Kauai's color is purple and its flower is the
mokihana (green berry)
Did you know
that Kauai had its own "leprechauns"? They were called
Menehune (meh-neh-hoo-neh).
They supposedly were three feet tall, liked to roll down hills, and were
great, quick builders. If you think it's a myth, then visit
Menehune Ditch and
Menehune Fishpond. You may change your mind.
Some anthropologists believe
that the Menehune were ancient Japanese sailors blown completely off course
and marooned on Hawai'i. Others think the Menehune were probably
mythological.
Kauai, known as Hawaii's Island
of Discovery, is the oldest of the islands visited by tourists. Formed
around six million years ago, erosion has had time to shape the landscape
into valleys, waterfalls, canyons, cliffs and sandy beaches. Formed by a
single volcano, this island has areas that, due to their inaccessibility,
have never been explored.
Because of
its tropical beauty, Kauai has been the star of over 60
films, from
South Pacific
and
Raiders of the Lost Ark to
Jurassic Park and
Six Days, Seven Nights. In fact, you can
take a tour that specializes in visiting the locations
of the movies shot here.
The
Na Pali
Coast, on the northwestern side of the island, has steep
3,000-foot cliffs, beautiful bays, beaches and caves
that are only accessible by boat or by hiking.
Kauai is
circular in shape, with five distinct
resort/accommodation areas. On the northern side is
Princeville/Hanalei, a tropical paradise
with lush valleys, taro fields, waterfalls and a
picturesque resort community.
The
Royal Coconut Coast
on the east side was the favored location of Hawaiian
royalty and is a perfect blend of past and present. Here
your clients can visit several
heiaus (ancient Hawaiian temples) for a look
at the island's past, then enjoy today's Kauai at the
many resorts, shopping areas and restaurants.
The gateway
to Kauai is the
Lihue/Kalapaki Beach resort area near
Lihue Airport and Nawiliwili Harbor. Nearby, you will
find numerous activities, including golf, shopping,
dining, movies and more.
The
Poipu Beach
resort area to the south offers palm-tree-lined beaches
and is known as the "sunny side of the island." Famous
for spectacular sunsets, this area is a visitor
favorite.
Koloa, the first sugar plantation town,
still thrives in this area.
About 45
minutes from Lihue is the
West Side. This is the hotter, drier
side of Kauai that has its own unique charm. The small
town of
Waimea offers a taste of Aloha with
quaint shops, craft fairs and wonderful dining. This
area is also the gateway to the impressive 10-mile-long
Waimea Canyon (named the "Grand Canyon
of the Pacific" by Mark Twain).
Where You Can Stay On Kaua’i
Kauai offers five major
resort/accommodation destinations. Each area offers a
mix of hotels, condominiums, bed & breakfast properties
and vacation rentals. Where you should stay - will
depend on your ideal vacation environment.
For a tropical paradise, the North Shore/Princeville
area. Those seeking a historical experience,
beachcombing or touring will enjoy the East Side/Coconut
Coast. For a central location with access to resort
amenities, the Lihue/Kalapaki resort area is ideal.
The South Shore/Poipu area is great for sun
worshippers and water sports buffs.
With desert-like warmth, the West
Side is rich with sugar plantation history. This unique
area has a special charm and is home to the Waimea
Plantation Cottages, which are fully restored
plantation-era beachfront structures.
Kauai's Attractions
Waimea Canyon
This
10-mile-long canyon, 3,567 feet down at its deepest
point, offers a rainbow of changing colors as the sun
arcs through the sky. Named "the Grand Canyon of the
Pacific" by Mark Twain, the valley offers spectacular
scenery and is one of Hawaii's most photographed
attractions.
Created by a
massive earthquake that sent all the streams flowing
into a single river, the canyon was carved out by water
erosion. Today the
Waimea River still flows along the
bottom on its way to the sea. You can hike inside the
canyon, ride a horse along the rim, fly into it in a
helicopter, mountain bike, or drive to a lookout and
peer into the depths.
Polihale
Beach, on Kauai's western side, is Hawaii's longest
beach. It's 17 miles long and 300 yards wide. It's often
sunny here, since it's on the dry, arid leeward side of
the island.
Spouting Horn Park
As the waves
of Kauai's south side powerfully break against the
shoreline, seawater is forced through a lava tube which
throws spray 10 feet high or more, up to six stories in
winter. The spouting is sometimes accompanied by a low
moaning sound as air moves through the tube. Legend has
it that the moaning was from a giant lizard, called a
moo, which would try to eat anyone who wanted to fish or
swim in the area. One day the moo attacked a fisherman
who swam into the lava tube. He escaped, but the moo got
caught, and the moaning sounds that can be heard coming
from the tube are said to be from the moo, still trapped
inside.
Hanalei Bay
Hanalei Bay
is a picturesque arc of sand backed by the cliffs made
famous as the setting for "Bali Hai."
Hanalei, a quaint, old Hawaii town, has
resisted growth and development and still retains much
of its charm. The weight restriction on the old one-lane
bridge leading into town ensures that tour buses won't
be around.
Hanalei Bay
is great for all types of water sports, including diving
and snorkeling among its coral reefs.
Nearby
Lumahai Beach was where Mitzi Gaynor
tried to "wash that man right out of her hair" in the
old, classic movie South Pacific. This palm-lined,
golden-sand beach, with the towering cliffs and
waterfalls of Bali Hai behind it, is one of Hawaii's
most beautiful.
Just beyond
Hanalei begins the
Napali Coast, a remote wilderness of
cliffs, caves and beaches that's only accessible by air,
by sea, or on foot. 22 miles of scenic coastline,
bounded on one side by the ocean and on the other by
spectacular 3,000-foot cliffs, offer magnificent views.
Imported
from Wyoming, buffaloes roam the Hanalei River Valley on
Kauai. You can try a buffalo burger there. You might
also see a "beefalo," which is a crossbreed between a
buffalo and a cow.
Kilauea Lighthouse
Situated on
the northern end of Kauai, this lighthouse sits on a
bluff that's the northernmost point of the main Hawaiian
Island chain. Built in 1913, the Kilauea Lighthouse has
the world's largest "clamshell" lens and was a working
lighthouse until it was shut down in 1976.
The 200-acre
Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge
nearby provides nesting grounds for albatross, frigate
birds, red and white tail tropical birds and red-footed
boobies.
The charming
little town of
Kilauea is a wonderful place to stroll
through the farmer's markets on Thursdays and Saturdays,
and browse through the 1892 Kong Lung Company, Kauai's
oldest general store.
The Fern Grotto
The Fern Grotto
is one of Kauai's oldest (since 1947) and most popular
tourist attractions. It's a ride up the Wailua River in
flat-bottomed boats (or you can also rent kayaks),
accompanied by Hawaiian tunes and dancing, to a natural
amphitheater. When the boats land, there's a short walk
through jungle to an impressive cave-like recess filled
with giant cascading ferns, which even hang from the
ceiling. A very popular site for weddings or for the
renewal of vows, this grotto offers tales of Hawaiian
legends and traditional music.
The Wailua River,
the best-known river in Hawaii, was known to the
ancients as "the river of the great sacred spirit." The
only navigable river in Hawaii can be explored in kayaks
or by boat. A sacred place, there are no less than seven
heiaus along its banks, including the
well-preserved
Poliahu
Heiau. Roads enter the park for those
who wish to drive.
Wailua Falls,
a double waterfall ("Wailua" means "twin waters")
tumbling down an 80-foot cliff, might be recognized as
the cascades seen at the opening of the 1970's "Fantasy
Island" TV show.
Opaekaa
Falls, located on the Wailua River, means "rolling
shrimp." In ancient days, shrimp could be seen churning
at the bottom of the falls. The shrimp are gone; the
name stuck.
National Tropical Botanical Garden
This
organization runs five gardens (three on Kauai) whose
aim is to preserve native species of flora and increase
their numbers. The three gardens on Kauai are:
McBryde Garden
An extraordinary collection of Hawaiian plants, flowers,
fruit and spice trees, this 252-acre garden preserve
boasts the largest collection of rare and endangered
plants in the world.
Allerton Garden
This site of the royal home of Queen Emma, wife of
Kamehameha IV, is known for its formal gardens,
containing fountains, waterfalls and European statuary.
Limahuli Garden
A botanical sanctuary protecting both indigenous Hawaiian
plants and those brought to the islands by early
Polynesian settlers.
There are
no roads through the middle of the island of Kauai and
none that circle the entire island. There are two major
highways, each beginning in Lihue and running around the
perimeter, and dead-ending at the impassible Na Pali
Coast.
Kalalau Valley Lookout & Hanalei Valley Lookout
In Kokee
State Park, the Kalalau Valley Lookout, at 4,000 feet,
offers a panoramic view. The Hanalei Valley Lookout
affords a dramatic view of the 917-acre Hanalei River
Valley.
Opaekaa Falls
At Wailua
River State Park, these 40-foot falls are quite scenic.
There's a restored Hawaiian village on its riverbanks.
Poipu Beach
The island's
most popular beach resort, Poipu Beach offers white
sand, swimming, tide-pools, diving, snorkeling and lots
of sun.
Wet And Dry Caves
At Haena
Beach Park are three sets of lava-tube caves, one dry
and two wet, that you can explore.
Russian Fort
Built in
1816 in the shape of a six-pointed star, this fort, now
mostly in ruins, was built by a German doctor who was a
spy for Russia.
Grove Farm/Homestead Museum
You can
experience an 1860s sugar plantation environment at the
homestead built by George Wilcox. The preserved estate
looks very much as it did when he lived here.
Poipu
Beach and nearby Maha ulepu Beach are perfect places for
offshore whale watching in Winter. From December to
April, all your clients have to do is look out to sea.
Kalalau Trail
For
experienced hikers only, the Kalalau Trail is a narrow,
11-mile path on Kauai's rugged northwestern side. It's
one of the most dramatic and beautiful hikes in the
world, but you will need a permit to attempt this
grueling trek.