6 – Kauai

August 19, 2005, 10:57

Sponsored by Heli USA Airways
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Kauai

Kaua‘i – click to enlarge

Kauai — Hawaii’s Island of Discovery

www.kauaidiscovery.com

Kauai is famed for its diverse and dramatic scenery, which ranges from the 3,567 foot deep Waimea Canyon – which stretches 14 miles across the western end of the island and is often called the “Grand Canyon of the Pacific” – and the 3,000 ft high mountain cliffs that rise from the ocean floor to form the magnificent Napali Coast, best viewed from the air or the sea.

There are a number of other differences that make Kauai unique from its sister islands.

No structure can be built over four stories high, that is to say approximately the height of a mature coconut palm.
Kauai has 43 white sand beaches, more beach per mile of coastline than the other islands, and boasts the only navigable rivers in Hawaii.
Kauai at a glance
Principal City: Lihue
Airport: Lihue Airport (LIH)
Climate: Average from 22°C in Feb/March to 26°C in Aug/Sept. Cooler temperatures in the mountains offer a pleasant contrast to warmer coastal areas.

Nickname: The Garden Island
Population: Approximately 60,000
Tourist Information: Kauai Visitors Bureau, 4334 Rice Street, Suite 101, Lihue, HI 96766
www.Kauaidiscovery.com
Kauai has been the premier film location site for more than 60 major motion picture and television films, including classics such as Elvis Presley’s Blue Hawaii as well more recent hits such as Jurassic Park, Raiders of the Lost Ark and Lilo & Stitch.
Four of the top ten golf courses in the state of Hawaii are located on Kauai, one of which is ranked in Golf Digest’s “100 Greatest Courses in America.”
Kauai is the oldest of all the six main Hawaiian islands
Kauai is great for outdoor enthusiasts and nature lovers, as well as honeymooning couples seeking to get away from it all
Hotel properties range from deluxe luxury resorts to bed & breakfast guest houses, offering a variety of price ranges.

Kauai Regions

West Side

Kauai’s west side features one of Hawaii’s most spectacular attractions – the 3,000 foot-deep Waimea Canyon. The rust-coloured rocks and gaping chasm led Mark Twain to nickname it the “Grand Canyon of the Pacific” and, although dwarfed by its famous Arizona counterpart, Waimea Canyon’s topography is unique in Hawaii. Created from layers of lava flows, it is 14 miles long and a mile wide. There are several scenic lookouts offering breathtaking views, including the Kalalau Lookout. In addition to the many lookouts, helicopter tours provide a spectacular way to appreciate the vastness and beauty of Waimea Canyon and Kokee.

South Shore

Poipu Beach Park, on the south shore of the island was named America’s Best Beach by the Travel Channel for two consecutive years and remains a favorite holiday spot for families and couples, although the resort area of Poipu actually incorporates a number of beaches.

Poipu is especially child-friendly, thanks to the shallow bay and natural ocean “paddling pool”, with lots of activities and sports to enjoy, including junior golf and surf lessons for those as young as five years. The area offers are several beach-side resorts as well as condominiums, cottages, B&Bs and inns to choose from.

Visitors may, on occasion, also be lucky enough to see one of Hawaii’s endangered monk seals here. Less than 30 make Kauai their home and pups have been born at both Poipu Beach Park and nearby Mahaulepu Beach. However they should never be approached and, as protected species, there are heavy fines for disturbing them. Keep your eyes peeled too as whales and dolphins may also be seen cruising off the coast.

West of Poipu is the Spouting Horn ocean blowhole, which shoots a geyser-like plume of sea water and spray into the air with each incoming wave.

Also close to Poipu is Old Koloa Town, a former sugar plantation which has now been revived with the advent of boutique shops, restaurants and galleries, all occupying the town’s old buildings. Hawaii’s first sugar mill was located at Koloa in 1835.

Lively Hanapepe, on the south-west tip of the island, is known as “the Biggest Little Town in Hawaii” and the Hanapepe Lookout provides extensive views of the Hanapepe River and its valley.

North Shore

The dramatic Napali Coast on the northern coastline is one of Hawaii’s top attractions. Much of its grandeur is hidden and the stunning cliffs are inaccessible to visitors, other than by helicopter or from the sea. Many helicopter sightseeing companies therefore offer fabulous tours from the air of the island, while visitors can also view its rugged and exotic beauty on a boat tour. However, those who prefer a more challenging way to view this magnificent natural wonder can ocean kayak along Napali Coast or hike the 11-mile Kalalau Trail. Many people hike in and stay for a night, camping out in the wilderness, although a permit is required. Others prefer to hike a couple of miles to a secluded beach before returning.

The North Shore is more rugged than other parts of the island and famous for its dramatic sea cliffs, waterfalls and beaches.

The Kilauea Lighthouse, on the northernmost point of Kauai, once served to protect sailors from the headland’s rocky hazards. Now fully restored, it houses a visitor centre for the Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge, which is home to wildlife including migratory birds, seabirds, and Hawaii’s state bird, the Nene goose. Humpback whales, Hawaiian monk seals and spinner dolphins can also occasionally be seen from Kilauea Point and visitors can take guided nature hikes if they want to head off exploring.

The small town of Hanalei is cupped by rainforest-covered mountain slopes and has beach parks, pavilions and a pier which is popular for fishing. Visitors can rent kayaks in the town and enjoy a gentle paddle up the Hanalei River.

The north coast road passes dry and wet caves and, at the end of the road, the protected lagoon at Kee Beach Park is ideal for snorkeling during the summer months. Across the road, Limahuli Gardens features an extensive collection of tropical plants as well as stunning ocean views.

South East

The southeast side incorporates the island capital of Lihue, its resort area of Kalapaki as well as Kauai’s airport. Lihue offers great shopping, restaurants and nightspots and is also home to the island’s natural harbour, “Nawiliwilli”.

Nearby is Menehune Fishpond – about a half-mile inland from Nawiliwili Harbor. The fishpond gets its name from legends that say the large pond was built some 1,000 years ago by hundreds of very small Hawaiian people called Menehunes. It is said the pond, which is constructed from a stonewall 900 feet long and five feet high, was completed in one night.

Past Lihue headed toward Puhi and the Kauai Community College campus is Kilohana, a restored plantation estate that provides a glimpse of life in the 1930s. Manicured green lawns surround the estate, which now is home to Gaylord’s Restaurant and a number of shops. Once the center of a 27,000-acre sugar plantation and the hub of Kauai business, cultural and social life, the 35-acre estate is now planted in tropical gardens. Carriage rides drawn by Clydesdale horses provide tours of the grounds and Hawaiian luaus are staged on a regular basis. The Kauai Museum in Lihue presents a factual history of Kauai, using artifacts and photographs. Historical and art exhibits of locals artists are displayed throughout the year.

East

Further up is the Coconut Coast – a stretch of coast which includes the towns of Wailua, Kapaa and Anahola and lots of activity, shopping, accommodation and restaurants between them.

Nearby are some of the island’s main attractions, including Fern Grotto, a cave cloaked by ferns reached by a boat trip up the Wailua River. Wailua Falls in the same area is a step off the beaten path. Located at the south end of Wailua River, it cascades in two streams to a spot at least 80 feet below. Some say the distance is more accurately described as 200 feet. Like other spectacular views on Kauai, Wailua Falls has been captured on film for thousands of people who have never seen them in person. The area is dominated by the green flanked peak of Mt Waialeale, the massice ancient volcano, which formed the island.

Top attractions

Waimea Canyon State Park
© Hawaii Tourism Japan
Kokee State Park
National Tropical Botanical Gardens
Napali Coast State Park Spouting Horn
Kïlauea Point National Wildlife Refuge
Poipu Beach
Hanapepe Town

Things not to be missed:

Helicopter Tour – Kauai is known for its natural beauty and this is a spectacular way to take in the splendour of the island, including Waimea Canyon, the Napali Coastline and the island’s many waterfalls.
© KVB / Tim
DeLaVega
Botanical Gardens – Kauai is nicknamed the Garden Island. Smith’s Tropical Paradise at Wailua, Moir Gardens in Poipu, the National Tropical Garden (Allerton & McBryde on the south shore and Limahuli on the north shore) and Na Aina Kai in Kilauea all offer visitors a variety of tours to chose from, both guided and self guided.
Napali Coastline – a must-see, whether travelling by boat or helicopter. This natural, unspoiled wonder is made up of 3,000 foot high mountain cliffs that rise above the ocean floor.
Kilauea Lighthouse – Kilauea Lighthouse, on the north end of Kauai, sits on an ocean bluff. The northernmost point in the main Hawaiian island chain it was built in 1913 and now is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge, meanwhile, is Hawaii’s largest seabird sanctuary, home to the Laysan albatross, the red-footed booby and many other species of Hawaiian seabirds.
Nature lovers will be in seventh heaven taking a boat or helicopter tour of the Napali Coast, hiking through rainforest or spotting whales and dolphins offshore. They will also delight in visiting the other natural attractions and spectacular scenery both on the coast and within the island’s interior.
© KVB / David Boynton
Adventure seekers will thrive on the variety of activities available, from heli-sightseeing to horse-riding, while sporty types can indulge their passion whether golf, scuba diving, trail biking, tennis or deep-sea fishing. Other activities include mountain tubing, ziplining, all-terrain vehicles and sailing and snorkelling tours.
Families will also find plenty of activities and attractions to keep them occupied, from in-resort facilities to the swings and climbing bars of the Kamalani Playground, built by local volunteers on a site which overlooks the Wailua River where it flows into the ocean.
Couples are well catered for at Kauai’s luxury resort hotels and beach-side hideaways – another reason why Kauai is also popular for couples getting married as well as for honeymooners.

Festivals

Annual Waimea Town Celebration – February
Old-fashioned plantation-style fun. Events include a canoe race, an ice cream eating contest, the Captain Cook Fun Run, a ukulele competition, a lei contest, rodeo and continuous free entertainment.
Annual Koloa Plantation Days – July
Sports events, historic walks, rodeos, block party, craft fair, Polynesian dancing and entertainment.
Annual Kauai Polynesian Festival – August
A four-day event which features a Polynesian dance competition and exhibition, cultural workshops, arts & crafts plus plenty of delicious island-style food.
Mokihana Festival – September
Island-wide events featuring a dancing competition for men and women, a composers’ contest, crafts, festivals, lectures, and workshops.

Sponsored by Heli USA Airways

Experience the ultimate Hawaii vacation sightseeing activity, a luxurious Hawaii helicopter tour! Choose from a Kauai helicopter tour or Oahu helicopter tour with the helicopter sightseeing company that provides you the most locations and value… Heli USA Airways!

Having flown over 800,000 passengers with an exceptional safety record, Heli USA is proud to provide helicopter tours from five premier western USA destinations including Oahu and Kauai, in the Hawaiian Islands.

Enter a world of lush tropical rainforests, waterfalls, mountains, beaches and craters. The only way to experience all of Kauai’s spectacular sightseeing points, places of interest and inaccessible locations!

Heli USA is proud to operate the largest fleet of luxurious A-Star jet helicopters on the Island of Kauai, and is the only sightseeing operator to depart from both Lihue and our historic and beautiful Princeville Airport.

Operating a variety of flights over the islands Heli USA has a unique collection of exclusive sightseeing experiences to suit everyone.

Kaua‘i – Click to enlarge

Our value-oriented K-01 – Kauai Highlights Island “Menehune” Helicopter flight (approx 30 mins) includes all the major sites on Kauai! Enter a world of lush tropical rainforests, jagged mountains, sea cliffs, beaches and craters. To the accompaniment of music and narration you will climb past Hanalei to hover over the 3,400 foot Mt. Namolokama waterfalls and soar into the vast Waimea Canyon. You will pass Puu-ka-Pele, or “Volcano Hill”, before crossing the Alakai swamp and the 4,000 foot Na Pali Cliffs, then passing Bali Hai – made famous in the movie “South Pacific.”

Our most popular Kauai Helicopter flight is the K-03 Deluxe Island “Kamaaina” flight (approx 45 mins). Experience all of the above, but also view the wailing wall with its numerous waterfalls. Then fly onward to Manawaiapuna Falls, as seen in “Jurassic Park.” Finally, enter the Kalalau Valley and see the remains of home sites of ancient Hawaiian civilizations.

The Grand Circle Island “Ali I Nui” flight (approx 60 mins) is for those who want to see all the major sights, and includes additional air time. Whichever tour you choose the memories will last a lifetime.

Heli USA also takes romance to the skies over Kaua‘i with our K-05 Deluxe Sunset ‘Pukaana o ka la o Na Pali Helicopter Flight (approx 45mins).

Be one of the few to share the experience of the Na Pali Coast on Kauai at Sunset. All the spectacular sites of Kauai are included. Cross the 4,000 foot cliffs of the Na Pali Coast as the sunset opens up before you with ever changing colours and hues. The sun gently drops into the waves on the horizon as you witness the last sunset in the United States over the Pacific. A champagne toast in our tropical gardens completes this romantic experience!

O‘ahu – Click to enlarge

Departing from Lihue is our L-45 Kauai Deluxe Island Kamaaina Helicopter Flight (approx 45mins). It’s the only way to experience all of Kauai’s spectacular sightseeing points of interest and inaccessible locations. Soar into Hanapepe Valley, site of “Jurassic Park Falls.” Enter Waimea Canyon with its awesome colours, depth and breadth. View the jagged 4,000 ft. Na Pali Cliffs. See the remains of ancient Hawaiian home sites and taro patches at Kalalau Valley. Pass Bali Hai, before entering into lush Hanalei Valley. Enter Mt. Waialeale’s crater and marvel at the 2,000 ft. waterfalls before your return journey to Lihue.

Heli USA also has the pleasure of flying on the Island of Oahu, “The Gathering Place”. Here you can discover the tropical beauty of the island by day or take romance to the skies over Waikiki by night. Heli USA provides the visitor with spectacular day and night flights over Oahu from our convenient terminal at Honolulu airport located only minutes from Waikiki hotels. The helicopter is the only way to really see this incredible volcanic tropical island from its white beaches to the towering volcanic peaks and lush tropical jungles.

You’ll find the answers to the following questions on this page or on www.hawaii-tourism.co.uk. Good luck!

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Header images, left to right: 1: Lava, © Big Island Visitors Bureau / David O. Baldwin | 2: Kaneohe Bay, © Oahu Visitors Bureau | 3: Kokee State Park, © HVCB / Ron Dahlquist | 4: Molokini, © HVCB / Ron Dahlquist