From unexplained rock formations and abandoned places to unique parks, odd statues and weird museums, the Hawaiian Islands are certainly home to some strange attractions. Check out these eleven weird places that definitely take the cake for the weirdest places you could possibly visit in Hawaii. Oh, and in our vocabulary, weird is most definitely not a bad thing.
- Kukaniloko Birthing Stones
Sean Munson/Flickr The Kukaniloko Birthing Stones, found nearly 100 yards from the intersection of Whitmore Avenue and Highway 80 in Wahiawa, Oahu, have marked the site of royal births and power struggles for centuries. Recent research has discovered that the stones may have served an astrological purpose as well – perhaps as a sort of a Pacific Islands henge?
- Lava Tree State Monument
Frank Hamm/Flickr This public park located on Hawaii Island showcases the preservation of tree trunk lava molds that were formed when a lava flow swept through a forest in 1790. The park is free to visit, and features a 0.7-mile loop path and picnic tables.
- Cactus Garden
Nick/Flickr Located at Kapiolani Community College, this cactus garden was founded by Moriso Teraoke in 1988. He orered the plants from catologs and donated them to the Oahu school, and now, in his eighties, he still helps to maintain the garden, along with several volunteers. The garden is free to visit, and has attracted thousands of visitors since it was created.
- Coco Palms Resort
Jeff/Flickr The Coco Palms Resort, located in Wailua, Kauai, was the scene of Elvis Presley’s film, Blue Hawaii. It was abandoned after being hit by Hurricane Iniki in 1992, but there are plans to restore and reopen the former hotel as a Hyatt resort in 2017. For now, it is a pretty creepy place to tour.
- Ax-Wielding Abe Lincoln Statue
Roadside America/Website Located in Ewa Beach, “Lincoln the Frontiersman,” was the last bronze monument made in the United States during World War II. With his ax in hand and tree stumps at his feet, the statue was made to inspire the children of Ewa Plantation School, and was funded by former principal of the school Katherine Burke, who was apparently a huge Lincoln fan.
- Three Ring Ranch Exotic Animal Sanctuary
Three Ring Ranch/Website Located on five acres above Kailua-Kona is Tree Ring Ranch, home to various exotic animals – including Zoe, a Golden zebra who is distinguished by gold stripes and blue eyes. She was rescued from Molokai, and was the third reported zebra of her kind throughout history when she was born in 1998.
- Teddy Bear World
Teddy Bear World/Website More than 800 animatronic bears occupy this 20,000 square foot museum, described as “the only teddy bear animatronic museum attraction in North America.”
- UFO Peace Park
Jake Bierman/Facebook Located in Volcano on Hawaii Island, this small sculpture park was created by adherents to the Raelian UFO religion, who believe that everyone was created by Elohim aliens. The park features a model of a proposed galactic embassy the group wants to build in Hawaii.
- Dole Plantation Maze
Smart Destinations/Flickr The Dole Plantation’s giant pineapple garden maze was declared the world’s largest in 2008 by the Guinness Book of World Records. The maze is housed on more than three acres, and includes nearly 2.5 miles of paths – and admission is only $6.
- Kalaupapa Leper Colony
John Hyun/Flickr With the ocean on one side and giant 1,600-foot cliffs on the other, are the Kalawao and Kalaupapa Leper Colonies – described by Robert Louis Stevenson as a “prison fortified by nature.” The Hawaiian government formed an isolated quarantine for those suffering from leprosy; at its peak, approximately 1,200 men, women and children were exiled to this island prison.
- Corsair Plane Wreck
Matt Kieffer/Flickr This plane lies 100 feet deep on the ocean floor just off Oahu, where it has been guarded by eels and rays since 1946. Scuba divers can explore the wreck from Oahu’s Portlock.
Are there any places you would add to this list? Which of these eleven places would you say is the weirdest? Share your opinions in the comments below!
Sean Munson/Flickr
The Kukaniloko Birthing Stones, found nearly 100 yards from the intersection of Whitmore Avenue and Highway 80 in Wahiawa, Oahu, have marked the site of royal births and power struggles for centuries. Recent research has discovered that the stones may have served an astrological purpose as well – perhaps as a sort of a Pacific Islands henge?
Frank Hamm/Flickr
This public park located on Hawaii Island showcases the preservation of tree trunk lava molds that were formed when a lava flow swept through a forest in 1790. The park is free to visit, and features a 0.7-mile loop path and picnic tables.
Nick/Flickr
Located at Kapiolani Community College, this cactus garden was founded by Moriso Teraoke in 1988. He orered the plants from catologs and donated them to the Oahu school, and now, in his eighties, he still helps to maintain the garden, along with several volunteers. The garden is free to visit, and has attracted thousands of visitors since it was created.
Jeff/Flickr
The Coco Palms Resort, located in Wailua, Kauai, was the scene of Elvis Presley’s film, Blue Hawaii. It was abandoned after being hit by Hurricane Iniki in 1992, but there are plans to restore and reopen the former hotel as a Hyatt resort in 2017. For now, it is a pretty creepy place to tour.
Roadside America/Website
Located in Ewa Beach, “Lincoln the Frontiersman,” was the last bronze monument made in the United States during World War II. With his ax in hand and tree stumps at his feet, the statue was made to inspire the children of Ewa Plantation School, and was funded by former principal of the school Katherine Burke, who was apparently a huge Lincoln fan.
Three Ring Ranch/Website
Located on five acres above Kailua-Kona is Tree Ring Ranch, home to various exotic animals – including Zoe, a Golden zebra who is distinguished by gold stripes and blue eyes. She was rescued from Molokai, and was the third reported zebra of her kind throughout history when she was born in 1998.
Teddy Bear World/Website
More than 800 animatronic bears occupy this 20,000 square foot museum, described as “the only teddy bear animatronic museum attraction in North America.”
Jake Bierman/Facebook
Located in Volcano on Hawaii Island, this small sculpture park was created by adherents to the Raelian UFO religion, who believe that everyone was created by Elohim aliens. The park features a model of a proposed galactic embassy the group wants to build in Hawaii.
Smart Destinations/Flickr
The Dole Plantation’s giant pineapple garden maze was declared the world’s largest in 2008 by the Guinness Book of World Records. The maze is housed on more than three acres, and includes nearly 2.5 miles of paths – and admission is only $6.
John Hyun/Flickr
With the ocean on one side and giant 1,600-foot cliffs on the other, are the Kalawao and Kalaupapa Leper Colonies – described by Robert Louis Stevenson as a “prison fortified by nature.” The Hawaiian government formed an isolated quarantine for those suffering from leprosy; at its peak, approximately 1,200 men, women and children were exiled to this island prison.
Matt Kieffer/Flickr
This plane lies 100 feet deep on the ocean floor just off Oahu, where it has been guarded by eels and rays since 1946. Scuba divers can explore the wreck from Oahu’s Portlock.
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