Kauai – The Garden Island
Most people who plan a trip to [tag]Hawaii[/tag] focus on the better known islands. [tag]Oahu[/tag] is known as ‘[tag]the gathering place[/tag]‘, because it has the capital, the most population, about 3/4’s of the population live here. [tag]Maui[/tag] is also a very popular destination, with its white sands, beauty and surfing. The [tag]Big Island[/tag] is the adventure lovers paradise for those who love outdoor adventures. However, Kauai, the fourth largest island, can be the perfect place for your vacation, and is often considered Hawaii’s secret island.
Kauai is a place with green rolling hills and mountains on all sides, surrounded by the clear, blue sea. [tag]Kauai[/tag] is known as the Garden Island because it is the wettest and the greenest of all the Hawaiian Islands. Hundreds of waterfalls can create serentity conducive to peace and harmony. While Kauai may appear small, it has an abundance of tiny sights to see and activities to do and unique landscapes that can hold your interest for hours at a time. The north shore of Kauai features the Na Pali Kauai coast, perhaps most famous for being the place where South Pacific was filmed. In the center of this is Hanalei Bay, that takes the waterflow from almost 30 square miles of hills. After a rain a lot of waterfalls can be seen from the town of Hanalei, these vary from day to day depending on rainfall in the mountains.
The south shore of Kauai has the breathtaking National Tropical Garden, established by Congress to make a permanent preserve for Hawaii’s natural beauty. Spouting Horn is a natural lava formation, also on the shore of south Kauai. All of these areas are surrounded by amazing beaches and beautiful waterfalls.
West Kauai is the place to go if you want to learn about Kauai’s culture and history. The Captain Cook Monument can be found here, and is placed at the sight where [tag]Captain James Cook[/tag] became the first British explorer to set foot on Hawaii, in 1778. The Polihale Heiau shrine is said to be the place where Kauai’s dead souls go, and it is also in western Kauai. Eastern Kauai is also known as the [tag]Coconut Coast[/tag] – definitely a unique place for any interested tourist to visit. The beaches on eastern Kauai are a favorite for anyone interested in surfing, or other water sports involving high adventure.
Just like on the other islands, Kauai has a variety of resorts that will give you the very best as far as hospitality and service. Kauai has the same spectrum of lodging options as the other islands, and also has a variety of rates to fit the budget of just about every traveler. The northern shore is where most of the rental homes are found, where you can stay right on the shore. The rental units are furnished and contain all of the appliances and amenities of home, and are located near all of the shops and grocery stores that you will need. Kauai is definitely one of the best of Hawaii’s secrets!