The Island of KAUAI

Northernmost, first populated and geographically oldest Kauai is the fourth largest of the Hawaiian Islands. It was built by a massive volcano, of which Mt. Wai’ale’ale, at 5,148 feet (1,569m), is the eastern rim.
The island has 90 miles (145km) of coastline and is remarkable for it’s spectacular and widely varied landscape, from desert like Waimea Canyon, ‘The Grand Canyon of the Pacific’, to the velvety green Napali Coast, with cliffs rising 2,700 feet.

The first settlers came to Kauai around 200 A.D., about 500 years before the rest of the Islands were settled. The Islanders enjoyed a balanced environment and followed the social codes of the day, sometimes rigid, sometimes quite liberal. Through a succession of kings, the island prospered.
Captain James Cook landed on Kauai first, coming ashore at Waimea in 1778, forever changing the status of this isolated group of islands. Kauai is distinguished as being the only island that resisted takeover attempts by King Kamehameha during his quest to unify the islands under one rule.
King Kaumualii on Kauai finally conceded that upon his death, the island would fall under Kamehameha’s rule. The island remained an independent kingdom until 1810.

Top rated Attractions

• Waimea Canyon State Park
• Kokee State Park
• National Tropical Botanical Gardens
• Napali Coast State Park
• Spouting Horn
• Kilauea Horn Point National Wildlife Refuge
• Po’ipu Beach
• Hanapepe Town

Intersting Facts

• Kauai has more miles of beach per coastline than any other island.
• Kauai has more hiking trails than any other island.
• Today, no building is permitted to be built over 4 stories,which is roughly the height of a palm tree.
• Kauai is home to four of the top ranked 12 golf courses in the state.
• Kauai has the only navigable rivers in the state.