Coconut 1

Coconut 1

Nui/Coconut- Cocos Nucifera

Location: Royal Coconut Grove of Kapuaiwa, Moloka'i

GPS: N 21°05.828, W 157°02.331

Nominated by: DLNR-Division of Forestry and Wildlife

Height: 103 ft

Circumference: 14 in

Crown Spread: 20 ft

Points: 122

Current Ranking: National Co-Champion

Directions: From the city of Kaunakakai, go east on Highway 460. The Kapuaiwa Coconut Grove will be on the left across the street from Church Row.

This grove was planted in the 1860's during the reign of King Kamehameha V. The King, nicknamed Kapuaiwa, selected this site because of the seven sacred ponds located here. He had 1,000 tall, royal coconut palm trees planted here to represent each warrior in his mighty army and to shade his sacred bathing pools of the ali'i (royalty). Of the reported ten acres of trees planted here, only a few hundred of these beautiful palms still stand. Entrance through the grove is forbidden due to the constant and real danger of falling coconuts. However, the sunset view of this grove from Kiowea Beach Park is spectacular. A concrete military bunker stands at the waters edge of the grove as a grim reminder of WWII.