Explore Our Kauai: The Garden Isle
By Steve Wolshin - Kauai Vacation Rentals
Aloha and welcome to the beautiful Island of Kauai! Exploring Kauai can be a lot of fun and very exciting! Below is just a little bit on Kauai and what each side of the island has to offer.
The Island of Kauai is the oldest and fourth-largest of the eight main Hawaiian Islands. Kauai is call "The Garden Island." It has Mt. Waialeale, considered to be one of the wettest spots in the world.
With all the rain comes all the green and beauty. When it does rain all you have to do it go to the opposite side of the rain or the west side, or just wait for the rain to stop. When it does stop you are right back to the beauty of Kauai but now all the water falls are booming and the sky has this crisp and deep blue color.
After living here now for over 35 years, I have learned just to be patient. The beauty of Kauai is second to none in the world in my opinion and I have traveled the world many times.
Lihue is where you land and where the Kauai Airport is. If you are not going right to your accommodations and you are going to get some adventure in right away, then you have to make a decision. Do I turn left, (to the south) or right (to the north)? If you turn right, you are on your way to Hanalei and the east side and the north shore. This is where you will see all the water falls and the lush garden Island of Kauai. There are many small towns along the way. If the weather is good, the spectacular ocean and mountain view will have you getting your camera out and shooting pictures until your finger is sore.
It only takes 10 minutes to get to the Wailua Bridge. This is the beginning of Kapaa. The Wailua river offers many fun activities. Smith Boats has been offering rides upriver for over 40 years. You can rent a kayak, waterskiing boat, and even get surf lessons right where the river meets the ocean. Warning -- after heavy rains do not swim in this area or where you see brown water. You will pass several towns as you drive north. Some of the largest are Anahola, Moloaa, and Kilauea.
When you pass the Princeville Golf Course, you know that you are on the North Shore. You will see the Princeville center and the town of Hanalei. Hanalei holds a special place in my heart because that is where I spent a lot of my time from 1974-1994. I became friends with Larry Ching and his wife and son. They always treated me great! They were one of the first folks who started the Ching Young store in Hanalei. Larry passed years ago but Miss Ching is still there making plate lunches for all the locals and always has a smile for everyone.
She is a very special lady. Stop in and say FurCat sent us; that's my nick name.
If you just keep driving north, (since there is only one road and hard to get lost) you will come to where the roads ends and Hawaii's most stunning coastlines begins. The towering pinnacles and sheer cliffs are the stuff that dreams -- and movies -- are made of. South Pacific, King Kong and Jurassic Park all contain scenes from this area. The Hanakapiai hiking trail is at the end of the road and leads 2 miles in to the first valley, Hanakapiai Beach and then onward to Kalalau Valley, in ancient times the home of a thriving community.
For you to get to the other side of the Island you must now turn around and drive all the way back to the airport and then start going south. This is where you will find Poipu and the south shore with all it hotels and beaches. Farther west you will see the towns of Kalaheo, Hanapepe and Waimea. There are many state parks for you to rest on the way. The one I like the best is Salt Pond State Park. One of Kauai's main tourist attractions is the Waimea Canyon, "the Grand Canyon of the Pacific." You will be able to drive up to the lookouts and on the trails of Koke'e State Park. The unbelievable colors of the canyon walls and seeing the true power of nature and God will really help you see why so many people say Kauai Is #1.
Then, if you keep on going you will pass the Barking Sands Military Base and then you can even go on the sugar roads and go to the end of the west side road to Polihalie State Park. The longest most uncrowded strip of white sand beach in Hawaii.
Warning! If the waves are big do not go in the water -- very strong rips and under currents are going on that you can not see.
Have a great time while on Kauai! Remember safety first always!!
Aloha,
"FurCat"
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