Kaua`i Overview

With more waterfalls and beaches per square mile than any of its neighbors, the "Garden Isle" offers endless opportunities for adventure and romance. Golf at Princeville, dine at Bali Hai, and walk on golden sand at Poipu, the playground of royals.

Districts

Waimea, Princeville, Hanalei, Bali Hai—it seems like every part of Kaua`i is legendary. The island is a place of unparalleled natural beauty, and most visitors feel that Kaua`i offers a near-perfect tropical getaway.

Lihue--Central Kauai
The first town that one sees upon stepping off the plane is Lihue, the county seat and home of the island's main airport. The coast is just a few moments' drive away. From there, it's easy to get to one of the island's main resort districts.

The Coconut Coast (East Coast)
Just north of Lihue on the East Shore is the famed Coconut Coast, so named because of the hundreds of coconut palms that shade the main highway. The Wailua River runs along this coast, and a half-dozen famous natural attractions cluster around it. Fern Grotto and Sleeping Giant are two favorite sites.

North Shore
Hot, humid, and lushly landscaped, the North Shore is home to yet another of Hawaii's incomparable resort areas. Princeville, a land of perfectly manicured greens and spectacular vistas, is known for its golf as well as its other activities. Everything from hiking, to kayaking, to horse-drawn carriage rides can be found, and fine dining, world-class health spas, and plenty of shops that cater to the multi-national tourists abound.

Just past Princeville, the landscape changes. Hanalei Bay and the neighboring beaches are among the world's top surf spots. The towns of Hanalei and Haena are small, charming, and possessed of an atmosphere unlike anyplace else. Ke'e Beach, the beach at the end of the road that borders the North Shore and the West Side/Na Pali Coast, literally marks the border between civilization and the wild.

West Shore
Ke'e Beach marks the beginning of the Na Pali Coast, the majestic stretch of jagged cliffs and hidden valleys that tower 4,000 feet above sea level. Imposing, stunning, ancient, and almost magical, the cliffs are a must-see for any Kaua`i visitor.

Just southwest of Na Pali, accessible only from the Southern Shore, is Koke'e State Park, home to famous Waimea Canyon. Further west still is Polihale State Park, known for its shifting sand dunes. Miles and miles of uninhabited coastline extend to the southernmost part of the island.

South Shore
Trendy Poipu on the South Shore definitely claims the largest number of big-name hotels. But the South Shore offers much more. The tiny towns of Hanapepe and Kalaheo are throwbacks to the last generation, while the botanical gardens near Poipu are in a class by themselves.

Entertainment

Kauai's strong suit still lies in its traditional Hawaiian entertainment and in its daytime outdoor activities, which are diverse and widespread.

Ocean Sports/Marine Adventures
The Pacific Ocean, in all its glory, provides all the entertainment that some people need. Favorite swimming beaches include Anahola Beach Park on the Coconut Coast and the South Shore's Poipu Beach Park. Surf schools are located on the shores of Poipu and Kalapaki Beach, while Anini Beach Park is one of the best spots for windsurfing on the island. The crystalline waters off the shore of Kaua`i offer great snorkeling and diving.

Sailing Charters
The coastal waters off Kaua`i are almost as popular a hang-out spot as the beaches. A number of companies offer a variety of day and evening cruises, and for snorkeling and sunning. Advanced divers can visit a variety of different sites with most certified dive companies.

Golf
Like its island neighbors, Kaua`i is a golfer's paradise. The island offers some of the most technically challenging and visually stunning courses in the world.

Nightlife
Free live shows and Polynesian revues take place around the island, and there are cinemas at Kukui Grove Center, Coconut Marketplace, Kong Lung Shopping Center, and a few other locations. All of the major hotels have a couple of upscale watering holes. Karaoke, one of Hawaii's most beloved guilty pleasures, is offered at restaurants and bars throughout the island.

Dining and Drinking

Lihue and Kapa'a: The Eastern Shore
Kauai's eastern shore, nicknamed "The Coconut Coast," is a popular tourist destination and therefore home to a variety of restaurants. It is, for the most part, a casual corner of the island. You'll find no shortage of affordable, home-style cooking, but top-notch gourmet restaurants are a little harder to come by. For affordable, fresh seafood, this side of the island has a plethora of local and American restaurants to choose from.

Hanalei/Princeville: The Northern Shore
Kauai's North Shore harbors some of the island's finest dining; the gourmet restaurants of Hanalei are just a few minutes west of Princeville.

Poipu and the South Shore
The South Shore offers plenty of dining options, although most of its gourmet scene is contained within the resort hotels. A number of charming little coffee houses dot this "hotel row."

Where To Stay

There isn't one particular spot in Kaua`i that has all of the best resorts, nor is there one spot that has a row of budget hotels. Rather, luxurious and beautiful hotels abound, and the budget accommodations are sprinkled in amongst them.

Lihue & the Coconut Coast
Kauai's airport town of Lihue is head-and-shoulders above most airport hotel districts. Up the coast from Lihue is the Coconut Coast with cities of Wailua, Kapa`a, and Kealia. Many of Kauai's bed-and-breakfasts are tucked in various valleys and neighborhoods on the Coconut Coast. Several hotels and condominium complexes are also scattered along the coast around the mouth of the Wailua River.

North Shore
Humid, hot, and verdant, the North Shore is the site of Princeville, one of Hawaii's top luxury resorts. The big hotels here are expensive and exclusive. Further to the west are the towns of Hanalei and Haena, and while the facilities are still lovely, the prices tend to get a little lower. A number of private guesthouses, vacation rentals, and bed-and-breakfasts are scattered throughout the area.

South Shore
Poipu, the famous resort district on Kauai's South Shore, is proud of its history as a playground for royalty. Luxury hotel developers strive to keep it that way. However, the tenacity of condominium developers and value hotel chains enables thousands of lucky "commoners" to enjoy Poipu's sun-drenched shores each year. A visitor who wants to stay on the South Shore but doesn't enjoy the condominium scene can check out any one of the various inns or bed-and-breakfasts to be found in the small towns just outside Poipu.

Kaua`i by the Numbers

Elevation: Sea level to 5,148 feet
Average Annual Rainfall: 55.7 inches
Average January Temperature: 68.3 degrees F
Average July Temperature: 75.5 degrees F

Time Zone: GMT-10
Area Code: 808

Population: 60,000
Ethnic Mix: 22% Hawaiian, 21% Caucasian, 19% Japanese, 12% Filipino, 4% Chinese, 22% Other

Did You Know?

Kaua`i is the oldest of the five main islands in the Hawaiian archipelago. Today, Waialeale, Kaua`i's principal volcano, has eroded and now stands at 5,148 feet at its peak. The volcano is also home to one of the wettest spots in the world; the northern slopes of Waialeale get over 450 inches of rain annually.

Orientation/Geography

Kaua`i is situated in the Hawaiian Island chain in the Pacific Ocean. Of the major islands, which include Hawai'i, Maui, Moloka'i, and O'ahu, Kaua`i is the furthest west. The Hawaiian Islands are approximately 2,600 miles from mainland United States.


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