Kauai
A slower, more laid-back pace awaits you on Kauai, the most remote of the Hawaiian Islands, making it ideal for relaxation and rejuvenation. Waterfalls, fern grottos and ponds abound on Kauai, known as Hawaii's “Garden Isle.” For adventure, look to the rugged Na Pali Coast for hiking, the scenic Wailua River for kayaking, or the immense Waimea Canyon, known as the “Grand Canyon of the Pacific.” Kauai's raw beauty remains largely undeveloped, making it a nature-lover's paradise.
Weather and Geography
Kauai is the lushest of the Hawaiian Islands and is noted for its sheer, tropical forest-covered cliffs that drop to the sea. The average year-round temperature, like that of the other Hawaiian Islands, is 75-85ºF. Kauai has the only navigable rivers in Hawaii, and also boasts 43 beaches that vary from quiet lagoons, to calm bayside beaches, to surf-pounded shoreline.
Quick Facts
- Kauai's main attraction is its natural beauty and the unassuming lifestyle of the people.
- The Na Pali Coast is one of the most spectacular areas of the island and can be explored by helicopter, sea kayak, or boat.
- You may have forgotten the plot to the 1998 movie, "Six Days, Seven Nights," but chances are you didn't forget the dazzling scenery; it was shot in Kauai.
Expert Travel Tips
- Everything moves at a more relaxed pace in Kauai and so should you. Make time to stop and listen to the ocean. Sit outside and marvel at the moon and the stars. Pause to take in the heady scent of a plumeria tree.
- Dress casually and comfortably. Loose clothing and sandals are the order of the day. Leave your jeans and polo shirts at home!
- Explore your underwater surroundings on a cave dive. You'll see lava tubes and coral reefs teeming with brilliantly colored marine life.
- Make like Indiana Jones and travel up the Hanalei River on a canoe through tropical jungles and a national bird refuge.