As the wheels of my car pound the wooden planks of the one-way bridge into Hanalei Valley, all signs of modernity seem to fall away. No crowds, no traffic lights, no foreign noise. Just a carpet of shock-green kalo (taro) and the Hanalei River, wide and placid, gently gliding toward the sea. Traveling down the […]
It was 6:30 a.m. when we started our hike to Hanakapiai Falls, a roughly 300-foot tall waterfall nestled in the back of Hanakapiai Valley on Kauai’s north shore. We were the only ones out hiking. In fact, save for the vocal birds above, we had the entire beach and valley to ourselves. While this hike
ʻMy four-wheel-drive Jeep is rattling hard as I drive the rental on the dry, dusty and very bumpy road that makes up the roughly 5-mile trek to Polihale Beach State Park off Route 50. I’m headed to the end of the road on the westernmost point of Kauai to camp at the foot of where
One of Hawaii’s most beautiful scenic byways is a 19-mile stretch of road on Kauai’s warm and sunny south shore. It is a gateway to adventure and an interactive storybook of the people and places that define the tiny town of Koloa. Holo Holo Koloa Scenic Byway highlights two dozen points of archeological, historical and
Mark Twain dubbed it The Grand Canyon of the Pacific. Measuring 10 miles wide and 2,000 feet deep, Kauai’s Waimea Canyon may be a miniature version of her Arizona sister, but with waterfalls and hues of green, she’s arguably prettier. Only one hiking trail takes you down to the bottom, where a gently flowing river
Year-round, even when the winter surf is up, Hanalei River remains gentle and placid for those who want to safely explore Kauai’s waterways. The palm tree-lined river forms on the slopes of Mount Waialeale—one the wettest spots on earth—and edges up against Hanalei town, where there are numerous surf shops with stand-up paddleboards (SUP) available
One of Kauai’s most breathtaking beaches is one you can’t see from the highway. The rewards for those who venture to it, though, are well worth the effort: No resorts, no crowds—just serenity and picturesque seascapes. Kauapea Beach, also known as Secret Beach or Secrets, is a large yet secluded North Shore hideaway with deep,
There I stood, hugging a rudraksha tree. Hugging it like it was one of my parents. And I wasn’t the only one. Several visitors from the mainland U.S. and a local horticulturalist were doing the same—all of us, for the moment, literal tree-huggers. A few hours at Kauai Aadheenam, tucked amid the breathtaking verdure straddling
When I found out there was a guided day hike of the majestic natural wonder that is the Napali Coast, I was off to Kauai as soon as I could book a flight. Before I continue, some clarification is in order. I’m fairly certain there’s still no humanly means of hiking the 22 miles of
Ryan Wooton has a big family: his parents, Bob and Louisa; his wife, Sarah; his brother, Troy; and 80 goats, each of which has a name (Oprah, Precious and Charlotte, to mention a few). The Wootons own and operate Kauai Kunana Dairy, the only dairy on the island. They all pitch in to make goat
It’s about five minutes past 9 a.m. and I think I’m late. I imagine a shirtless and tanned tour guide from Outfitters Kauai waiting impatiently for me at Nawiliwili Harbor, the starting point of my day of stand-up paddle boarding along Huleia River. Darting toward the harbor, which is nestled against Lihue on the island’s
