Kauai Overview
KAUAI
Video compliments of the Travel ChannelKauai Overview
Think of Kauai, the sleepiest of the four major Hawaiian islands, as a clock face without the numbers 10 and 11. That's because the northwest quadrant of the Garden Isle is covered with the Na Pali coastline, terrain so forbidding that no road dares go through it. The only way to see Na Pali's lush flora, intricate sea caves, and thrilling waterfalls is from the water on a snorkeling cruise or by trekking across the experts-only hiking trail.
© Hawaii Convention and Visitors Bureau/Linda Ching
Na Pali is a reminder of what Kauai looked liked before civilization. As more people discover its leisurely charms, however, the island is becoming a little less like Na Pali and a little more like Maui, with growing pains like traffic and overdevelopment. There's no place to build more roads, so for now, there's plenty of tranquility to go around as long as you stay put.
© Hawaii Tourism Authority/Ron Dahlquist
The most beautiful part of Kauai—the portion that moved Peter, Paul and Mary to sing about Puff the Magic Dragon—is the North Shore "town called Hanalei." It's Hawaii on a postcard: Gorgeous palms perfectly frame magnificent blue waters crashing on white-sand shores. The downside: It's rainy in the wintertime, and there aren't many hotels nearby.
For reliable sun, head south to the cluster of luxury resorts, affordable bed and breakfasts, and multitude of restaurants dishing out Hawaiian cuisine around stunning Poipu Beach. In winter, it's Kauai's best spot for lodging.
To the east, the city of Lihue is home to the airport, the cruise ship pier, and the kind of hardware stores and supermarkets on which locals rely. Yet just a few miles away, you'll find the earth's most stunning beaches. Lihue and the surrounding Coconut Coast get less rain than the North Shore, and the timeshare condos here are generally cheaper than in Poipu.
© Hawaii Tourism Authority/Tor Johnson
Wherever you go, hit the beaches, where you can do everything from snorkeling and scuba diving to kiteboarding and kayaking. Or see why Kauai is called the Garden Isle and explore its lush landscape by hiking through state parks, or take an aerial view of the island by gliding on a zipline above the trees and craggy mountains.
When the day turns into night, kick back at a luau—Kauai's No. 1 nightlife option—with some Hawaiian eats (devour the pupus and roasted pig in the buffet) and authentic hula to live music. Luaus give you a chance to drink all the mai tais you can handle, but be prepared to say aloha early in the evening; this is a sleepy place, after all, and you'll need to wake up in the wee morning hours with the rest of the surfers to hit the waves.
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