Tropical beaches on a moonlit night. What could be more romantic? Yet on many volcanic islands, there are few white sand beaches. Kaua'i has the longest white sand beach in the Hawaiian islands!
Thre are many reasons why a beach may be favored. It may have no surf, and so, be suitable for families with small children. It may have booming surf, and so, be suitable for world class surfers. It may have a rocky bottom, and be a wonderful place to snorkel. Or it may have a snady bottom, and be perfect for beginning swimmers. Caution: Kaua'i loses a number of people each year to the ocean. Some of our beaches have dangerous currents at time. If you don't see any of the local people in the water, ask why. It could save your life. These are a few of my favorite beaches.
Kaua'i has miles of interesting hiking trails and a number of delightful campgrounds. Permits are required for camping. You can find out more from the State Department of Land and Natural Resources, with an office in the State Building in Lihue. Be sure to ask them for their free topographic hiking map.
Kaua'i has a number of water sports available to resident and visitor alike.
Interested in learning to surf? Try Margo Olberg's surfing school in Poipu...she was a world surfing champion. Already know how, and want some big surf? Try the north side in the winter. But be warned, the surf may hit 15'-30' some days...
Kaua'i has some great snorkeling...and the water is generally warm and clear. My favorite location is the just west of the Beach House restaurant in Poipu. Second choices are Tunnels, Poipu, and sometimes Ke'e beaches.
Kaua'i has a number of fine dive operations which can teach you, outfit you, or take you on a good day trip. If the weather is right, and you want the experience, you might even be able to dive of the forbidden island of Ni'ihau. Of course, the warm, clear waters off of Kaua'i aren't bad for underwater photography. Check out my underwater photo page.
Off the south side, I can recommend Blue Water Sailing (monohull), Captain Andy's (catamaran), and the Tropic Bird (trimaran). And of course, if the weather is right, you'll want to take a cruise down (or up) the world famous Na Pali coast.
I won't try to say which charter boat is the best, but I do know that they catch some BIG fish in the waters off of Kaua'i.
With seven world class 18 hole courses, Kaua'i is a wonderful place to play golf. Explore the golf courses of Kaua'i.
Since the discovery of Kaua'i by the Polynesian navigators (Probably from the Marquesas), about a thousand years ago, the island of Kaua'i has become the home of successive waves of immigrants. The original colonists were probably from the Marquesas. A second wave came several hundred years later, from Tahiti. On 20 January, 1778, Captain James Cook came ashore (accompanied by Lt. William Bligh, of later HMS Bounty fame...). The English were promptly followed with groups of Germans, Russians, Chinese, Filipinos, Japanese, Portugese, Spanish, and others seeking a warm, friendly climate. The "discovery" of the Hawaiian islands by Captain Cook, was followed by other European visitors. Some of these sold guns, and even cannons to the Hawaiian royalty, or Ali'i. One of these Ali'i, King Kamehameha, used his cannons to unite most of the Hawaiian islands...the only exceptions were the islands of Kaua'i and Ni'ihau. Somewhat later, the Russians built three forts on Kaua'i, with an eye to establishing a permanent colony here. For a much more detailed history of Kaua'i, I recommend that you see Kauai, the separate Kingdom, by Edward Joesting.
Kaua'i, under the native Hawaiians, had a thriving agricultural economy, based primarily on kalo (taro) and sweet potato crops. They also raised breadfruit, coconut, sugar cane, mango, papaya, and similar tropical fruits and vegetables. The successive waves of settlers tried a number of crops. Rice was a staple crop and was exported for some years. Oranges were grown on the north side of Kaua'i and were exported to California. Sissel (similar to the Century Plant) was grown for cordage, but unfortunately, the switch to steam power cut the need for rope by visiting ships. Kaua'i has had a dairy industry for 150 years; beef cattle are also raised. Until recently, sugar was the main cash crop. This switched to coffee. Kaua'i grows a mild but flavorful coffee, that I think is best when roasted dark to bring out its full flavor. Did you know that Kaua'i has more acreage in coffee that the rest of the Hawaiian islands combined?
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