Kauai is a small island west of Oahu, and what it lacks in size it makes
up for in beauty. It is known as the Garden Isle, for it is covered with
flowers and vegetation, the pleasant byproduct of a more generous supply
of rainfall than received by the other islands. In fact, the summit of
Mount Waialeale is one of the wettest places on the earth, receiving an
average of 444 inches of rainfall annually. If you are lucky enough for
your cruise ship to dock here, you will be swept away by the magnificent
scenery, including towering cliffs and jagged peaks, lush green valleys
and abundant rain forests, beautiful sandy beaches and swaying palm
trees. Kauai has such an exotic beauty that several movies have been
filmed here, including “Raiders of the Lost Ark”, “King Kong”, “South
Pacific” and the “Jurassic Park” series. Waimea Canyon, nicknamed the
“Grand Canyon of the Pacific” by Mark Twain, is located here, too, and
it is almost 3000 feet deep with beautiful red earth cliffs.
Ships dock at Nawiliwili Harbor, which isn’t known for much except its
fun name. A local law mandates that no building may be constructed
taller than the height of a coconut tree, so you won’t find glitzy
hotels or large shopping centers here. Less than one mile from the pier,
you will find some of the best shopping on the island – especially of
pearl jewelry – at Anchor Cove Shopping Mall. Just behind the shopping
mall is a spectacular beach called Kalapaki Beach, which is supervised
by lifeguards and is safe for swimming. Further south you will come to
Poipu Beach, which is worth the 15 mile ride for its crystal clear
water, pure white sand, and lava rocks. Kauai’s most famous beach is at
Hanalei, where you can catch surfers riding the waves. There are several
shore excursions which bring you closer to the unbelievable beauty of
this island, including river tubing, hiking and kayaking. You can even
sign up for a zipline adventure, soaring high above the spectacular
scenery on a high wire zipline.
If your taste runs more to history than scenery, visit Old Koloa Town,
located about an hour’s drive from the port. This town has been
preserved from the days when waves of immigrants came here to work on
the sugar plantations, with its original buildings now converted into
shops and restaurants. In the center of town is a small history center,
and individual buildings are labeled with plaques detailing their
original functions and unique histories.
