Kauai

Island of Discovery

So richly green that it is nicknamed ‘The Garden Isle’, Kauai is a lush landscape of mountainous forest reserves fringed with beautiful beaches. It’s the Hawaii you always imagined.

Although one of the smallest of the main Hawaiian Islands, nature’s force has had more time to make her presence known, producing more sand beaches around its 110-mile coastline than any other in the chain.

Visitors landing at Lihue International Airport usually head for the south, east or north shore. On the south shore sunny Poipu has three main beaches. The largest one, Poipu Beach Park, fringed with resorts and condos, was recently acclaimed as America’s best beach. Shopping areas , golf courses, and white sand beaches excellent for almost all water activities, make south shore Kauai a popular destination.

 

Best Beach in America – Poipu Beach

Further around to the west side of the island is Waimea Canyon, often called the ‘Grand Canyon of the Pacific’. More than 3,500 feet deep and 10 miles long it’s the largest canyon in the Pacific and truly a dramatic sight to behold Protected by Koke’e State Park, the canyon encompasses 4,345 acres of land and offers 45 miles of hiking trails, including the nearby Alakai Swamp.

Kauai’s eastern shore is lush with tropical plants, coconut trees, and miles of beaches. Swim in a lava rock ocean pool, kayak or boat tour up-river to a natural fern-lined grotto, visit a waterfall … these are just some of the fun things to do on the ‘Coconut Coast’. Quaint Kapa’a town offers dining, art, crafts and local clothing stores.

Kauai’s North Shore begins at the Hanalei Valley lookout with acres of ancient Hawaiian taro fields.Hanalei Bay, only six miles north is a beautiful horse-shoe shaped bay with a gorgeous white sand beach and has been used as a movie set by Hollywood for many years. Hanalei town is both historic and a fun place to shop and dine.

A sunny day on the garden isle is like heaven on earth.