What Can I Do On
Kauai?
Swimming,
snorkeling, surfing, hiking and camping, helicopter tours,
mule/horseback rides, scuba diving, sailing, fishing, and biking.
The North and the
East side of the mountains are the windward sides and get the most
rainfall and winds, while the South and West sides are the drier,
sunnier side. All sides have fine beaches and resorts and offer
interests to all visitors.
The Napoli
coastline can be observed by tour boats that can be chartered out of
Hanalei give you access to awe inspiring views of the Napoli coast
while helicopter flights can show you scenes that aren't accessible
by land or water.
Visit the Kilauea Lighthouse
on the northern tip of Kauai for a perfect vantage point for photographs.
This area is also the location of the Kilauea Point National Wildlife
Refuge, a sanctuary for Hawaii's unique seabirds.
Hanalei Bay is famous for it's spectacular beauty and is a great
place for walking.
The western portion
of the bay is relatively calm even when the north shore is too rough
for safe swimming. Huleia National Wildlife Refuge protects the
Koloa (Hawaiian Duck), Hawaiian gallinule, Hawaiian coot and the
Hawaiian stilt. Kayak up the Huleia stream past an 800 year-old fish
pond into a refuge for the waterfowl.
Waimea Canyon has been called the "Grand Canyon of the Pacific"
and is on Kauai 's west side. It is 10 miles long, 1 mile wide and 3,500
feet deep and offers breathtaking views from various lookout points
on Waimea Canyon Drive. Hiking and camping are available at the top
of the mountain at Kokee
State Park with maps available at the Ranger station.
The south shore has some
great beaches including Mahaulepa
Beach and Poipu Beach, and is often ranked as one of the top beaches
in America by travel magazines. Large green turtles as well as endangered
Hawaiian Monk seals often swim in these waters. On the south shore of
Kauai is the
Spouting Horn blowhole where the Poipu surf channels through a natural
lava tube to blow a spout of water up to 50 feet into the air.
The Spouting Horn
area is luminous at night and provides great photo opportunities.
Walk the 10 mile
Koloa Heritage Trail through the town of Koloa and 14 sites of
cultural, historical and geological significance. The Mahaulepa
Heritage Trail stretches along the coast from Keoneloa Bay to
Kawailoa Bay and features a host of geological and cultural sites.
The
Fern Grotto is one of Kauai's most popular attractions. This stunningly
beautiful grotto is only accessible via the Wailua River. Take the scenic
boat ride, be treated to musicians playing beautiful Hawaiian music
or plan your wedding at the Grotto. Kauai has the only navigable rivers
in Hawaii and the Wailua River is one of the most popular, being fed
by two major falls, the Opaekaa and the
Wailua Falls.
A kayak, canoe or
boat trip is well worth the time. Wailua Falls can also be visited
by car and is a short distance from Lihue, the county seat.
Kalapaki Beach is another great beach for swimming and
sunbathing.
What
Kauai Accommodation Will I Find?
The island enforces a
strict cap on building heights where hotels are limited to a height
maximum of 40 feet. This has stopped the development of high rise resorts
and towering skyscraper hotels found elsewhere on the other islands.
There are still many great hotels and time
share resorts available, however, these properties simply blend
into Kauai's landscape rather than detracting from its natural beauty.
Kauai offers a
plentiful choice of accommodation. The most difficult part of
narrowing down a list of choices is deciding on which part of the
island you plan to stay. The lodgings available on Kauai include 5
star resorts, condominium properties, privately owned vacation
rentals and bed and breakfast properties.
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List Of All Kauai Accommodation
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When Is The Best Time On
Kauai?
Kauai is a year-round
destination with a wet season from October to March which has cooler temperatures.
April to September is the dry season with warmer temperatures. Winter temperatures
in January average 65/80F (18/27C) whereas the summer average in July
are 74/88F (23/31C).
December to
February is the busiest time when the mainland snowbirds take refuge
from the harsh winters in their home states. For detailed
weather forecasts visit the Hawaiian Islands
National
Weather Service Forecast website.
Getting To
Kauai & Getting Around?
The main airport
on Kauai is at
Lihue (LIH), a small terminal servicing inter-island
flights by Aloha, Hawaiian, Go!, American, United Airlines as well
as US Airways with a non-stop service from the mainland west coast.
The deep water port
at
Nawiliwili caters to inter-island cruise ships that usually
start and end in Honolulu.
The best way to
really see Kauai, and the only way to get to some locations, is via
rental car. Most of the major
rental car companies have a desk at the Lihue airport or nearby with
access via shuttle bus.
The
Kauai bus will get you to and from the major population centers,
such as Lihue and Kapaa, and the more popular beach areas. It
does not offer services to the more remote sites on the island.
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