Getting to Know Kauai

So you’ve picked which Hawaiian Island you’re going to visit on your next vacation, and this time you’ve picked Kauai. Many of the lush images of Hawaii that we hold in our minds can be found on Kauai, so figuring out where to stay and what to do on your trip will be easy, right?

Indeed it is hard to go wrong, but there’s a lot of vacation punch on this geographically diverse and laid back little island. Knowing something about the terrain ahead of time will help make your planning decisions easier.

Where to Stay on Kauai and a Little Geography

As with all the Islands there is the question of “which side of the island is the best to stay on?” South Shore accommodations are concentrated in and around Poipu Beach. On the North Shore most accommodations are found in Hanalei Bay and Princeville. Most Hawaii holiday packages offer well priced options all around. No matter which side of the island you choose, both Kauai’s north and south shores can easily be explored during your stay.

Kauai’s diverse weather stems from its geography. Being the northernmost of the four major islands means that the island’s North shore, which includes the famed Napali Coast, experiences the state’s first impact of tropical Pacific weather systems. In the center of the island, Mount Wai’ale ‘ale is one of the rainiest places on earth, receiving an average of 452” of rain a year. The South Shore is the most arid and generally the sunniest. Even though each shore has its own distinct microclimate, weather ruining your trip is unlikely.

Kauai Is All About the Beach, So Be Ready

Kauai has some of the most golden and idyllic beaches in the world. Sandy shores lined with coconut palms and guava trees seem to be located around almost every corner. For the most part you can take your pick based on convenience, but there are two important things we suggest bearing in mind:

1. If you plan to go in the water, perhaps rent boogie boards and high quality snorkeling gear for the week and take them with you wherever you go. Why? Because at some point, even the most non-water sports types will probably be inspired to take a better look underwater from the safety of a crystal clear, protected tidal pool.

2. Please check water conditions ahead of time, and remember that how the ocean looks can be deceiving. Most beaches are not staffed by lifeguards and as with the weather, surf conditions can change frequently and rapidly. If you do find yourself on a quiet beach with calm waters, enjoy, but just be aware of exactly where any protected reefs begin and end. You do not want to find yourself on the wrong side of them.

A Few of the Major Beaches on Kauai

On the South shore, Poipu Beach is probably the most well known and with good reason. It is sunny, sandy with a large grass option for those who don’t care for the sand, and patrolled by vigilant lifeguards. With food and shave ice footsteps away, it is many people’s definition of a perfect beach. A less frequented, but no less attractive beach is located at Salt Pond Beach Park, location of the state’s only natural salt ponds. The protected swimming cove is great for families with young children and beginning snorkelers, while the waters beyond are some of the best on the island for windsurfing.

North Shore beach options are abundant and surprisingly unpopulated. At 1.6 miles long, Lumahai Beach with its crescent shaped shoreline is one of the largest and just right for a beach walk; but without reef protection it is only a swimming choice for the most advanced surfer. A little further down the road is Ke’e Beach. Located at the end of Kuhio Highway at the start of the Napali Coast, the cove-like beach is both stunning and well visited. It is also a prime example of a beach where swimming in certain spots close to shore is generally safe, but beyond the reef most definitely is not. This also marks the start of the 11 mile long Kalalau Trail, the challenging hiking trail that ascends its way up into the heights of the Napali Coast.

Boat Excursions

Boat excursion choices on Kauai vary by season. There are options year round, but here are a couple of things to remember: Boat tours of the North Shore in and around the Napali Coast only run in the summer months. South Shore based whale watching excursions only run during the winter and spring months (December until May), when the humpback whale migrates to the warm Hawaiian waters to breed and give birth. If you happen to be visiting in the fall, no problem! There are plenty of boat tours available including naturalist-led snorkeling trips and fine-dining and sunset cruising.

Add to the list of ‘only in Kauai’: Located on Kauai’s east side, the Wailua River is the only navigable river in Hawaii.

70% of Kauai is Inaccessible by Car

Packed with its extreme microclimates and landscapes, also of note is the fact that over 70% of Kauai is inaccessible by car. This is the main reason why helicopter tours are so popular here.

Unless you are visiting in the summer when a boat tour of the Napali Coast is available or you are a serious hiker, helicopter is the only way to experience the full splendor of this famous slice of coastline. If weather permits, most helicopter tours even fly down into the crater at Mount Wai’ale’ale where you may find yourself surrounded by waterfalls and multiple rainbows. But even if you don’t get to do that, don’t worry. On Kauai, odds are, no matter where you find yourself, rainbows and all kinds of beauty will become a very familiar site.

All photos public domain except “boat excursions” photo by author.

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