Fodor's Expert Review Old Koloa Town

Koloa’s first sugar plantation opened in 1835, ushering in an era of sugar production throughout the islands, with more than 100 plantations established by 1885. Many of the workers came from the Philippines, Japan, China, Korea, and Portugal, creating Hawaii’s multiethnic mélange. Today, many of Koloa’s historic buildings, beneath the shade of stately old monkeypod trees, have been converted into fun shops, galleries, and places to eat. Even the newer developments mimic quaint plantation camp architecture. You’ll just want to stroll and take it all in. Try a sweet treat from The Fresh Shave, Kauai Gourmet Nuts, or Koloa Mill Ice Cream after a food truck lunch taken to nearby Knudsen Park. Be sure to approach Old Koloa Town via the Tree Tunnel, a romantic canopy of eucalyptus trees planted more than a century ago along a stretch of Maluhia Road.