Hawaii Vacation-Part 4-Kauai
Our Hawaii Vacation series continues with the island of Kauai, the fourth and final island described in this series.
This small island has an incredible variety of landscapes. Sculpted over six million years by the forces of nature, its spectacular landscape ranges from the Na Pali cliffs on the north shore to the spectacular Waimea Canyon. Kaui’s slower pace seems best suited for a relaxing family vacation or outdoor adventure.
Kauai, the oldest and northernmost of the four major Hawaiian islands, covering just 553 square miles, is a distinctive “round-shaped” island with a population of 51,000 residents.
Like the other Hawaiian islands, the warmest and coldest months differ by only about 8 degrees or so. The ocean temperature is remarkably constant, hovering between 72 and 76 degrees throughout the year.
Kauai is known as “The Garden Island” due to its high population of plant life. The rainforest climate is the wettest of the Hawaiian Islands and Mount Wai’ale’ale is the wettest.
place on EARTH!
The island’s people are among the friendliest in the country according to an annual survey of vacationers. Two of Kauai’s resorts, the Hyatt and the Princeville Resort, are consistently ranked in the top twenty tropical resorts in a popular travel magazine.
The Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spa (formerly Hyatt Regency Kauai Resort & Spa) is located on the sunny side of the island. With 602 rooms, 4 tennis courts, golf course, 5 restaurants, cocktail lounges, babysitting, multiple pools and spas, this is a luxury resort.
The Pinceville Resort Kauai is located on the north shore of Kauai. This is a top-tier resort and is always at the top of the Kauai lodging list. Puu Poa Beach is just steps from the main lawn, and Princeville Golf Club, considered one of the best courses in Hawaii, sits nearby on 390 acres with ocean views from every hole.
However, it is the rugged beauty and opportunity for adventure that draws many people to the island. If you dream of hiking or kayaking in a beautiful tropical setting, Kauai is a great option.
The south and west coasts have long white sand beaches. And there are the majestic wide valleys, like the Kalalau Valley on the Na Pali coast.
The most notable and well-known landscape includes the Waimea Canyon and the impressive cliffs of the Na Pali Coast. Waimea Canyon – aptly named the “Grand Canyon of the Pacific” – and Koke’e State Park, in Lihue, are open year-round. The canyon stretches 10 miles from Captain James Cook’s famous landing site in 1778 to Koke’e State Park.
This canyon has been the scene of several films, such as Jurasic Park and Raiders of the Lost Ark. In fact, more than two dozen Hollywood movies have been filmed on Kauai!
The hiking trails in the park offer incredible views of the canyon and the lush “forest” setting. The canyon itself is also accessible for hiking, fishing, and camping.
The cliffs of Kauai’s Na Pali Coast are of rugged, sheer beauty, with deep, narrow valleys that end abruptly into the sea. Waterfalls, fast-flowing streams, and expansive stone-walled terraces remain at the bottom of the valley where ancient Hawaiian natives once lived.
The 11-mile Kalalau Trail provides the only land access to this part of the coast. The trail crosses over towering sea cliffs and through lush valleys, then descends to sea level at the beaches of Hanakapi’ai and Kalalau.
But much of the island can only be seen by air. Seeing Kauai by helicopter is like nothing else in the world, with its remote waterfalls, hidden canyons, and uninhabited valleys.
Napali’s majestic coastline provides the opportunity for world-class snorkeling. No other place in Hawaii offers formations as unique as Niihau, shaped by the currents and waves of the ocean during those 6 million years! On your Hawaii vacation list, Kauai is a place to enjoy
be it for a family vacation or an adventure on land or sea.
Here are some of the best beaches on Kauai: Hanalei Bay Beach is a perfect semicircle of white sand in sparkling tropical waters with a backdrop of 4,000-foot waterfalls. It is often described as not only the most beautiful beach on Kauai, but also the most beautiful in Hawaii. The beach is about 125 feet wide and is framed by the Waipa River to the west and the Hanalei River to the east, on Kauai’s north shore. The bottom gradually descends, making it a wonderful beach for the youngsters, and there are large coral reefs at both ends of the bay.
Haena Beach, with its grainy yellow sand and clear waters surrounded by emerald cliffs, has been featured as the stereotypical tropical strand in many Hollywood movies. The summer months offer excellent swimming and snorkeling. However, winter produces big waves that are fun for surfers but dangerous for everyone else.
Tunnels Beach is the great snorkeling spot on the North Shore. Kauai’s two-mile-long beach stretches from Hanalei Colony Resort to Ha’ena Beach Park. The central part has a huge crescent-shaped reef just offshore where divers can find eels, turtles, and other colorful sea creatures. Excellent in summer, Tunnels Beach has big waves in winter that can make swimming dangerous.
Shipwreck Beach on the South Shore is a surfer’s paradise. This Kauai beach on Keoneloa Bay is one of the largest stretches of beach in the Poipu area. For much of the year, Shipwreck Beach is best suited for strong swimmers and surfers. This is due to the powerful and potentially dangerous waves breaking close to shore.
Whether you prefer a quiet and relaxing time at a resort or an outdoor adventure in a tropical paradise, the island of Kauai is a good choice.
I hope you enjoyed this series and that you will soon be able to enjoy your own Hawaii vacation. Considering all that these islands have to offer, the hardest part may be choosing where to start. Just remember, you won’t see everything in one trip, so plan with this in mind and you’ll probably be a happier traveler.