Kauai County Route 520 is 5.1-mile rural highway which serves the community of Koloa. Kauai County Route 520 begins at Hawaii Route 50 (Kaumualii Highway) near Knudson Gap and extends south to Koloa Landing near the southern coast of Kauai. This county route is mostly known for the Koloa Tree Tunnel which is a row of 500 Eucalyptus Trees planted in 1911.
What is now Kauai County Route 520 was originally commissioned in 1955 as Hawaii Route 52. Hawaii Route 52 as originally only extended from Hawaii Route 50 south to Hawaii Route 53 at Poipu Road in Koloa. During the late 1960s Hawaii Route 52 was spun off as Kauai County Route and would later be renumbered as "520" during the 1970s. By the early 1980s Kauai County Route 520 was extended to the vicinity of Koloa Landing and has since had a nominal extension to Hoonani Road.
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Part 1; the history of Kauai County Route 520
As presently configured Kauai County Route 520 begins at Hawaii Route 50 (Kaumualii Highway) near Knudson Gap. From Knudson Gap the highway uses Maluhia Road to reach the community of Koloa to the south. The highway continues south from Koloa to Koloa Landing via Koloa Road, Poipu Road, Lawai Road and Hoonani Road.
Kauai County Route 520 is heavily tied to the community of Koloa. Koloa was founded in 1835 as a sugar plantation by Ladd & Company. The Ladd & Company plantation was centered on a 980-acre land plot lease granted by Royal Governor, Kaikioewa. The site specifically chosen due to the high-quality soil and nearby reliable source of water at Maulili Pool.
Sugar production at the Koloa Mill was initially slow and centered around 12 acres. A second mill was constructed near the confluence of Waikoko Stream and Waihohonu Stream in 1841. This then new mill was able to process far higher volumes of sugar cane. Despite construction of a new mill Ladd & Company was unable to maintain profits and had their lease vacated by the Kingdom of Hawaii in 1845. Lease interests in the Koloa Mill were sold to Robert Wood who operated the facility until 1874.
The roads presently comprising what is now Kauai County Route 520 are all shown on the 1903 Hawaii Territory Map of Kauai. A marina facility at Koloa Landing is shown to located on what is now Hoonani Road.
In 1906 the narrow gauge (2 foot 6 inch) Kauai Railway was constructed from Port Allen east to Koloa via Kalaheo. The 1841-era Koloa Mill was shuttered in 1912 as a new and much larger mill would open east of the community. The Kauai Railway would shutter in 1947 when trucks functionally replaced the line. The Koloa Sugar Plantation would change hands numerous times and eventually would shutter for a final time in 1996.
Hawaii Routes 52 and 53 are shown to both mutually terminate in Koloa at Poipu Road on the 1963 United States Geological Survey map of Koloa.
In 1968 the Hawaii Route System and County Route Systems were split. Both Hawaii Route 52 and 53 were not retained as State Highway inventory and were spun off as Kauai County Routes. During the 1970s both corridors were renumbered as 520 and 530 which indicated to be secondary highways. By the early 1980s (possibly sooner) Kauai County Route 520 was extended south from Koloa to near Koloa Landing.
Kauai County Route 520 can be seen terminating near Koloa Landing on the 1983 United States Geological Survey map of Koloa. The map displays the highway ending at the intersection of Poipu Road at Lawai Road.
It isn't clear when Kauai County Route 520 was extended to Hoonani Road at Koloa Landing. The current Kauai County Route 520 mileage indicates it terminates at Mile Marker 5.08.
Part 2; a drive on Kauai County Route 520
Southbound Kauai County Route 520 begins by branching south from Hawaii Route 50 near Knudson Gap. The initial 3.3 miles of Kauai County Route 520 are carried by Maluhia Road.
Kauai County Route 520 passes through the Koloa Tree Tunnel. This tree tunnel is comprised of 500 Eucalyptus trees planted in 1911. These which were a gift to the Koloa community by pineapple plantation owner Walter McBryde.
Kauai County Route 520 continues south and passes Ala Kinoiki. Ala Kinoiki is a 2.9-mile roadway which connects directly to Poipu as a bypass of Koloa. This corridor was opened around the turn of the century as was assigned as part of Federal Aid Program Route 522.
Southbound Kauai County Route 520 enters Koloa and makes a right-hand turn onto Koloa Road.
Kauai County Route 520 crosses over the Waikomo Stream Bridge and meets Kauai County Route 530 at Poipu Road. Kauai County Route 520 turns left on Poipu Road whereas Kauai County Route 530 continues west on Koloa Road. The Waikomo Stream Bridge is a Tee Beam structure which was constructed during 1928. The Yamamoto Store (on the left in the first photo below) was opened in 1925 by Howard Yamamoto during the sugar cane heyday of Kauai. Yamamoto would also plant the Monkeypod Tree also seen in Waikomo Stream.
The ruins of the 1841 Koloa Sugar Mill can be found on Waikomo Stream at the northwest corner of Maluhia Road and Koloa Road.
Below are various scenes from the streets around Old Town Koloa. The Sueoka Store can be prominently seen from Koloa Road. The store would relocate to this building in 1933.
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