Visitor Tour Information
Two one-hour tours begin at 9am and 11am sharp in the gazebo at the entrance of 107 Kaholalele Road. Tours are free, however the monastery welcomes all generous love offerings, as donations from visitors are what allows us to continue to maintain and beautify this sanctuary. Parking is very limited, therefore reservations are required. Please call toll free 1-888-735-1619 to find out upcoming tour dates and reserve your parking space. 
Reservations are not required if you arrive by taxi and the taxi does not stay.
Highlights of the walking tour include:
- introduction to the monastery and Hinduism
- Kadavul Hindu Temple with its central sanctum housing an exquisite, 6-foot-tall bronze statue of God Siva as Lord of the Dance. The temple also houses Iraivan Temple’s future 700-pound, 39-inch-tall quartz crystal Sivalingam deity
- the 458-acre spiritual sanctuary with its botanical gardens, waterways and ponds
- watch the stone craftsmen, silpis, from India carve and assemble the granite Iraivan Temple--a noble icon of Hinduism’s beauty and greatness
- the awesome monolithic 20,000 pound, 12-foot-tall black granite statue of Siva as Dakshinamurthi
Some Important Guidelines
We ask visitors to bring an umbrella and wear modest clothing, no shorts, short dresses, t-shirts, tank tops. Polo shirts are okay. Hindu dress is ideal. Guests are also invited to visit our gift shop. Photography of the inside of Kadavul Hindu Temple is not permitted. All other areas may be photographed. Remember, it is always prudent, even in paradise, not to leave valuables in your car.
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Pilgrimage
Hindus who are wishing to come on pilgrimage to take part in a special meditation activity and have darshan with Satguru Bodhinatha Veylanswami should email this address or call (808) 822-3012 ext. 239 well in advance for a schedule of appropriate days to arrange your pilgrimage.
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Weddings
As we are a cloistered monastery for swamis, we do not participate in or have weddings on the property. However, many couples do come here for blessings in the temple after they are married elsewhere. A number of couples have brought a priest of their tradition who conducts the wedding ceremony at another location on the island.
In the State of Hawaii there are no priests specializing in Hindu weddings. On Kauai there are non-demoninational ministers specializing in weddings. Here are a few:
Gordon Dodd
Joyful Weddings
http://www.kauai-hawaii-wedding.com/
Kauai Wedding Professionals Association
http://www.kauaiwedpro.com/
Beautiful wedding locations on Kauai:
Princeville Hotel on Kauai's north shore
http://www.princevillehotelhawaii.com/wed.htm
Na Aina Kai Botanical Gardens
http://www.naainakai.org/events/romance.html
Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort at Poipu Beach
http://kauai.hyatt.com/hyatt/hotels/events/weddings/index.jsp
For an overview of many more wedding locations
http://www.weddings-kauai.com/locations.html
Indian wedding coordinators that may help with your event:
Tarak Patel, Dulhan Weddings
San Francisco, CA
http://www.indianmandap.com/
Nina Ramnani, Siliconian Affairs
San Jose, CA
http://www.siliconianaffairs.com/
Sheryal Rozzelle, Unique Elegance
Orange County, CA
http://www.uniqueelegance.net/
Darshan with Satguru Bodhinatha Veylanswami
If you are planning a visit to Kauai and wish to have darshan with Bodhinatha, please plan your visit around his frequent travels, and also take note that when he is on the island, he is not necessarily available every day. So, be sure to call or e-mail this address ahead of time to arrange a possible meeting. For the current status of his travels, please visit Bodhinatha's travel page.
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Directions to Kauai's Hindu Monastery
The monastery address is 107 Kaholalele RD Kapaa, Hawaii, 96746. To get to the monastery, driving north from the LIHUE airport (LIH) on Kuhio Highway toward Kapaa town, watch for the lights just after the bridge over the Wailua River. Before the lights, get in the left lane; turn left, inland, at the lights onto Kuamo'o Road (between Coco Palms Hotel and the Wailua River). Continue up the hill, for just over 4 miles. One-quarter mile past the 4-mile marker, turn left on Kaholalele Road and go one block to the end of the road. Our Information Center is at 107. Park on Temple Lane and enter the open pavilion. You can find our phone number in the island phone book, under "Churches/Hindu, Saiva Siddhanta Church."
Travel Tip: Sit on the left side of the plane next to a window to get a clear view of Kauai.
The island of Kauai, with the smaller island of Niihau above it, as seen from space. Click to see a larger image. The monastery is located at the yellow checkmark. (Copyright © 2006 Google Earth)
Sadhu Paksha Retreats (quiet time)
Kauai's Hindu Monastery takes "Sadhu Paksha" two-week retreats (quiet time) from the rest of the world three times per year at the change of each season at the monastery in early April, early August and early December. This means that no tours of the monastery will be given, and Satguru Bodhinatha may not be available to meet with guests. However, during this time guests are still welcome to visit Kadavul Hindu Temple every day from 9am-12pm. The Ganesha Shrine at 107 Kaholalele Road and the Sacred Rudraksha Forest at 7345 Kuamo'o Road are open to visitors every day from 6am-6pm.
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