Russian Fort Elizabeth
Pā ʻŪlā ʻŪlā
The ruins of a star-shaped stone fort built in 1817 by the Russian-American Company at the mouth of the Waimea River, a reminder of an international episode during the Kingdom of Hawaii.
Fort Elizabeth sits on the east side of the Waimea River mouth. In 1817, it was built by the German doctor Schäffer of the Russian-American Company, with the support of Kauai's king Kaumualiʻi. It is one of the few Russian relics in Hawaii, and it was later taken over by Hawaiians and used as a fortress. The star-shaped stone walls survive, and interpretive signs tell its history. Admission is free. The nearby town of Waimea is where Captain Cook first landed in Hawaii in 1778, so it is worth a visit on the way.
Opening hours
Daytime
Nearby sights
- Hanapēpē Town & Swinging Bridge
- Kauaʻi Coffee Company
- Waimea Canyon Lookout
- Polihale State Park
- Kōkeʻe State Park
- Spouting Horn
- Allerton & McBryde Gardens (NTBG)
- Kalalau Lookout & Puʻu o Kila