Each island in Hawaii is truly unique. Some may decide to visit only one island while in Hawaii, but what they don't realize is that they are making a huge mistake. Oahu - The Gathering Place; Maui - The Valley Isle; Hawaii - The Big Island; Kauai - The Garden Island. As I visit each island, I learn why each island earned their nickname. The culture and scenery differs just enough to make it feel like you are truly visiting a very different place.
The first day on Kauai we woke up at 5am for our flight out of Oahu and spent the entire day exploring the northern part of the Island. Our hotel was at a charming place right on the Ocean called Kauai Shores - An Aqua Hotel. They had a free Mai Tai happy hour with really good sushi - who can say no to that?
Kauai is the smallest of the major four islands, and since our hotel was right on the eastern coast, it made it the perfect spot to explore both the north and south in 2 days. No matter what island you decide to explore, there is really only one way of getting to one part of an island to another. So, if there is a car accident, fallen rocks or a tree it can cause a major delay. However, this makes traveling around so much easier. There are also tons of scenic overlooks, and they are almost impossible to miss from all of the cars parked along the side of the road or in always busy parking lots.
While traveling along the eastern coast of Kauai, aka the coconut coast, heading north we stopped at was called Kaiakea or Unobstructed Sea. This is a site of a traditional Hawaiian Legend "The Wind Gourd of La'amaomao." The legend tells the story of the wind goddess La'amaomao who once resided here.
This is a lovely stop and is the perfect spot for whale watching. I didn't bring binoculars but thought I saw a very large tail fin. Humpback whales travel all the way from Alaska to Hawaii during the winter months to give birth to their calves and begin to raise them.
Cyclists ride along this tranquil coast line, and is a frequent stop for locals and tourists alike.
Our next stop was Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge. This refuge is located on a narrow lava peninsula complete with a lighthouse and many different birds. These tall grassy slopes and dormant volcano provide protection to many of Hawaii's native birds. For those "Lilo & Stitch" fans, you may recognize this lighthouse from the movies.
Many of the birds that you will see here are the ‘Ā (Red-footed booby), Mōlī (Laysan albatross), ‘Ua ‘u kani (Wedge-tailed shearwater), Koa'e (red-tailed or white-tailed bird) the friendly Nene (goose) and many others. There are plaques all over the refuge that help visitors identify the birds and tell the story of these endangered creatures.
This overlook can be found along the path to the lighthouse. These verdant slopes contain birds that fly over the ocean hunting for squid and seeking great nesting spots. Even if you have no interest in birds or how some of them burrow under the ground like rabbits, you will still find the views breathtaking and worth your time.
We did not do the tour of the lighthouse, partially because we already did one this previous summer that had more than 200 steps which was much more impressive than this little one. The views from the top of it wouldn't give you much more of a vantage point than the rest of peninsula.
After the wildlife refuge, we got back in the car and headed out to the Napali Coast Wilderness Park. Along this very scenic route we drove past taro fields and lush rain forest. The Limahuli National Botanical Garden is another popular stop for those wanting to learn more about Hawaii's native plant and tree life.
Before we could get to Limahuli we went through the most arduous parking experience of my life. For a national park, parking is terrible. They have one major parking lot that is made entirely out of hardened pot-hole stricken mud. If you do not have a Jeep or a 4-wheel drive vehicle, I would not recommend even attempting to park in this lot. Find a spot on the side of the road or park at Limahuli and walk.
Along our walk to the park, I came across Aerial's grotto. Vines thick enough to climb and use as rope hung from the cliffs. The water was still, but filled with colors of blue and green, yet was clear enough to see the bottom.
I could only imagine what kind of treasure may be hiding inside. I was so tempted to take a small kayak and paddle inside to see where the tunnel led.
From here we continued onward to do an 11-mile hike! ... Except, we only went half a mile. This hike is meant for pros or experienced hikers. The trail is challenging because it has steep rocky and muddy slopes. If you want to truly experience a tropical rain forest, then this hike is for you.
Not only will you challenge yourself physically, but you will see gorgeous flowers, nature at work, vines like no-other, and view points that will leave you in awe.
The picture of the trail above doesn't quite give you a good example of how difficult the trail gets - this was the easy relaxing part. After the half mile, we were huffing, puffing, and realized that if we wanted to do more we would have had to come better prepared. Pros were using hiking boots, sticks, carrying Camelbaks, and other gear for in case of rain showers. We were silly tourists not wearing proper gear or anything. However, if you want to try something really fun and challenging - do the half mile. The trail is marked once you reach that point and you won't be disappointed.
If you decide to hike 4 miles up the coast (another 4 miles to return as well) you will get to see an epic waterfall. The entire 11-mile hike will take you 4,000 feet above sea level and provide unforgettable views. For that epic trip, you will need to buy a camping permit as it will take you 2 full days to complete the hike.
January 7, 2016
The first day on Kauai we woke up at 5am for our flight out of Oahu and spent the entire day exploring the northern part of the Island. Our hotel was at a charming place right on the Ocean called Kauai Shores - An Aqua Hotel. They had a free Mai Tai happy hour with really good sushi - who can say no to that?
Kauai is the smallest of the major four islands, and since our hotel was right on the eastern coast, it made it the perfect spot to explore both the north and south in 2 days. No matter what island you decide to explore, there is really only one way of getting to one part of an island to another. So, if there is a car accident, fallen rocks or a tree it can cause a major delay. However, this makes traveling around so much easier. There are also tons of scenic overlooks, and they are almost impossible to miss from all of the cars parked along the side of the road or in always busy parking lots.
While traveling along the eastern coast of Kauai, aka the coconut coast, heading north we stopped at was called Kaiakea or Unobstructed Sea. This is a site of a traditional Hawaiian Legend "The Wind Gourd of La'amaomao." The legend tells the story of the wind goddess La'amaomao who once resided here.
This is a lovely stop and is the perfect spot for whale watching. I didn't bring binoculars but thought I saw a very large tail fin. Humpback whales travel all the way from Alaska to Hawaii during the winter months to give birth to their calves and begin to raise them.
Cyclists ride along this tranquil coast line, and is a frequent stop for locals and tourists alike.
Our next stop was Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge. This refuge is located on a narrow lava peninsula complete with a lighthouse and many different birds. These tall grassy slopes and dormant volcano provide protection to many of Hawaii's native birds. For those "Lilo & Stitch" fans, you may recognize this lighthouse from the movies.Many of the birds that you will see here are the ‘Ā (Red-footed booby), Mōlī (Laysan albatross), ‘Ua ‘u kani (Wedge-tailed shearwater), Koa'e (red-tailed or white-tailed bird) the friendly Nene (goose) and many others. There are plaques all over the refuge that help visitors identify the birds and tell the story of these endangered creatures.
This overlook can be found along the path to the lighthouse. These verdant slopes contain birds that fly over the ocean hunting for squid and seeking great nesting spots. Even if you have no interest in birds or how some of them burrow under the ground like rabbits, you will still find the views breathtaking and worth your time.
 |
| Hawaiian Nene |
After the wildlife refuge, we got back in the car and headed out to the Napali Coast Wilderness Park. Along this very scenic route we drove past taro fields and lush rain forest. The Limahuli National Botanical Garden is another popular stop for those wanting to learn more about Hawaii's native plant and tree life.
 |
| Limahuli National Botanical Garden |
We walked from Limahuli, which turned out to be a magical experience on its own after being jostled around like a rag doll inside our rented Hyundai Accent.
Along our walk to the park, I came across Aerial's grotto. Vines thick enough to climb and use as rope hung from the cliffs. The water was still, but filled with colors of blue and green, yet was clear enough to see the bottom.
I could only imagine what kind of treasure may be hiding inside. I was so tempted to take a small kayak and paddle inside to see where the tunnel led.
From here we continued onward to do an 11-mile hike! ... Except, we only went half a mile. This hike is meant for pros or experienced hikers. The trail is challenging because it has steep rocky and muddy slopes. If you want to truly experience a tropical rain forest, then this hike is for you.Not only will you challenge yourself physically, but you will see gorgeous flowers, nature at work, vines like no-other, and view points that will leave you in awe.
 |
| Ohi'a lehua flower |
If you decide to hike 4 miles up the coast (another 4 miles to return as well) you will get to see an epic waterfall. The entire 11-mile hike will take you 4,000 feet above sea level and provide unforgettable views. For that epic trip, you will need to buy a camping permit as it will take you 2 full days to complete the hike.
January 7, 2016
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