouting" very hard. Try to make a day of it and visit Poipu, etc, and then go see Spouting Horn at sunset or high tide. If you're staying in the area, it's awesome early in the am and at sunset. In the winter, you can see whales splashing about beyond the reef.
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