According to Kauai County's website, Kauai is the oldest and northernmost of the main Hawaiian islands. It is 20 minutes by air from Honolulu, and is renowned for the sparkling blue water that surrounds it. The island is full of immense natural beauty with mountains of volcanic origin and waterfall-filled canyons formed through erosion caused by Kauai's heavy annual rainfall. Travelers can enjoy Kauai's beauty through a variety of healthy outdoor activities on the island.
Beach Recreation
According to Go Hawaii's website, there are 50 miles of beach surrounding Kauai. Poipu Beach in Kauai was named by The Travel Channel in 2003 as America's top beach. Snorkeling is widely practiced west of Poipu Beach's cove in the lagoon of warm water past the sandbar. The reef lagoon has clear water and a multitude of colorful reef fish to observe. Additional wildlife in the waters off the beach's shore includes humpback whales, sea turtles and seals. Swimming at Poipu Beach is usually safe, and there is a wading pool for young swimmers to play in.
Hiking
Hiking is an excellent way to check out much of Kauai's natural beauty. Numerous hiking trails exist on the island, but the most-widely known is the 11-mile Kalalau trail which runs along the Napali Coast. An entrance to the trail can be found at the end of the road at Kee Beach. The trail provides scenic views of Kauai's north coast. Additional hiking trails exist on the west side of the island at Kokee State Park. A less-difficult and family-oriented trail here is the Cliff Canyon and Black Pipe trail. The park's Awaawapuhi Trail leads to scenic lookouts.
River Kayaking and Canoeing
Three rivers run throughout the island of Kauai. The Wailua River is most suitable for kayaking, and is located near the city of Lihue on the island's east side. It is 20 miles long and features two waterfalls. The river has calm waters, making it easy to kayak. Single and multi-person kayaks for daily use can be rented at various facilities around the Wailua River with costs between $25 to $30 per person.
Biking
Kauai is easy to bike around with plenty of flat hills to ride along. A good path on the east coast is Ke Ala Hele Makalae, which means simply the path that goes along the coast. The path runs north from the Lihi boat landing to Kealea Beach. The path runs alongside many palm trees and overlooks the ocean. Local bike shops along the path offer bike rentals for hourly, daily and weekly use. Hourly fees for cruiser bikes run around $8 while daily fees are priced around $20.
Surfing
Hanalei Bay is a widely known surf spot located on Kauai's North Shore. Waves here have the potential to get very big. Around the corner from Hanlei Bay is Hideaways which often has a smaller crowd than Hanalei. According to Kauai Condos at Kuhio Shores website, best surf conditions on Kauai's North Shore are during November to April while the South Shore sees its best waves from May to October. Notable places to surf on the South Shore include Acid Drops, Centers, PKs and Pakalas.
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