Makauwah Cave Cache (formerly Kauai Cavern Cache) Traditional Geocache
Makauwah Cave Cache (formerly Kauai Cavern Cache)
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(small)
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On the south shore of Kauai there is a cavern in the rocks that is probably 50 feet deep, 100 feet across and 150 feet wide. It's called Maha'ulepu (http://malama-mahaulepu.org/) (it's now called Makauwahi Cave... http://www.livescience.com/3004-hawaiian-cave-reveals-ancient-secrets.html) and is a large sinkhole in the limestone and the subject of on-going excavation and analysis. It's managed by Dr. David Burney and his wife Lida, both of whom are extremely knowledgable and eager to discuss their work. The excavation is an attempt is to understand the coastal flora and fauna going back more than 10,000 years. The researchers have found fossilized pollen and seeds so they know what was growing there in 'pre-Hawaiian' times. They've now cleared much of the area surrounding the cave and have planted several of these varieties of plants. PLEASE BE CAREFUL WHERE YOU WALK (STAY ON TRAIL) so you don't step on their plants. Also, the folks who work in the area know about the geocache and really love it when geocachers stop to chat with them. You'll find them very friendly and eager to discuss their activities. They may invite you to come down into the cave if their workload permits. The cavern is staffed with volunteers 7 days a week and offer short tours on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. They encourage visitors to come join them. It doesn't hurt that the cache is near a beautiful beach and surrounded by wonderful hiking opportunities.
The cache is a tupperware bowl, containing a log book and pen. There are several ways to get to the Ground Zero, and they all involve driving down Poipu Road, past the Grand Hyatt. Soon the paved road will end. Most of the property in this area is owned by Steve Case, of AOL 'fame', but it's all open to the public. Route 1 (PREFERRED). Stay on the road for about half a mile from where the pavement ends and turn right into the CJM Stables and horseback riding facility. Drive about .1 mile and turn left on a dirt road at the crest of a small hill. Follow that road for approx. .25 miles to a large parking area. This is about .16 miles from the cache. Look for signs directing you to the Makauwah Cave Trail. Don.t turn left at post 6...go straight. Cache is a few feet past post 11. Route 2. NOTE: ROUTES 2 & 3 REQUIRE YOU TO DRIVE ON A VERY BUMPY ROAD. IN FACT, SOME RENTAL CAR COMPANIES (e.g., Avis) ARE NOW HAVING YOU SIGN A STATEMENT SAYING YOU AGREE NOT TO TRAVEL ON THESE ROADS. HAVING SAID THAT, I HAVE NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEMS, NOR HAVE I HEARD OF ANY PROBLEMS FROM CACHERS. I'd advise trying it to see if it fits your comfort level. If not, turn around and try route #1. THE MAIN THING IS TO TAKE IT SLOWLY. Drive for a total of ~1.7 miles (from where the unpaved road begins). Keep going straight when you see the sign for the CJM horse stable. This road dead ends at another cane road...turn right. Go .7 miles to a large parking area. If there's a guard in the "guard" shack, just tell him you're going to the beach and he'll tell you that he closes the gates at 6:00 p.m. BTW...he means it. As you enter the parking area, there's a path to the beach at about 2:00 (west). There are two large rocks marking the trail head. Park and take this path about 100 feet to the beach and turn on your GPSr. Head west on the beach until you come to a small stream that enters the ocean (~ 1/4 mile). Immediately on the other side of that stream is a trail that the horseback riders use. Start up that trail. After about five feet there is a smaller trail under the trees going off to the right. Pick up a trail map here, though you won't need it to find the cache. Walk along this trail a few feet till you come to marker #14. Take the trail to the left, up a small hill, to ground zero. If you don't want to cross the stream there is a short (100 feet in length) trail to the right (east) of where the stream comes out of the bushes and that takes you to a bridge across the stream. Turn left immediately after crossing the bridge and it will take you to stake #14. Then take the short trail up the hill and it'll take you to ground zero. This is the prettiest way to get to the cache, as you walk along the beach to get there. Route 3. This is the fastest and easiest way to get to the cache, but it's not as scenic as #'s 1 & 2. Follow the instructions in route #2' until you get to the "guard shack". Almost immediately after you pass the shack there is a smooth dirt road that goes to the right. There's a sign that says "No beach access". Take this road (maybe half a mile) and you'll end up in a large parking area. Park here and cross the bridge, turn left and go to marker #14 and take the left path up the small hill to ground zero. NOTE: TO GET TO THE ENTRANCE TO THE CAVE (i.e. NOT Ground Zero), TURN RIGHT AFTER CROSSING THE BRIDGE (GO STRAIGHT PAST THE BRIDGE IF YOU'RE COMING FROM THE CACHE). THE ENTRANCE TO THE CAVE IS ABOUT 100 FEET PAST THE BRIDGE, ON THE LEFT. YOU'RE WELCOME TO CRAWL INTO THE CAVE (ABOUT EIGHT FEET) IF THE GATE IS OPEN. PLEASE RESPECT THE WORK THAT IS GOING ON IN THE CAVE. MAHALO. Also, please mention your hometown in both the written and electronic logs. Someday I hope to put together a map showing the hometowns of everyone who's ever found the cache. Thanks. Note on cache maintenance: My wife and I travel to Kauai approximately 3-4 times per year. In addition, we share a condo with another couple who visit there with about the same frequency, and he has agreed to help me maintain this cache. As you leave this parking area, turn right at the first dirt road (opposite the pond). Go a couple of hundred yards to a work area. Park, and ask anyone you see if you can see the tortoises. It's fascinating.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
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