Kauai Travel

Kauai is known for its abundant vegetation, beautiful tropical flowers and white sandy beaches that stretch for miles, nicknaming it the Garden Isle.

It is one of the most appealing islands because of its tropical beauty. It has always been a favorite for honeymooners or for anyone wanting a romantic retreat but is also great for hiking and vacationing families.

Its land area is 533 square miles and is the fourth largest island with a population of 63,004. The average temperature varies from 60 to 88 degrees F. Somewhat similar to the Big Islands climate diversity, Kauai has micro-climates such as sand dunes, barren plateaus, fertile valleys, and mist covered mountains. It is the oldest of the Hawaiian islands at 5.8 million years old.

The main airport is Lihue airport. Only half of the island is accessible by car and the other by hiking or boat. I do recommend a Zodiac trip for seeing some of the more remote valleys. If you want to spend the night or camp on this kind of trip you will need a permit.

Every island has a Windward side (dry) and a Leeward side (wet) and Kauai’s Leeward side is particularly pronounced. It is known to be one of the “wettest spots on earth.” The amount of rainfall in this area creates a lush tropical environment perfect for movies such as Jurassic Park and King Kong that were filmed there.

Definitely take the time to check out the picturesque town of Hanalei. While there, check out the swanky joint called Sushi Blues which is the only trendy night spot on this side of the island with live music.

If you head over to the Windward side of the island, you will find that the focus is more for tourists. Here, the hotels all have waterslides and if you want an umbrella in your drink this is the place to do it. There are often professional volley ball and golf tournaments as well as lots of nightclubs here.

If you want to check out a more historic town, head to Poipu. This is the coastal town that Hurricane Iniki decimated and took the longest to rebound.

Waimea Canyon is gorgeous and considered the “Grand Canyon of the Pacific.” Here you will see a lot of Kauai’s infamous and vivid red dirt and layered rock. This is an all day trip so be prepared.

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