Attractions & Landmarks

Paddle the river through the rain forest, snorkel a hidden beach, or hike the path of the Hulei'a River. This Hawaiian-owned eco-tour company allows guests to participate in any of the above activities. The ultimate tour is the Helicopter-Kayak Adventure Tour; it combines all activities, starting with a helicopter ride above Na Pali and Waimea Canyon. While some tours are not appropriate for youngsters or persons with disabilities, some tours are appropriate for ages three on up to 80-something. Call for daily schedule and prices.

The three specialized sections of this company provide visitors with a complete look around the island of Kauai. Kauai Mountain Tours offers four-wheel-drive tours and hiking excursions around Palii-Kona Forest Reserve and Koke'e Park. Kauai Backroads goes where no tour company has gone before, trekking around private property and bumpy back roads. SeaFun Kauai provides tourists with the opportunity to snorkel the top spots off the Kauai coast. Take one tour or all three. The photo ops are endless.

Located on the northern shore of Kaua'i, this gorgeous beach is often nearly empty. Although many private guest homes and vacation rentals are situated outside of the designated park area, the homes are spread out enough to allow beach-goers some privacy. Other than sunning and surfing, the main activity here is windsurfing. Windsurfing schools operate onsite. Snorkeling is good in the lagoon area created by the reef, but always check conditions first. Across the street is the playing field for the Kauai Polo Club.

Kauai's eastern side is home to many natural attractions, not the least of which is this enormous lava cave wreathed in ferns. You will need to take a river tour in order to catch a glimpse of it. If you want to make a day trip out of it, take one of the more rugged kayak tours. These include a few other stops past the grotto. Speedboat tours are faster and also include entertainment and refreshments.

Kauai Sugar Plantation is the last working sugarcane plantation in the Kauai Island and among the last two remaining in the Hawaiian islands. It is located off Highway 50, just after mile marker 19 in the city of Kaumakani. A tour of the plantation is offered by Gay & Robinson Tours. Taking this tour will enable you to understand the harvesting and processing of sugarcane. There is also an on-site museum where you can check out photographs, documents, equipment and artifacts, all related to the sugar industry on the island for free. For details, check the website.

This is one of the most breathtaking (in more ways than one) of Kauai's many natural wonders. In order to reach it, one must hike approximately four miles along the Kalalau Trail, starting at Kee Beach. While this is a journey for intermediate to advanced hikers, many people attempt at least the first half of the journey. The two-mile beach along the path is lovely, as are the many lookout spots along the way. The waterfall at the end of the journey are unbelievable. Pouring from a point 300 feet above the pool, it creates a pristine natural spa. Note: Do not attempt this hike if it is raining. Do not swim at Hanakapiai Beach; it has had more fatalities than any other beach on Kauai.

A visit here fills sightseeing requirements and leaves plenty of time to relax. The pier is located in busy Black Pot Beach Park, and is nearly a century old. Agricultural exporters originally docked their vessels here, but it ceased being of any commercial importance years ago. Now it is a landmark and a hangout spot. Kids gleefully jump off the edge of the pier (a short fall, but good for a splash) while adults sunbathe, fish or talk story; pidgin for "shooting the breeze."

Kauai, thought by many to be the most gorgeous island paradise in the world, has been the scene of many, well, scenes. Movie scenes, that is. Blockbuster films such as "Jurassic Park", "Honeymoon in Vegas" and "Raiders of the Lost Ark" have been shot on Kauai, Hawaii's oldest island. The state's only movie tour operator provides high-energy, family-oriented tours of Kauai's most famous movie locations—and some lesser-known ones, as well. New in the autumn of 2002: sites from "The Time Machine" and "Lilo & Stitch".

The Koke'e Museum is a state treasure as far as nature enthusiasts are concerned. Each year it offers several education programs to teach interested people about Kauai's natural wonders. Whether you are a resident or a visitor, the springtime guided hikes can help you gain an understanding of island ecology. It's a very interactive, hands-on experience that takes place in Kokee's magnificent forest. Hikes take place most Saturdays in March, April and May. See website for complete schedule.

Soap, candles and other products are handmade at this retail outlet and factory. Many island fruits and flowers are used to create the sweet smelling, all-natural products; popular scents include coconut, mango, papaya and plumeria. Among the most popular items are the coconut soap and the hand-dipped beeswax candles. Other products include body mists, lotions and oils. The facility is intimate and comfortable, more like someone's kitchen than like a factory. Guests wander amidst the displays and watch as the craftspeople work.

Wander the re-created ruins of a pre-contact Hawaiian village. Thatched huts and shelters give modern-day tourists an idea of what it was like to live in the ancient South Pacific. A number of displays and demonstrations show how the Polynesians eked out their day-to-day existence. Observe how they prepared food, made clothing, and carved petroglyphs. There are no set hours, and if you're planning to stop by, it's best to call and make an appointment.

In California, tourists visit the wineries; in Hawaii they tour the coffee plantations. Kauai's largest coffee grower offers free tours around the estate. Visitors sip the finished product, wander among the coffee trees, and learn from the experts how coffee gets to the cup. This company is located on the Koloa Estate, a 3,400-acre estate that is known for its red dirt and pesticide-free practices.

While its primary purpose now is to serve as a resting spot for seabirds, in the first half of the 20th century, the Kiluaea Lighthouse was a beacon visible from 90 miles in any direction. It is a freestanding structure 52 feet high. It was deactivated in 1976, around the same time it made the National Register of Historic Lighthouses. The promontory on which it is located is at the state's northernmost point. It is open to the public during the daytime. Admission to the grounds is $3 per adult and free to children under 16. The price includes admission to the lighthouse. Credit cards are only accepted in the gift shop.

A number of seabirds, including shearwaters, red-footed boobies and albatross can be seen at this reserve. Indigenous plant life also thrives. While experts will probably come prepared, regular tourists will appreciate the on-loan binoculars and the refuge's volunteer staff. Sometimes whales or other inhabitants of the sea can be glimpsed in the waters below Lighthouse Point. Do not forget to stop by the old lighthouse (an attraction in its own right) before leaving.

Almost anyone can find something to do at this restored sugar plantation. The home is a perfectly recreated version of a 1930s mansion. The exquisitely manicured grounds can be toured by carriage or on foot. For people who enjoy more material diversions, the plantation offers luaus twice weekly, shopping and fine dining. A host of famous artists are represented in the art galleries on the grounds, and Gaylord's Restaurant offers fine dining morning, noon and night.

This rough-and-tumble experience is like a cross between a motorcycle ride and a back-road trek. Tours take place on a working cattle ranch that covers 3,000 acres. Participants travel through forests, fields, up inclines and down riverbeds. Along the way there are plenty of sights to see; the Menehune Fish Pond and the Haupu Mountains are two of the main ones. This is the only way to gain access to Kipu Ranch. Participants ride sturdy Honda 300cc ATVs. Plenty of rules apply; call in advance for more information or to make reservations.

A favorite place for hikers, campers and picnickers, this park is located on the western shore of Kauai. The centerpiece is Waimea Canyon. One of the best ways to see the canyon is to hike the easy Iliau Nature Loop, located between Mile Marker 8 and 9. A half-dozen other trails are available. Some of them are easy and some are arduous. The Koke'e Natural History Museum, located inside the park, is a great place to learn about the surroundings, research the trails or pick up a map.

While it is hard to say whether one of Kauais gardens outshines the others, this preserve was named the United States' "best natural botanical garden" in 1997. Located on the North Shore, the property serves as a tourist attraction, botanical research facility and outdoor classroom. Only 17 acres of the garden are open to the public. Guided or self-guided tours are available. Guided tours cost USD15 per person; self-guided tours cost USD10. Reserve your spot in advance for the guided tour. Check in at the gift shop.

Home to hundreds of native plant species, as well as exotic plants from around the world, this is a must-see for all green thumbs and nature lovers. The property is adjacent to Allerton Gardens, and guided tours include a visit to the neighbor garden as well as Queen Emma's Cottage. This garden is also the headquarters of the National Tropical Botanical Gardens. It houses an extensive research library and an enormous herbarium. Guided tours, which are offered Monday at 9:30a by reservation only, last approximately two-and-one-half hours.

The sea cliffs of Kauai's west side tower above the wild and beautiful ocean, sometimes reaching as high as 4,000 feet above sea level. They give Na Pali its name, which is Hawaiian for "The Cliffs." In addition to being considered one of the most beautiful coastlines in the world, this 17-mile stretch also offers some of the world's best hiking. Less hardy sightseers will want to tour the area by helicopter or boat. There are several companies that offer Na Pali adventures.

The National Tropical Botanical Garden aims to "enrich life through discovery, scientific research, conservation, and education by perpetuating the survival of plants, ecosystems, and cultural knowledge of tropical regions." Based in the tropical paradise of Kauai, the NTBG is currently trying to increase awareness of the dire situation of many rare tropical plants that could have many uses (including medicine, food, and even shelter). It also distinguishes itself as a "botanical ark," preserving various endangered plants in hopes of preserving them and perhaps reintroducing them to their natural habitats in the future.

This company offers a few outdoor adventures in addition to renting bikes and kayaks. "Bike Downhill" is similar to the Haleakala Downhill tours offered by many companies on Maui. The 12-mile tour traverses the Waimea Canyon. "Jungle Paddle" takes people down the island streams to waterfalls and jungle pools. According to the season, either the Kipu Kai or the Na Pali Coast tour is offered. Both tours take place in open ocean waters and are recommended for physically fit individuals.

There are four parts to the Princeville Ranch: stables, hiking and kayaking adventures, retreats, and sunset dinner and wagon rides. The ranch spans 2,500 acres of jungle, river and fields. Hikers and horseback riders can traverse the bluffs, explore the hills and relax by hidden waterfalls. Each part of the ranch handles its own affairs and has its own office hours. Activities start at USD59 and ddvance reservations are required. To see a listing of specific activities, visit the Web site or request a brochure.

This structure may not be a treat for the eye, but it has a long and colorful past. Built by Georg Anton Schaeffer in the early part of the 19th century, it was the symbol of an iffy alliance between the Russian diplomat and Kauai's King Kaumualii. Kaumalii and the formidable Kamehameha, king of the other islands, united in 1816 and sent the Russians packing. The Hawaiians then proceeded to complete construction. The fort was used as a military facility for years, and in 1966 it was added to the National Register of Historic Places.

What sort of attraction could possibly have earned a name like Sleeping Giant? A mountain that looks like one, of course. This Kauai landmark can be viewed from the eastern shore of the island. It can also be a day's hike, for anyone with an inclination to see the view from its summit. As with many natural wonders on the Hawaiian Islands, there is a legend to go along with the name of this mountain: a giant named Puni was resting, but somebody decided that they wanted to wake him up. They threw rocks that were intended to rouse Puni from his nap, but instead, lodged in his mouth and suffocated him. Now Puni will sleep forever in his spot by the Wailua River.

A subject of much myth and legend, not to mention an awesome spectacle, this natural landmark is definitely a must see, but only from a distance. While modern geologists have determined that the fierce saltwater sprays and otherworldly sounds that issue from the Horn are the result of air moving through lava tubes, the ancient Hawaiians chalked it up to an ancient dragon-and-warrior tale. Note: As with any other blowhole, it is imperative that you always keep a safe distance from the rocks and the ocean.

Unlike so many of Kauai's attractions, this one was created by a joint effort between Mother Nature and man. On Highway 520 (or Maluhia Road), you will find a mile-long stretch of eucalyptus trees bordering the road on both sides. Once upon a time, the trees formed an actual enclosure, but hurricanes have damaged the top of the tunnel. Nevertheless, it is a fragrant, beautiful passageway from Koloa to the east side of the island. The road can be driven or walked.

Any major events from high school soccer games to summertime festivals happen at this large venue in downtown Lihue. It also is the site of high school graduation ceremonies and fairs. The Kauai Farmer's Market sets up shop in the parking lot every Friday in the afternoon. This is the only venue in Kauai that can hold several thousand people. It is a public facility, and is managed by the Kauai County Parks and Recreation Department. Hours and credit card acceptance policies will vary according to event.

The backdrop of the famed Fantasy Island television show, this stunning waterfall is located directly off the road, just past the town of Lihue on the southern coast of Kaua'i. It is just a short ride down a rough road in Kapaia Valley. The falls can be viewed from the side of the road, but there is a trail for experienced hikers. It is steep and challenging, and local tour guides recommend that only the hardiest adventurers try to make the descent.

More publicity has been allotted to magnificent Waimea Canyon, located in Koke'e State Park, than perhaps any other landmark in the Hawaiian Islands. The words often attributed (mistakenly) to Mark Twain describe it best. This is the "Grand Canyon of the Pacific," a breathtaking spectacle from any angle. There are a few ways to view Waimea Canyon; several tour companies offer helicopter or airplane tours. However, many people choose to make the trip to the canyon by car. Outdoor enthusiasts may choose to camp in the park (permit required).