Today’s guest post is from Chris Gamby of Conservation Hawai’i.
Kauai’s Best Bets
The lush greenery, storied history, and uncrowded beaches make The Garden Isle many vacationers favorite island in Hawaii. While Kauai does have a laid back attitude and many sleepy towns, there are still some must-dos if you visit. Check out the list below for some activities and locations not to be missed on your Hawaiian get-away.
Na Pali Coast From the Air
Each island has many air tour operators that fly over spectacular scenery and offer different aerial views that are breathtaking, few however compare to taking a helicopter tour of the Na Pali Coast on Kauai. The 22-miles of the Na Pali Coast take you back in time. Some tours hover near caves in the volcanic cliffs that are said to have bones of ancient Hawaiians, sweep past giant archways cut into the jagged coastline, and lose you in a true wonder of the world. A Kauai helicopter tour is often the highlight of many visitors stay.
Trip around the South Side
Kauai’s sunny south shore is a vacationers paradise. With many great Poipu resorts, condos and Kauai vacation rentals, Poipu was made for the tourist. Poipu Beach park is often on top 10 list for best beaches in the world. In the winter time you can sit for hours watching whales frolic just off shore and enjoy the seasonally calm waters. In the summer, the protected beaches offer great swimming and snorkeling, and just plain old soaking up the sun. Make sure to grab a spot on one of the sea walls or beaches at sun down, sunsets are one of a kind, almost every night. The “Spouting Horn”, Kauai’s famous blow hole, is a fun distraction, one that the kids love. With the Grand Hyatt Resort, Poipu Bay golf course and the new Kukuiula Village shopping and dining spot, the south side has it’s share of upscale adult playgrounds as well.
Kauai’s North Shore
The north shore of Kauai is like a lost world within a lost world; the lush setting of taro fields and rivers, backdrops of towering mountains and waterfalls, transport you from crowded mind chatter and daily life, to giddiness and wonder. Many travelers base camp in Princeville. While Hanalei has many vacation homes and Hawaii villa rentals, there are not a whole lot of resort or condo offerings, so finding an affordable headquarters in Princeville is a much easier task. Similar to Poipu, Hanalei Bay, a large crescent bay with white sand beaches, is often found on top of lists of best beaches. During the summer months the bay is calm and pristine and is great for a morning jog and dip in the water. During the winter, large swells attract world class surfers. Among Pipeline and Sunset Beach on Oahu, the point at Hanalei is one of the premier surf spots in the world. Further down the road are the wet caves, which local legend claims that the fire goddess Pele dug herself. At the end of the road is Ke’e beach, which boast unbeatable snorkeling and also hosts the trail head for the Kalalau trail. Travelers from around the world come to Kauai just to make the 11 mile trek to Kalalau.
Limahuli Gardens
Limahuli Garden was selected by the American Horticultural Society as the best natural botanical garden in the United States. Nestled into a tropical valley, the Limahuli Garden and Preserve is surrounded by Makana Mountain and overlooks the Pacific Ocean. The garden cultivates a lot of kalo (taro), which is an important cultural food crop. Behind the garden sits the preserve where conservationists and biologists are working to preserve the species native to this habitat.
Movie Tours
Gaining popularity over the past few years on Kauai, and a fun way to relax and catch some sights, are the Kauai movie tours. Many hit and blockbuster movies and famous TV shows have been filmed, at least somewhat, on Kauai. Hop on one of the buses or 4wd vans and visit locations for movies like Raiders of the Lost Ark, Jurassic Park, South Pacific, Blue Hawaii, Tropic Thunder, Six Days Seven Nights, Gilligan’s Island, Fantasy Island and others. Along the lines of movies, a Kauai outdoor movie theater travels around the island and shows hit movies under the stars, often free of
charge.
Visit Waimea Canyon
Also know as "The Grand Canyon of the Pacific”, Waimea Canyon is the largest canyon in the entire Pacific. 10 miles long and 1 mile wide in spots, Waimea Canyon is more than 3,500 ft deep. Great hikes of all different difficultly levels and lengths can be had, not to mention heart stopping scenic overlooks that have you within inches of precipitous cliffs that drop away thousands of feet. Waterfalls pour into the canyon, only to vaporize before the can reach the valley floor below. The canyon is located in Koke’e State Park. You can camp in Koke’e park and hike through the Alakai swamp. The canyon and its surroundings truly are some of the most amazing natural wonders on earth.
Kauai Plantation Railway
The Plantation rail is 2.5 miles long and gives passengers a tour of Kauai’s agricultural history. This attractions lets the rider experience the recreation of days when steam powered trains moved and harvested sugar cane from the field mill to the wharf for shipment. The Plantation Railway runs through the grounds of the Kilohana Estate and adjoining 70 acre plantation. Lastly, once the ride is over, riders are able to purchase products grown on the plantation or taste some of Kauai’s unique food items from the 16,000 square foot courtyard/galleria/restaurant.
Scuba Dive
Offering an abundance of sites to dive, divers ranging in experience from beginner to advanced will definitely find a dive that best suites them. There are boat dives, night dives and other such dive tours that offer plenty of sea life to discover. Visitors can rent all the dive gear and equipment on sight and even get certification (certification is not required to dive). Beginners will enjoy north and south shore sites such as Hanalei, Kee Beach and Poipu Beach while more advanced divers can venture out to areas like cave exploration and lava tube exploration.
As mentioned above, Kauai is home to some of the most beautiful and diverse beaches in the world. The family friendly Lydgate, Poipu and Salt Pond Beach parks are great for everyone; beautiful and safe, they fit the bill for fun in the sun. If you need to get away - just journey out to Polihale State Beach Park. The longest beach in Hawaii is often deserted, serene and overwhelming (but in a good way). You can discover Secret Beach, Larsens, or Mahaulepu. You can try to soak in the grandeur of Hanalei Bay, watch surfers up close at Kealia, have picture perfect moments at Lumahai, or learn to surf at Kalapaki. Whatever your beach going need, Kauai can fill it.
Kauai is full of all sorts of adventure. If your desire is to sit around and drink Mai Tais, Kauai. If you want to venture out on world-class hikes, Kauai. If you want to fly like an eagle, see a little green in a lot of blue, Kauai. If you want to feel small (but in a good way), Kauai.