Fern Grotto facts for kids
The Fern Grotto is a famous natural cave, or grotto, made of lava rock. It is located on the island of Kauai in Hawaii. The walls and ceiling of the grotto are covered in beautiful hanging ferns. It's found along the Wailua River and is a very popular spot for visitors.
Many people consider the Fern Grotto to be one of the most romantic places on the island. Because of its beauty, it's a popular location for weddings and special events. To reach it, you have to take a boat tour up the river.
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A Place of History
The area around the Fern Grotto is full of Hawaiian history. The Wailua River flows past special sacred sites called Heiau. These were important gathering places for the island's chiefs long ago. Nearby, there were also Pu'uhonua, which were safe places of refuge. Special stones were also placed in the area to mark the birth of new chiefs.
How the Grotto Got Its Ferns
The ferns that make the grotto famous weren't always there. They started growing during the time when sugar was grown on large farms in Hawaii.
Engineers built a basin above the grotto to collect rainwater. Water slowly leaked through the rock from this basin. This constant moisture created the perfect environment for ferns like maidenhair ferns and Boston sword ferns to grow and cover the cave.
Facing Nature's Challenges
The Fern Grotto has faced some tough times. In 1982, Hurricane Iwa hit the island and damaged the grotto. Ten years later, in 1992, Hurricane Iniki caused even more damage. The powerful winds tore away most of the beautiful ferns that were hanging from the rocks.
Even though the plants have slowly grown back, the grotto has had a hard time fully recovering. In March 2006, heavy rains caused rocks and boulders to fall from the grotto's ceiling. For safety, the grotto was closed to visitors.
After workers made the rock walls stronger, the grotto reopened in 2007. Despite the damage from storms, it is still one of Kauai's most loved attractions.
Visiting the Grotto Today
To see the Fern Grotto, you must take a boat tour up the Wailua River. The grotto is part of the Wailua River State Park. The boat ride itself is a fun experience, with beautiful views of the river and surrounding nature.
In the past, visitors could walk right inside the cave. However, because of the rockfall in 2006, you can now only view the grotto from a special observation deck. This keeps everyone safe while still allowing them to see the grotto's beauty. Weddings that used to happen inside the grotto now take place on this deck, with the stunning cave as a backdrop.
