Kiahuna Plantation #418 - Welcome to Kauai

WELCOME TO KAUA'I

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Kaua'i Introduction

Kaua'i is known as the Garden Isle. It is an extremely beautiful island with dramatic cliffs and canyons. A visitor will also find cascading waterfalls, Hawaii's only navigable rivers, and many pristine beaches. The dramatic beauty attracts both tourists and the movie industry. Jurassic Park and the classic musical South Pacific are just two examples of the many movies that have used Kauai's beauty as a lush backdrop.

Readers of two leading travel magazines have rated Kaua'i among the top island destinations in the world. Conde Nast Traveler readers voted Kaua'i No. 3 in its World's Best Awards, a rating boosted by the isle's top rating for its people. Travel & Leisure magazine readers named Kaua'i No. 2 on its top 10 list.

Direct flights to Kaua'i from the U.S. mainland are few and far between. The vast majority of visitors will first land in Honolulu and take the short 95-mile flight to the Lihue airport on the center of Kauai's East Coast. From Lihue, visitors can head north to Princeville and Hanalei where the island becomes more lush and rainy or south toward the dry and warm Poipu Beach region.

At times, traffic can be heavy in central areas. This is one of Kauai's only visible problems created by development. Overall, Kaua'i has achieved an admirable balance between providing modern conveniences and keeping the island as close as possible to its beautiful, natural state. This balance creates a tropical paradise that does not require its guests to sacrifice or "rough it." One way that Kaua'i has kept its development low-profile is by limiting most building to the height of a coconut tree. This helps to ensure that Kauai’s natural settings are not obscured by man-made structures.

Visitors must experience Kauai’s breathtaking vistas. Helicopter tours are one way to do this. Tours leave from both Princeville and Lihue. It is not necessary, though, to take flight to enjoy Kauai’s visual offerings. One can drive to Kauai’s many official and unofficial viewpoints. Waimea Canyon is one of the "must sees." This richly-colored canyon is twelve miles long and has been referred to as the Grand Canyon of the Pacific. The Na Pali Coast with its dramatic peaks is another must see.

Kauai’s beaches are both attractive and varied. They range from the lush setting of Ke’e Beach in the north to sunny Po'ipu in the south.

Kaua'i & Poipu Beach Accolades

Poipu Beach Rated the Best Beach in America for 2001 by Dr. Beach

Kauai chosen as one of the 10 Best Romantic Getaways by USA Today

Kauai rated as the Best Hawaiian Island in 2006 by Travel & Leisure

Kauai rated a the 2nd Best Island in the World in 2006 by Travel & Leisure

Kauai rated as the Most Beautiful Place in America in 2003 by USA Weekend

Poipu Rated one of the Most Breathtaking Beaches in the World by Forbes

For isolation, drive through sugarcane fields to Polihale Beach on the western coast. This big beach probably offers more space between beach-goers than any other important Hawaiian beach. For the truly adventurous, there are beaches on the Na Pali coast that can be reached only by boat or a lengthy hike.

Sports? Absolutely! Kaua'i is a paradise for sports, both on and off the water. Golf is world-class. Golfers at the courses at Princeville enjoy views of the island’s mountains and the dramatic Na Pali coast. Kayaking is popular in both the ocean and rivers. Other options include tennis, surfing, swimming, hiking, diving, and snorkeling.

Kaua'i has limited options for shopping and nightlife. Nevertheless, one can find some charming shops with local crafts, arts, and produce. Evenings are quiet for the most part. Kauai’s restaurants, however, are quite good. Diners will have no problem finding a restaurant with the cuisine and atmosphere that they desire.

Kaua'i Guides

For first-time visitors to Kaua'i, be sure to pick up a copy of the award-winning Kaua'i Underground Guide or The Ultimate Kaua'i Guidebook. These books are invaluable resources of information about Kaua'i and will help you discover the real Kaua'i, not just the usual tourist spots.

You can order the Kaua'i Underground Guide online by clicking here.

You can order The Ultimate Kaua'i Guidebook online by clicking here.

You can subscribe to Kauai Magazine by clicking here.
Or view previous issues by clicking here.

Kaua'i Activities

Kaua'i activities can include an outrigger canoe ride into the sunset.

Much of your time on Kaua'i will probably be spent on the beach, whether in sunny Poipu, along the centrally located Coconut Coast, or around Princeville on Kauai's lush northern coast. For a change of scenery, take a drive through sugarcane fields to Polihale beach, where you'll find miles of unspoiled sand. Head north around the island to the end of the road and relax at incredible Ke'e Beach with the dramatic Na Pali coastline in the background. Just east of Ke'e is Lumahai Beach which was featured in the movie "South Pacific."

Another way to experience Kauai's unspoiled beauty is to take a drive or tour to the Waimea Canyon and Kokee State Park. Waimea Canyon, dubbed the "Grand Canyon of the Pacific" by Mark Twain, is 3,300 feet deep and cuts twelve miles across the center of Kauai. Red volcanic rock and green vegetation create an explosion of color, especially in the early morning and late afternoon sun. As you drive higher into the Kokee State Park, the landscape changes to forest dominated by Koa and O'hia Trees. Cool winds greet you as you drive past the park's lodge and restaurant to lookout points with views that will take your breath away. Hiking the many trails around the canyon and state park is a popular way of experiencing the area's incredible scenery.

Golfers will enjoy the fantastic views that accompany them on many of Kauai's courses. Perhaps the best known and most beautiful courses are in Princeville in northern Kauai. Golf Digest rates the Prince course in Princeville as the number one course in the state and number 43 of America's 100 greatest golf courses. Wailua and Poipu also boast highly-rated golf courses.

Plenty of options are also available in and on the water. Snorkelers will enjoy some of the north shore beaches like Ke'e, Tunnels, and Lumahai, though surf conditions may limit your choices. Calmer waters generally prevail in Poipu, where snorkelers head to the Poipu Beach Park, the Beach House, and Koloa Landing. Divers also tend to head to Poipu's calm waters. Favorite dive spots include the Sheraton Caverns and Brennecke's Ledge.

Kauai's rivers offer a variety of ways to experience the island. At the Wailua River Marina, you can take a boat ride to Fern Grotto, a lava tube covered with hanging ferns. If something a little more active is your bag, you can kayak on one of many rivers including the Hanalei River, the Kalihiwai Stream, and the Huleia Stream. Kayak expeditions are also offered along the Na Pali Coast.

Kaua'i offers the fishing enthusiast a choice of salt and freshwater fishing. Because of the typically calmer waters and sunnier skies of the leeward side of the island, you will find most sportfishing charters on the southern and western coasts of the island. Open-water catch includes ono, mahi mahi, ahi, and marlin. Ledges closer to shore produce kahala, ulua, snapper, and shark. Freshwater fishing includes trout and bass fishing, typically near Kokee state park and Waimea Canyon.

Kaua'i Links