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Kauai see + do
You'll never lack for things to do in Kauai. Nicknamed "the Garden Isle," Kauai is rich in waves, waterfalls, hiking trails, and tropical rain forest (Mount Waialeale averages about 430 inches of rain annually). You'll be dead tired at night—a good thing, since nightlife is nonexistent. With 43 beaches, more per mile of coastline than any other Hawaiian island, Kauai's deluxe sandy stretches are impossible to avoid. However, always proceed with caution: Weather, wind, and ocean conditions can shift suddenly, turning a swimmable beach into one where you shouldn't even walk in the shore break. As a general rule, the north shore is calmest in June, July, and August, and the south shore is most mellow between December and March. The popular surf break Tunnels, at Makua Beach, is where 13-year-old Kauai surfer Bethany Hamilton lost her arm to a tiger shark in 2003. But not to worry—around seven million visitors come to Hawaii each year, and on average there are just three shark attacks a year and one fatality a decade. To be safe, avoid swimming at dawn and dusk or in murky water.
Kauai's Gay and Robinson Sugar Plantation is one of the last two operating mills on the islands (the other is on Maui). While this isn't a glamorous tour, it...more
Kauai is a place where filmmakers come for the scenery—Jurassic Park, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Blue Hawaii, and South Pacific were all filmed here. And...more
Since the only way to access the breathtaking Na Pali Coast is from its waters, which are choppy most of the year, the next best thing is seeing it on foot...more
Put on a miner's hat complete with headlamp, sit in an inner tube, and head down tributaries, canals, and tunnels built over 100 years ago for plantation...more
Anini Beach: Protected by the longest reef in Hawaii, this sweet spot is generally safe for swimming and snorkeling, and is one of the few places on the island...more
Kalapaki Beach: Fronting the Kauai Marriott Resort and Beach Club and Duke's Canoe Club Kauai restaurant (3610 Rice St.; 808-246-9599; www.dukeskauai.com),...more
Start off the day with a drive through Waimea Canyon, deemed "the Grand Canyon of the Pacific" by Mark Twain. The morning offers the best views of the...more
Kauai's waterfalls vary greatly in their degree of accessibility, but they're all beautiful. Helicopter tours provide the easiest viewing of the grandest...more
Inspired by the zip lines he saw in the rain forests of Costa Rica, Rick Haviland came home to Hawaii and installed his own zip line in the pastoral Kipu...more
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