Salt in the Air, Sand in My Hair - Kaua'i, Hawai'i

Hey there, welcome back! This week we’re taking a trip to the island of Kaua'i, which is also known as “The Garden Isle”. The nickname is extremely fitting for this beautiful island, which is filled with lush valleys, tropical rainforests, ragged mountains, and stunning beaches. In case you haven’t gotten the idea yet, let me just say this: Kaua’i is gorgeous. It’s also the rainiest out of all the Hawaiian islands, so breathtaking rainbows can be seen daily on Kaua’i.

One of the most amazing sites in Kaua’i is Waimea Canyon. Located on the western side of Kaua’i, it’s sometimes referred to as “The Grand Canyon of the Pacific”. You can see the canyon from several different viewing points along Waimea Canyon Drive. There are also helicopter tours available, if you’d rather see it from a bird's eye perspective.

(Waimea Canyon)

Nā Pali Coast State Park is another must-see place. You can hike the Kalalau Trail to see the coast. If you don’t want to hike, though, you can opt to take a boat ride or helicopter tour.

When I was in Kaua’i, my family and I biked along the Ke Ala Hele Makalae Beach Path in Kapa’a. We got our bikes from a nearby bike rental shop. The path itself is paved, which is nice. It’s a nice, easy ride, and there are tons of beaches and photo opportunities along the way. If you have a couple of hours to spare, I would definitely recommend walking, jogging, or biking here!

(Ke Ala Hele Makalae Beach Path)

Keālia Beach, one of the beaches along the bike path, is a great place for surfing, bodyboarding, and (occasionally) swimming.

Here are some other beaches you might want to visit:

• Hanalei Bay: Hanalei Bay is located on the north shore of Kaua’i and is a favorite among many tourists. With pristine white sand and clear sparkling water, Hanalei Bay has large waves for experienced surfers and calmer areas for SUP and swimming.
• Tunnels Beach: Tunnels Beach is also located on Kaua’i’s North Shore. It’s an excellent place to snorkel, thanks to its huge coral reef.
• Poipu Beach: Poipu Beach is located in southern Kaua’i. It’s a scenic beach with a variety of activities, from snorkeling to boogie boarding. In addition, Hawaiian monk seals can often be found napping at Poipu Beach.

Kaua’i also has some incredible waterfalls. Wailua Falls is located on the other side of the island from Waimea Canyon, and it is absolutely stunning (especially when the sun hits the water at just the right angle)! This waterfall is very easily accessible, as there’s no hiking necessary. Other great waterfalls to visit include ‘Opaekaa Falls and Uluwehi Falls.

(Wailua Falls)

Another place you might want to visit is the Daniel K. Inouye Kilauea Point Lighthouse in north Kaua’i. The Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1985, and you can see many different kinds of birds here.

(Kilauea Point Lighthouse)

Thanks so much for reading; I hope that you’ve learned some things about Hawai’i in these past weeks! See you next time :)