Vacation in Hawaii-Part 4-Kauai

Our Hawaii Vacations series continues with the island of Kauai, the fourth and final island featured 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 spans from the Na Pali cliffs on the north coast to the spectacular Waimea Canyon. Kaui’s slower pace seems better suited for a quiet family vacation or outdoor adventure.

Kauai, the oldest and northernmost of the four main 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. The ocean temperature is remarkably constant, hovering between 72 and 76 degrees throughout the year.

Kauai is known as “The Garden Isle” due to its large population of plant life. The tropical 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 best tropical resorts in a popular travel magazine.

The Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spa (formerly the Hyatt Regency Kauai Resort & Spa) is located on the sunny side of the island. With 602 rooms, 4 tennis courts, a golf course, 5 restaurants, cocktail lounges, child care, multiple pools and spas, this is a luxury resort.

The Pinceville Resort Kauai is located on the north shore of Kauai. This is a premier resort and is always at the top of my Kauai lodging list. Puu Poa Beach is a short walk from the main lawn, and the 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 draw many people to the island. If you dream of hiking or kayaking in a beautiful tropical setting, Kauai is a great choice.

The south and west coasts have long white sand beaches. And there are the majestic, sprawling 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 “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 setting for several movies, including Jurassic Park and Raiders of the Lost Ark. In fact, over 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 sheer, rugged beauty, with deep, narrow valleys ending abruptly in the sea. Waterfalls, fast-flowing streams, and sprawling stone-walled terraces remain at the valley floor where ancient native Hawaiians 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 lush valleys, then drops to sea level at Hanakapi’ai and Kalalau beaches.

But much of the island can only be seen from the air. Seeing Kauai by helicopter is like nothing else in the world, with its remote waterfalls, hidden canyons, and uninhabited valleys.

The majestic Napali Coast provides the opportunity for world-class snorkeling. No other place in Hawaii offers formations as unique as Niihau’s, shaped by ocean currents and waves over those 6 million years! On your Hawaii vacation list, Kauai is a place to enjoy

whether 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 over sparkling tropical waters against 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 slopes away, making it a wonderful beach for youngsters, and there are large coral reefs at both ends of the bay.

Haena Beach, with its grainy yellow sand and clear waters fringed by emerald cliffs, has appeared as the tropical stereotype 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 excellent 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. Great in the summer, Tunnels Beach has big waves in the 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 that break close to shore.

Whether you prefer a quiet, 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 can enjoy your own Hawaiian vacation soon. Considering all that these islands have to offer, the hardest part can be choosing where to start. Just remember, you won’t see everything in one trip, so plan with that in mind and you’ll probably be a happy traveler.