Menehune Ditch

The small ditch by the roadside in Waimea, Kauai, may seem ordinary, but it holds a remarkable secret. This 50-foot-long ditch was ingeniously designed to divert water from the Waimea River to the taro patches in lower Waimea Valley, showcasing unique engineering techniques not found elsewhere in Hawaii. Archaeologists are intrigued by its design, especially the neatly cut smooth basalt stones used in its construction, which were transported from a quarry 7 miles away. Although the Menehune Ditch is now smaller than described in early accounts, a portion of it remains visible today, along with a swinging bridge nearby. To find it, one can turn onto Menehune Road from Kaumualii Highway in Waimea town and continue until spotting the ditch on the left and the swinging bridge on the right.