Kauai is one of the Hawaiian chain, and its dramatic mix of mountains, exotic rainforest, beaches and waterfalls is not to be missed. Kauai is a true gem, with a tourist industry which has had the good sense to leave the place unspoiled by over-development. Get some good travel insurance online, and come and see the real Hawaiian paradise people have been raving about for centuries.
Book for a month, you’ll need it. Kauai is a miniature world, with a stunning array of features you won’t see anywhere else on Earth. The island is crowned by a big complex of mountain and ridges which spread like a flower across the inland, and in the west, reaches the Pacific. There are five regions in Kauai which are all different, all beautiful, and all fascinating.
This is the sort of place you really have to explore and enjoy:
1. Natural Kauai
You can almost feel the desperation of the photographers and artists, trying to do Kauai justice. The place is a riot of color, constantly evolving every day into new, spectacular visions. Even the vegetation produces a few rainbows of its own. Kauai, like Hawaii, has its own unique wildlife and plants. If you’re not surrounded by birds of paradise, you’re surrounded by flowers. On foot, on bike, car or by helicopter, it’s incredible.
2. Kauai beaches
Kauai has 50 miles of beaches, all dazzling. These are the real white sand beaches, and they come with some of the Pacific’s most magical waters, a true array of beauty and secret places. These beaches are one of the reasons visitors don’t want to leave Kauai, and it will take you about a quarter of a second to figure out why. Swim, snorkel, scuba, gossip with the dolphins, and have a ball.
Important: These are real surf beaches, sometimes with monster waves. Kauai tries hard to make sure its guests stay safe, and these giants are definitely better appreciated from a safe distance.
3. Kauai culture
If you’re not familiar with the various different types of Polynesian culture, this culture goes a long way beyond the tourist image. A very rough parallel would be Native American culture, with a huge range of oral traditions and tales Aesop would have appreciated. Look and learn, because this is very much a living culture, with a lot to give.
4. Kauai food
One of the great joys of Kauai is the food. No amount of description really expresses the quality of this food. This is real tropical food, it’s healthy, it’s natural, and it’s delicious. The combination of luxury, beauty and fabulous food may make you want to stay for an extra decade or so, but that’s normal.
5. Kauai shopping
Equally addictive as the island itself, the shopping is a good mix of fun and fascination. They do things well on Kauai, and the shopping is no exception. If you actually need a Wal-Mart, they’ve got one, but the shopping on Kauai is also regional, and you’ll instantly see the difference between real Hawaiian and the imitations. It’s no contest. From eco-shoes to mind-blowing glassware, the best is on offer.