Kauai - the oldest of Hawaii's islands Print E-mail
Written by jane69   
Wednesday, 30 March 2005
Article Index
Kauai - the oldest of Hawaii's islands
Page 2
Page 2 of 2


North shore
Na Pali coast trail
Na Pali coast trail
Na Pali coast
Na Pali coast
The beaches, bays and mountains here - including the spectacular cliffs of the Na Pali Coast - are among the most beautiful. The roads finish at Haena Beach. North shore here is blessed with secluded bays with white sand beaches, rolling green pastures, spectacular mountains ranges with winding rivers that spill into the sea. Cliffs rising as high as 4000 feet are accessible along the beautiful Kalalau Trail (about 22 miles) on the Na Pali Coast.  Hike inside green valley, cross the river in Hanakapiai Valley and enjoy the first settled part of Kauai. The beach in Honopu Valley is where Jessica Lange eluded King Kong (1976) and Harrison Ford fled from pirate attack in 6 Days, 7 Nights (Kalalau Trail, or by boat or by helicopter). At the foot of the trail is located excellent snorkeling area, Kee Beach.

Monk seal
Monk seal
Maniniholo Dry Cave is about 300 yards deep, and reaches to a small exit hole on the side of the mountain. The cave interior used to be larger than now, before a 1957 tsunami half-filled it with sand. On Route 560.

Guava Kai Plantation boasts Hawaii's largest guava orchard. A unique tropical fruit, the guava is pureed to use in juices, jams, jellies, sherbet and candy. Kuhio Hwy, Kuawa Rd.

Hanalei Valley Lookout offers one of the most famous views on Kauai. The valley is one mile wide and six miles long. Most of the taro grown in Hawaii is grown here.

In 1853, R.C.Wyllie started a coffee plantation on the site of what is now Princeville. The coffee plantation failed, bud the city is now the largest planned development on Kauai. Near Princeville you found beaches Pu'u Poa, Kenomene Beach and Kaweonui Beach thanks wide reefs good for snorkeling.

Kilauea lighthouse
Kilauea lighthouse
Lighthouse on Kilauea point
Lighthouse on Kilauea point
One of the Kauai's favorite attractions, the Kilauea Lighthouse is located on a spectacular 200-foothigh peninsula, now home to the Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge. It was built in the early 1900s. The informations are available inside the lighthouse, which is open daily (excepted holidays) from 10.a.m. to 4.p.m. You can learn about the hundreds of seabirds that make this dramatic cliffside their home - including frigate birds, shearwaters and red footed boobies. You can also hike up Crater Hill. Right from Kuhio Hwy., Kilauea Rd.

Some of Kauai's favorite winter visitors are the humpback whales. From their summer home which extends from Alaska to the Farallon Islands off central California, these gentle giants migrate to Hawaii's warmer waters during winter months to clave and breed. The first sighting usually occurs in late October or early November and a few remain here as late as May. From January through March, however, it is difficult to look at the ocean for long without seeing a whale. Try to see the humpback whales right here, by Kilauea Lighthouse.

Dolphins
Dolphins
Hollywood loves Hawaii. And really loves Kauai. You will remember White Heat (1934), Miss Sadie Thompson (1953), South Pacific (1958), Blue Hawaii (1961), Donovan's Reef (1963), Mighty Joe Young (1998), Jurassic Park (1993), Honeymoon in Vegas (1992) and Hook (1991). As you drive around Kauai you can conjure up your favorite movie images and stars, following in the footsteps of Mitzi Gaynor on Lumahai Beach, Harrison Ford swinging on a vine at Menehune Fish Pond, Elvis getting married in the coconut grove at Wailua and John Wayne cruising around Nawiliwili Harbor.

Get a spectacular, bird's-eye view of the Garden Island aboard a helicopter. These Kauai's most popular activities show you dramatic views of the island's many areas not accessible by car.
Explore Kauai's shore from the catamaran or raft. Enter sea caves; go under waterfalls, snorkel, observe dolphins or whales.  Enjoy the Last Paradise!

Appendix
Kauai's webcams http://accutravel.net/hawaii/webcams
Kauai's hotels http://accutravel.net/hawaii/hotels
Weather conditions http://accutravel.net/hawaii/weather
Kauai's map http://www.driveguidemagazines.com/kauai_maps.html, http://www.summitpacificinc.com/kauai_map.html
<< Prev - Next
Last Updated ( Thursday, 03 November 2005 )
 
< Prev
AccuTravel.net provides discount hotels and cheap airline tickets reservations. Select from | Europe · London · Paris · Rome | America · Boston · New York · Rio de Janeiro | Africa · Egypt | Asia · Hong Kong | Australia · Sydney | Middle East · Dubai and thousands of other hotels in most major cities worldwide.
Valid XHTML 1.1
Home arrow North America arrow Kauai - the oldest of Hawaii's islands