In honor of Kauai winning Travel + Leisure’s 2006 second best island in the world, Go Visit Hawaii has prepared the following island guide to beautiful Kauai.
Kauai – Hawaii’s Garden Island of Discovery
The Weather:
Daytime highs range from the mid-70s to the mid-80’s. Overall, Kauai has more rainfall than the other Hawaiian Islands, which makes for the lush tropical paradise. The rainiest months are October through March.
Terrain, Geography and Highlights:
The north shore of Kauai is gorgeous with its lush green cliffs, golden sandy beaches, and cascading waterfalls. At the end of Kuhio Highway, you will find an entrance to a challenging, yet breathtaking hike on the Kalalau Trail to the secluded Hanakapai Beach and beyond. Princeville is on the north shore and is an upscale resort area with the highly rated Princeville Resort. Watching the sunset behind the Bali Hai, makes for a romantic and memorable evening.
Moving east from the north shore, you will find many beautiful beaches that will feel like they are your very own. A drive through the town of Lihue is the central hub of the east side of the island. It is the largest town and has several nice hotels. As you get to Wailua, you will obviously know why this area is called the Coconut Coast. Taking a detour to the west off of Highway 56 just south of Wailua will bring you to the Wailua River State Park where you will find two picturesque waterfalls, – the Opeakaa Falls and the twin Wailua Falls. You will also find access to the famous Fern Grotto here too.
The south shore is typically the sunniest and driest side of Kauai. For that reason, many tourist book their holiday into one the many nice resorts and hotels in Poipu. The Poipu beach is an award winning beach that is perfect for snorkeling and swimming. One of the interesting natural features of this area is Spouting Horn which is a lava tube that shoots water up to 50 feet in the air. Poipu Beach is another top spot for watching the sun set.
The signature features of the west side of Kauai are the Waimea Canyon and the Napali Coast Line and both fall into the category of “must see???. Viewing the Napali Coast Line is best done by kayak, boat tour, or helicopter. The scenery along the coast is so untouched and pristine with striking cliffs, colors, and waterfalls. The Waimea Canyon is called the grand canyon of the Pacific and is rich with colors and sights that completely breathtaking.
Where to stay?
Ideally, we suggest splitting your stay at both the North Shore and South Shore. Princeville is our favorite North Shore place for lodging. Poipu is our favorite place for South Shore lodging.
What kind of activities can you do other than sight seeing?
– Hiking – in our opinion, Kauai has some of the best hiking of all the Hawaiian Islands. Our favorite spot is the two mile stretch along the Napali Coastline, from Kee Beach to Hanakapai Beach on the Kalalau Trail. There are also many beautiful miles of hiking in the Waimea Canyon State Park.
– Helicopter Tour – Again, Kauai is the best Hawaiian Island, in our opinion, for taking a Helicopter Tour.
– Snorkeling
– Scuba Diving
– Surfing
– Golf at one of the many top notch courses.
– Kayaking – there are several rivers, along with the Napali Coastline (in season) for great kayaking
– Horseback Riding
– Tubing
– Zip Lining
– Fishing
– Rejuvenating at a Spa
Sheila Beal
