Kauai is blessed with an astounding array of unspoiled natural scenic spots. These include white sandy beaches with crystal clear waters, lush rainforested mountains and valleys, stunning rugged coastlines and dramatic seascapes. Kauai also has interesting historic sites, as well as some interesting flora and fauna. There are places to suit all walks of travelers. Easily accessible historic sites are loved by families, while the difficult to access inner part of the island is a favorite of the more adventurous. There are isolated but idyllic beaches just perfect for romantic couples searching for a private getaway. The small size of Kauai means that most of the island's attractions can be seen over a few days, though longer will be needed to truly appreciate all that Kauai has to offer!
Hanapepe on the south shore has a quaint downtown filled with artists' galleries and craft shops. There is also a swinging footbridge over the Hanapepe River. Be sure to check out the Banana Patch Studio for wonderful hand painted tiles and other locally made items.
Kilauea is a small village that most people pass on the way to the Kilauea Lighthouse. The Kong Lung Center offers a few unique stores and restaurants. There is also a large fruit stand, Banana Joe's, located north of Kilauea on the mountain side of the highway.
Old Koloa town is on route 520 on the way to Poipu. The small, rustic town has a grocery store, ice cream parlor, and some souvenir shops. There's also a small museum about the lives of the Japanese immigrants who worked on Kauai's sugar plantations. In the field across from the grocery store there's a monument to them as well.
The Huleia National Wildlife Refuge offers stunning scenery and a great place to photograph native birds and animals.
The elegant and pristine Wailua Falls looks like a double waterfall from the viewing area but is actually a triple waterfall, once the site of thrilling cliff diving. It's a short drive from Lihue on a deadend road.
Hanalei Valley and Bay has two separate scenic overlooks. The valley overlook showcases taro fields in various stages of production. The bay overlook features the scenic bay framed by the northern edge of the Napali Coast mountains known in movies as Bali Hai. Both overlooks are between Princeville and the one-lane Hanalei Bridge.
Kilauea Point Lighthouse. Kilauea Point Lighthouse and Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge, on Kilauea Road off Kuhio Highway (route 56) near mile 23, (808) 828-1413. then follow the road to the end. The lighthouse was built in 1913 and had the largest lens of its kind; it guided ships between North America and Asia until its light was replaced by a beacon in the 1970s. Located in a national wildlife refuge which is a nesting ground for a diverse collection of seabirds, the only one of its kind in the islands. $3 for adults, free for children. National Park Service Golden Eagle Passports accepted and sold.
Waimea Canyon and Koke'e State Park. Above Waimea on state route 550. From Lihue, take state route 50 west to Waimea. From there, you can take Waimea Canyon Drive (550) or continue to Kekaha turning onto state route 552, which meets route 550 near its 6-mile mark. Both roads are winding. Most popular viewing point of the canyon is just past mile 11 on route 550. Koke'e is located about 4 miles further. (808)245-6001 for weather information in the canyon. At over 10 miles long, 1 mile wide, and 3,500 feet deep, Waimea Canyon has been called the "Grand Canyon of the Pacific." Indeed, its colors rival that of its Arizona counterpart, except that Waimea Canyon also adds touches of green that would be absent in the desert. Carved and formed over hundreds of thousands of years by runoff from Mount Waialeale at the center of the island, the canyon shows millions of years of geological history. Camping and hiking are available above the canyon at Koke'e State Park. Best time to go is on a relatively clear day, and then after mid-morning (from about 9:30 a.m. on). Otherwise, clouds and fog may obscure the view.
Information on this page has been extracted http://wikitravel.org/en/Kauai from and is based on work by rentals@aloha.net, Evan Prodromou, Shallana, David, Amy Kammerman, Todd VerBeek, Paul Matsi, Stacy Hall and Sam, Wikitravel user(s) PatelRahul and Applegettwo, Anonymous user(s) of Wikitravel and others.
