Uncover the mysteries of Kauai’s Club Med Ruins—an intriguing blend of history and natural beauty.
- Region: North Shore/Hanalei
- Only the foundations and some walls remain from a failed 1980s condominium development.
- One of the most beautiful locations on Kauai, situated on a promontory overlooking Hanalei Bay.
- Visitors can stroll the grounds as long as property rules are followed, including staying off the structures.
- Map: Google Maps
Once known primarily to local residents, this unique collection of abandoned concrete structures has gained considerable attention through travel guidebooks and social media. Set on a beautiful promontory overlooking Hanalei Bay, at least two dozen concrete slabs, walls and other remnants can be found scattered across the property, giving the setting the appearance of an ancient, abandoned temple.
Popularly known as the Club Med Ruins, the “ruins” found on the Old Hanalei Plantation property are actually remnants of a failed development from the 1980s. There was, however, a Club Med resort on the property in the 1970s, and before that, the site was home to the Hanalei Plantation Hotel, which opened in the 1960s. Club Med later converted the hotel into one of its resorts, which enjoyed a brief heyday in the late 1970s before closing amid financial difficulties. It seems there simply wasn’t enough sunshine—and perhaps too many rainy days—on Kauai’s lush North Shore for this particular style of resort.
Honolulu developer Bruce Stark purchased the property in 1979, and in the early 1980s, his development company poured foundations for a planned condominium project that was to include approximately 60 units. The project ultimately went bankrupt before construction progressed much further, leaving the concrete foundations behind. Those foundations, rather than remnants of the former Club Med resort, make up most of what visitors see today. Despite their origins in the later development, the site continues to be popularly known as the “Club Med Ruins.”
The “Club Med Ruins” occupy what is perhaps one of the most valuable and desirable locations on Kauai. The property sits on a promontory bordered by the Hanalei River and Puu Poa Beach, with dramatic views overlooking Hanalei Bay. The area is also known as Hanalei River Ridge and by its historic Hawaiian name, Kauakaniaunu. Scenes from the 1958 movie South Pacific were filmed here.
The setting is green, parklike and tranquil. A narrow dirt road runs down the middle of the 2,000-foot-long promontory, passing numerous concrete slabs and walls that have become overgrown with vegetation. Near the ocean is an overgrown pit that appears to have once been a swimming pool. At the tip of the promontory, a small clearing offers wonderful views of Hanalei Bay and the offshore surf break frequented by some of the biggest names in surfing.
Below, on the opposite side of the promontory from Hanalei Bay, is a marsh containing an ancient Hawaiian fishpond known as Kamoomaikai Fishpond. Dating back approximately 600 years, the fishpond was used by Native Hawaiians to raise and harvest fish. Portions of its old rock wall can still be seen behind the tree line at Puu Poa Beach. High tides brought seawater and fish into the pond, while the rock wall helped keep the fish inside as the tide receded. 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay (formerly the St. Regis Princeville Resort) sits prominently on the other side of the fishpond, while Hanalei Bay Resort can be seen along the opposite ridge.
Unlike some other abandoned places on Kauai, access to the property is permitted, provided visitors follow posted rules, use caution and stay off the structures. There are two primary ways to reach the ruins. The most popular is to start at Puu Poa Beach near 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay and walk along the beach toward Hanalei Bay, continuing through the trees until reaching a short trail that leads up to the property. Another option is to walk down from Hanalei Plantation Road, beginning near the Nourish Hanalei food stand.
PHOTO: Historic American Engineering Record, Creator, and Department of Land & Natural Resources. Hanalei Pier, Hanalei Bay off Weke Road, Hanalei, Kauai County, HI. Hanalei Hawaii Kauai County, 1968. Translated by Gill, Barry Leemitter. Documentation Compiled After. Photograph. https://www.loc.gov/item/hi0207/.
The photo above, taken in 1968, provides a fascinating glimpse of the area and shows the location of the present-day Club Med Ruins in relation to Hanalei Pier. In the upper left corner, the Hanalei Plantation Hotel can be seen occupying the prominent ridge above the bay. Today, the buildings are gone, leaving the ridge largely open except for the concrete remnants that have come to be known as the Club Med Ruins.
Over the years, the spectacular setting has repeatedly attracted the attention of developers, with various proposals emerging to build homes or other projects on the property. Such plans have often encountered strong opposition from members of the local community, who view the undeveloped ridge as an important part of the natural character of Hanalei Bay. Residents and preservation advocates have rallied against development proposals out of concern that construction along the prominent hillside would permanently alter one of Kauai’s most recognizable landscapes. A frequently expressed fear is that Hanalei could eventually resemble areas such as Nawiliwili Harbor, where homes line a hillside overlooking the water.
An old trailer succumbs to nature at the Club Med Ruins.
For years, the Club Med Ruins remained surprisingly open and accessible, with much of the property regularly mowed and landscaped and the abandoned foundations clearly visible across the grassy hillside. During our most recent visit, however, the scene had changed considerably. The property owners had apparently allowed the vegetation to grow largely unchecked, and dense tropical growth had begun reclaiming much of the site. Many of the concrete slabs and walls that once stood prominently in the open are now partially or completely obscured by tall grass, shrubs and other vegetation. What was once an easily recognizable collection of ruins has become much harder to discern, giving the property an even more abandoned—and increasingly wild—appearance. We’re not sure which version of the site you’ll encounter during your visit, but the location is striking either way.
