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Overview

Introduction

Kauai Island is farther north and west than the other major Hawaiian Islands. It has dramatic craggy mountains, luxuriant valleys and many breezy beaches that have mostly managed to dodge excessive development. Yes, Kauai has many hotels, resort complexes and some of the state's best golf courses, but they're centralized in small pockets on the east, north and south sides of the island.

The landscape has also been protected by height restrictions—keeping buildings from towering over the coconut trees—and the interior of the island remains predominantly rural. As a result, it's the natural scenery that elicits awe on Kauai.

Serious hikers should set aside an extra day or two just to hike Kauai's marvelous nature trails. Outdoor enthusiasts will also find challenging golf, whale-watching (December- to mid-April) and boat trips along the spectacular Na Pali Coast. This island is well-suited to travelers who enjoy nature—the scenery and abundance of outdoor activities are the highlight there; shopping and nightlife are relatively limited.

Must See or Do

Sights—Hanalei Valley Lookout and its view of the north shore landscape; Hanapepe Valley Lookout; Kee Beach; the cliffs on Na Pali Coast.

Memorable Meals—The Beach House Restaurant in Poipu for great Pacific Rim innovations and fabulous ocean views; the creative and tasty tapas menu at Bar Acuda in Hanalei; The Plantation House by Gaylord's for island-sourced dining by torchlight.

Late Night—Live music and drinks at Trees Lounge in Kapaa; local sounds and dancing at the Bamboo Bar at Keoki's Paradise in Poipu.

Walks—The Koloa Heritage Trail through south-side points of interest; a self-guided tour of the native plants at scenic Limahuli Garden and Preserve on the north shore; farm animals, fruit trees and gardens at the Kilohana Estate.

Especially for Kids—Kamalani Playground in Lydgate Beach in Wailua; take a ride through Kilohana Estate on the Kauai Plantation Railway; exploring with a boogie board or snorkel gear in the safe waters at Poipu Beach and Lydgate Beach; the Spouting Horn blowhole.

Geography

The volcanic island of Kauai owes its sculpted beauty to 5 million years of pounding surf, enduring trade winds and steady rain showers. The sea cliffs of the northwest shore (Na Pali Coast) plunge into the ocean, creating quirky caves, cascading waterfalls and crescents of white sand.

Mostly impenetrable mountains stretch over much of the interior, giving way on the west side to Waimea Canyon, carved by one of the many rivers that flow from the mountains to the sea. Perfect beaches line the coastline, some protected by coral reefs and others opening into deep water.

History

Kauai, the oldest of the Hawaiian Islands, is also believed to have been the first stop for Polynesian voyagers. The broad, fertile river valleys were ideal for agriculture, and taro was widely cultivated from at least AD 700.

Kauai remained independent of the other islands until it received its first European visitor in 1778. Capt. James Cook made his first stop in the islands at Waimea, on Kauai's west side, ushering in dramatic social, cultural and environmental changes.

Kauai was the only island that was not conquered by Kamehameha in his quest to unite the Hawaiian Islands, but it eventually agreed to come under his rule. Missionaries began visiting Kauai in the early 1800s, and the island's abundant water was a magnet for sugar growers, with Koloa (on the south side) becoming the site of Hawaii's first sugar plantation.

U.S. interests in the islands grew, and following the sugar planters' illegal overthrow of the monarchy in 1893, for which the U.S. later apologized, Hawaii became a state in 1959.

The sugar industry collapsed in the late 1990s, and the mills and plantations gradually closed. The One of the island's oldest sugarcane plantations, Gay & Robinson, closed its mill in 2009 after 120 years of operation. Ever since, Kauai has been refocusing its attentions on coffee and pineapple, but there is a new generation of island farmer that is digging into organic agriculture and farm-to-table produce and livestock production. This shift has real, positive long-term potential, as Kauai's farmers join the profitable wave of farm-to-pharma, cultivating herbs and medicinal plants to meet a growing global demand for alternative medicine.

A drive across the island during morning or evening rush hour points to just how popular this island is with well-heeled retirees and mainlanders with second homes.

Potpourri

Kauai has more endangered Hawaiian monk seals than any of the other main Hawaiian Islands. They're attracted to the peaceful beaches, where they sleep in the sun and raise their pups.

Kauai landscapes have been featured in more films than any other Hawaiian Island.

Waimea Canyon holds the island's highest waterfall at 800 ft/244 m.

Kauai and Lanai are the only Hawaiian Islands to escape the introduction of the mongoose. It was imported to control rats in the sugar fields, but it also preys upon ground-nesting native birds. As a result, the spectacular Laysan albatross nests there, along with the endangered state bird, the nene.

Kauai boasts the westernmost inhabited spot in the U.S. The Northwestern Hawaiian Islands are technically uninhabited, although U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service personnel and support staff stay there on a temporary basis.

Even without Waikiki, Kauai holds more accessible beaches than any of its sister islands.

The approximately 400 in/1,016 cm of rain that falls on Mount Waialeale each year makes this part of the island one of the wettest spots on earth.

Kauai is called the Garden Isle for good reason, more than 90% of the island is relegated to conservation and agriculture.

Chickens and crowing roosters run loose throughout Kauai. The Polynesians introduced jungle chickens centuries ago, but their numbers and hardiness got a boost when fighting chickens got loose from their cages during Hurricane Iniki in 1992. With few predators, their numbers have skyrocketed.

Kauai has the only navigable rivers in Hawaii.

Location

One of the most mesmerizing experiences of a Hawaiian cruise is viewing the sculpted cliffs of Na Pali Coast as they descend abruptly into the Pacific Ocean (pali means "cliffs"). That explains why some ships spend several hours sailing along the northwestern coast before or after docking in Nawiliwili Bay at Lihue, the county seat, on the east side of the island.

Nawiliwili Harbor is one of the smallest ship harbors in the islands. It's narrow and compact, and maneuvering cruise ships around the rock seawall that protects the harbor from heavy surf is an enormous challenge. On occasion, weather has forced a cancellation of the port at Nawiliwili. The terminal has phones and a visitor-information desk. To contact the Nawiliwili Harbor port office, call 808-241-3750. For the small-boat harbor, call 808-241-3111.

The port is 2 mi/3 km from Lihue town and has easy access to area attractions. Although there isn't much right around the port, you can walk several blocks to Kalapaki Beach and a number of shops and restaurants, including popular Duke's Canoe Club and Barefoot Bar. Free shuttles transport passengers to the Anchor Cove Shopping Center, Harbor Mall, Hilo Hattie and Kukui Grove. You'll need transportation to see the rest of the island.

Shore Excursions