Poipu is a town situated on the south of Kauai in Hawaii. There are many high-class shopping centers and hotels at the town. It is famous for the Poipu beach. Nearby, you will find many resorts. Both local and foreign visitors visit the Poipu Beach. You can watch whales swimming in the ocean from December to May. You can also observe the honu turtles in the ocean.

Occasionally, you will see monk seals sunbathing on the shore. It is estimated that there is at least 1,200 Hawaiian monk seals swimming in the water. If you see one of these endangered animals, you should stay 150 feet away from them. You must not attempt to feed the monk seals with any food. You will get to explore a variety of fishes in the ocean. The humuhumunukukuapuaa fish can also be found in the ocean. There are many amenities at the park including picnic tables, restrooms and etc. There are several lava rocks and corals. You can go snorkeling at sites where there are lifeguards. Before going snorkeling, you should check with the ocean condition. You must always wear fins when snorkeling in the water. Surf breaks can be found at many beaches such as Shipwreck Beach and Brennecke Beach.

If you want to reach Poipu, you can rent a car and drive here. If you don’t want to rent a car, you can take a taxi at the airport. The taxi fare to Poipu Beach from the Lihue Airport is about $50. When you are visiting the Poipu Beach, you can take a tour to the Koloa Heritage Trail. The Koloa Heritage Trail is about 10 miles long. There are many important tourist attractions along the Koloa Heritage Trail. You can visit the Spouting Horn nearby. If you want to visit the Spouting Horn, you can participate in the self guided tour. Daily-guided tour to Spouting Horn is available. You can visit the shops and restaurants at the Old Koloa Town. At the Old Koloa Town, there is a museum that offers historical artifacts.

About 2 miles from Poipu Beach, you will find the Mahaulepu Beach. The Poipu Beach is near to many tourism attraction spots including Kokee State Park, Opaekaa Falls and Waimea Canyon. Poipu has a warm temperature during the daytime. The temperature range in Poipu is about 70 – 80 degree Fahrenheit. At night, the temperature will be reduced to 60 degree Fahrenheit.

Kapaa is a town in the district of Puna in Kapaahupuaa County. It is situated near to Kawai Nui marsh. Kawai Nui is well known for the oopukuia mud fish. The people claim that the Makalei tree in the Kawai Nui has the ability to attract fishes. After the Makalei tree disappears, the fishes are also gone from the Kawai Nui pond.

Kapaa has a population of more than 9,000 residents. There are a large number of shops, restaurants and accommodation in Kapaa. In the Hawaiian language, Kapaa is defined as solid. The town name is derived from the coast that is lined up with coconut palm trees. The Kapaa coastline offers good view of the water of the Pacific Ocean. If you take a helicopter tour, you will notice that the region has a wedge shape. The wedge land has many mountains and greenery landscapes. The Nonou Mountain, also known as the Sleeping Giant Mountain is situated in Kapaa. From the 19^th – 20^th century, the sugar plantation industry experiences a fast growth. At that time, many pineapple fields have been launched as well. The ancient pineapple cannery can be found near to the Pono Kai condominiums. Kapaa is within a short distance from Wailua. Although it has lesser tourist attractions than Wailua, it has a great residential community.

You can take the boat ride from the harbor at Kapaa and go to Oahu. There are many coconut palm trees so you will experience a rich local ambience. Outside of the Kapaa town, you will find many beaches. The beaches near to Kapaa are quiet and not crowded like other beaches on Kauai. You can come to the beach to enjoy the calm atmosphere. Most of the beaches near to Kapaa have strong currents. Because of the strong current, they are not good swimming spots. If you want to swim in the beach, you should be selective of the swimming spot so that you won’t get push by the current into the deepest part of the sea.

If you want to view the scenery, you can take a car tour on the Route 56. There are several bicycle rental shops where you can rent bicycles. You can rent the bicycle and ride on the dirt road to explore the different places in Kauai. As you cycle on the dirt road, you can view the sugar cane plantation. The sugar cane plantation can be found in between Kealia Beach and Anahola. You can explore the region on horseback.

Hanalei is located on the north shore of Kauai. It is well known for its historic sites and art galleries. While at Hanalei, you can visit the Waioli Mission House. There are many art galleries that offer exhibitions of rare artworks. Hanalei has many tall green hills. At the bottom of the mountains, you will observe many taro fields. The taro fields are flooded with water constantly so that the taro plants can grow healthily. Taro is a kind of staple food for the local people. You can have a taste of the taro staple at the luau in Kauai. Most of the taro farms are located on private properties. In Hanalei, you will find the Hanalei Pier. The Hanalei Pier was set up in 1892. It is a place where residents gather together to perform recreational activities such as fishing, swimming and performing music. Hanalei Pier became a world famous destination when an Oscar winning music performer, Hammerstein II acted in the South Pacific classic film. The South Pacific classic film features the Hanalei bay as the background.

The Russians came to Hanalei in the early 19^th century. The German agent, Georg Anton Schaffer came to Hanalei to get back the goods that are originally confiscated by the Kauai Island chief. When Schaffer arrive, he was involved with the politic of Hawaii. Kaumauli wanted help from the Russian Empire so that he can get back his kingdom from Kamehameha I. Kaumali’I offers a treaty with the Russian empire so that Tsar Alexander I has power over Kauai. As a result, several Russian forts were built in the town. The Fort Elizabeth is situated at Waimea River. There are also two Russian forts nearby to Hanalei.

Hanalei town has many types of restaurants. You will find restaurants offering all kinds of cuisines. You can buy a burger at the Bubba Burger Café. If you want to have lunch, you can stop by at restaurants such as Kalypso, Hanalei Pizza, Hanalei Dolphin, Hanalei Juice and Taro, and Bouchons. There are many interesting shops you can visit while at Hanalei Town. There are at least 19 shops in the Ching Young Village in Hanalei town. The Hanalei School is now occupied by three businesses including Hanalei Surf Company, Tropical Tantrum and a restaurant. At Hanalei, you can find a brown building with two stories. The yellowish building in the Historic Hanalei Center offers a large range of antiques.

Wailua Falls is one of the most visited waterfalls on Kauai Island. It is a different waterfall than the Wailua Falls in Maui. The waterfall has been featured in the Fantasy Island television show.

Visitors unlike other waterfalls can easily access it. The waterfall is about 170 feet tall. The tiered waterfall has three segments.  In the past, the ancient people jump off the Wailua Falls into the pool below. The warriors jump down from the waterfall because they want to prove that they are brave. During the rainy season, there will lots of water flowing down the Wailua Falls. The trail that leads to the base is a bit slippery so you must be careful. The lookout site is situated near to the Wailua Falls. You don’t have to hike to the lookout area as it is situated close to the waterfall. The top of the Wailua Fall is completely flat. The rocks on the top of the waterfall has several holes due to erosion from hundred of years of flowing water.

You can use two trails to reach the bottom of the waterfall. The first trail is located at the back of the car park. This trail is dangerous because it is steep. Besides, the trail has a lot of mud. It is recommended that you don’t use the trail at the back of the parking lot, as it can be dangerous. The second trail is located about 0.25 further from the parking lot. It is safer to use the second trail because it is less steep. Although the second trail is longer, you can easily hike it without any problem.

You are not supposed to throw rocks into the pool beneath the waterfall. If there is a heavy rain, you should avoid visiting the waterfall because a large volume of water will pour down into the pool. The large volume of water causes the waterfall to have a third tier flow. The safest time to visit the waterfall is when it has a moderate flow.

You can access the Wailua Falls on Highway 56 if you are located in Lihue or Kapa’a. As you drive on the Highway 56, you should head to the Ma’alo Road. The Wailua Falls is located about 2.5 miles from the Ma’alo Road. The best time to visit the Wailua Falls is in the morning because plenty of sun will shine on it at that time.

Kilauea lighthouse is used to provide light for the ships coming from the east. The lighthouse is originally built in 1913. The light of the Kilauea lighthouse is turned off in 1970. Instead of using a high power light bulb, the local authority replaces it with a low power beacon. At the top of the lighthouse, there is a large lantern that provides the light to guide the ship. Nearby the lighthouse, there is a cistern and fuel oil shed. The lighthouse is visited by over 500,000 people ever year. When visiting the place, be sure to bring along a digital camera so that you can capture the scenery.

Kilauea lighthouse is located nearby to the Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge. The Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge was built in 1985 because of the transfer of the Kilauea Lighthouse to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The wildlife refuge is the breeding grown for the nene sea bird. You can visit the Kilauea Point to view all kinds of sea birds such as Laysan albatross, shearwater and etc. Besides, you can observe all kinds of marine lives such green turtles, humpback whales and etc. The frigate bird is a protected bird in the Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge.

If you want to reach the Kilauea lighthouse, you can travel on the Highway 56. When traveling on the Highway 56, you can turn into the Kilauea Road. There are lots of parking spaces nearby to the visitor center. The trail that leads to the Kilauea lighthouse is easy so there should be no problem in hiking it.

From the Kilauea Lighthouse, you can view the Crater Hill. The Crater Hill is about 568 foot tall.  The crater hill offers clear view of the scenery on the North Shore. There are many seabird nests in the Crater Hill. You can follow the guided tour organized by Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge to explore the Crater Hill. The hike to the Crater Hill will take approximately 2 hours. Each hike can only be participated by 15 people. The guided tour will leave at about 10:30 a.m.

The Moku'ae'ae Islet can be seen from the Kilauea Lighthouse as well. The islet is home to more than 20 types of sea birds. In the Hawaiian language The Moku'ae'ae Islet is great for people who want to watch the seabirds. You can also observe the Hawaiian monk seals from the Moku'ae'ae Islet.

Haena State Park is situated on the Na Pali coast. The location of the Haena State Park is near to the beach tunnels. The park covers an area of 5.5 acres. Although it is a small park, local and foreign tourists regularly visit it. Many people come to the Haena Beach to carry out camping activities.  There is a large grassy area where you can picnic. In the grassy area, you will find picnic tables, benches, trees and etc.

Haena Beach has beautiful yellow sand. The beach is clean and the water is crystal clear. If you want to swim at the Haena Beach, you must be extra careful. The reef at this beach is not protected. Besides, powerful waves usually pound against the Haena Beach. The current at Haena Beach is quite strong.

The park is situated adjacent to the Maniniholo Dry Cave. The Maniniholo Dry Cove is approximately 300 yards deep. The cove was formed as a result of powerful surf a long time ago. There is a legendary story behind the Maniniholo Dry Cave. In the legend, a fisherman called Manini-holo decided to dig a cave because he wanted to find the akua beast. The akua beast is a mystical beast that has supernatural power according to the Hawaiian legend. Manini-holo wanted to capture the akua beast because it is eating up all the fishes in the sea. Many years ago, the cave used to have a deeper depth. After the tsunami occurred, the deeper part of the cave was filled with sand. If you want to explore the Maniniholo Dry Cave, you should bring torchlight. Many young people like to go to Haena Beach.

If you want to hike the Kalalau Trail, you can set up camp in the campground at Haena Beach Park. Before camping at the Haena Beach Park, you can obtain permits from the County of Kauai. Haena Beach Park has a distance of 1 mile from the Ke’e Beach. When hiking at the Haena Beach Park, you can explore the forest. The forest is filled of almond trees and ironwood trees. During the winter, there will be fierce waves so it is best that you visit in the summer season. There are lots of rocks on the beach so you should watch out for them. Lifeguards are available to watch over the beach. There are several restrooms in the Haena Beach Park.

Kokee State Park is situated quite near to the Waimea Canyon. The distance between Waimea Canyon and Kokee State Park is about 16 miles. The park covers an area of 4,345 acres of rainforest. The park offers a large range of native plants. Some of the native plants you can find at the park include mokihana berry, ohia lehua and etc. You will be able to find imported plants at the park such as California redwood. The eucalyptus plant from Australia can also be found at the park. Besides, you can encounter with various wild animals such as pigs, deer, moa and etc when hiking at the park.

At the Kokee State Park, there is a place called Kokee Lodge. Nearby to the Kokee Lodge, you can find the Kalalau Lookout. The Kalalau Lookout is situated about 2 miles from the Kokee Lodge. If you stand at the Koalalau Lookout, you will be able to observe the beautiful scenery of the cliffs. There are a number of trails at the Kokee State Park. The Cliff Canyon Trail is a popular trail for family. The ridge top trail allows you to have a clear view of the Waimea Canyon. Most people who hike the canyon trail will only hike up to the Waipo’o Falls. Nearby the Waipo’o Falls, there is a small pool.

The Halemanu – Koke’e Trail is also a popular trail. The trailhead is located at the Koke’e Museum.  The length of the trail is about 2.4 miles. There is a loop on the trail that labeled as No Name Trail. If you follow the Halemanu – Koke’e Trail, you will climb up a 300 feet hill.

Another trail you should visit is the Waininiua Trail. The Waininiua Trail is located near to the Kumuwela Trail. Both Waininiua and Kumuwela trails will lead towards the Kumuwela Road. The two trails will lead the hikers to pass by the native forests. The length of the Waininiua Trail is about 0.5 mile long. The Kumuwela Trail is about 1 mile long. Hiking the Waininiua and Kumuwela Trails allow you to climb up to 400 feet of mountain.

You can visit the Kokee Natural History Museum to gain knowledge about the forest. The Kokee Natural History Museum can be visited in between 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. The admission into the Kokee Natural History Museum is free of charge. There is a museum shop where you can shop for books, maps and etc.

The topography of Kauai makes it suitable for cycling activity. The roads in Kauai are flat. There are very few big hills in Kauai. To encourage people to cycle in Kauai, many bicycle routes have been developed. One of the most popular biking trails in Kauai is the Ke Ala Makalae trail. This trail is located on the east of the Kauai shore. The Ke Ala Makalae trail is about 20 miles long. The trail meets the standards of the Disabilities Act. There are many facilities along the Ke Ala Makalae trail include restrooms, picnic pavilions and etc. If you want to access the trail, you should park near the Kealia Beach. After you have park near the Kealia Beach, you can head north or south.

If you are a beginner cyclist, you can follow the Spalding Monument Loop. The Spalding Monument Loop provides a clear view of the ocean. There is a bicycle rental center called Kauai Cycle at Kapaa. You can rent a bicycle from the Kauai Cycle and cycle up the trail. If you keep on cycling on the bicycle path, you will reach the summit of the bicycle loop.

Another easy biking trail for beginner is the Wailua Forest Management Road. The Wailua Forest Management Road is suitable for people who are lack of experiences in riding mountain bike. The trail starts at Route 56 in Wailua. After you have traveled on the Route 56 for some time, you must make a turn into the Kuamoo Road. Later, you have to cycle for another six miles before arriving at the Keahua Arboretum. If you want, you can continue cycling until you reach the T stop. After you see the T stop, you should follow the right trail and come to a gate. The Jurassic Park film used to be filmed here. When traveling on the trail, you should bring along a camera.

The power line trail is a biking trail for advanced bikers. The road is about 13 miles long. The first five miles of the trail will lead you to an area of 2000 feet above the sea level. In the rest of the trail, you will be exposed to different types of terrain. You have to be an experienced rider so that you won’t fall down. The trailhead of Power line Trail is located near to the Keahua Arboretum. If you plan to take a biking trip on the Power line Trail, you should check with the local bike rental shop regarding the road condition.

Lihue is one of the sites where tourists can explore many different places. Lihue has a lot of tourist destinations including Wailua Falls, Kilohana Estate, Grove Farm Homestead Museum, and Kauai Museum. Wailua Falls is an 80-foot waterfall. Visitors can easily access the waterfall by going to the Wailua State River Park. The water will flow down into the pool below in 3 segments. The waterfall became famous after it was featured in the Fantasy Island TV show. A long time ago, the natives like to dive off the waterfall to prove their braveries. If you want to visit the Wailua Falls, you should come during the early morning hours. The trail that leads to the base of the waterfall is usually steep and slippery because of the heavy rain. At the bottom of the waterfall, you have to cross a river. It is not recommended that you travel down to the base, as it is dangerous.

Kilohana Estate is a large mansion open to the public for visitation. The estate covers over 27,000 acres. At the estate, there is a restaurant called Gaylord Restaurant. Gaylord Restaurant offers a variety of seafood. The average cost of dining at the restaurant is about $45. The restaurant offers meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner. You can take a train to reach the Kilohana Estate. Visitors can visit the house for free of charge. If you want, you can take a ride in the horse drawn carriage. The cost for taking a ride in the horse carriage is about $8 per person. You can take the sugar cane tour carriage as well. Many boutique stores and galleries are found at the Kilohana Estate.

A person named George N. Wilcox established Grove Farm Homestead Museum in the 1864. In 1978, the farm was converted into a museum to let people learn more about the family. Every part of the house is in original state. The staircase in the house is made from a type of wood called Koa wood. Some of the rooms you will find at the museum include teahouse, washhouse and etc. You ca participates in tour in between 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Kauai Museum features many Hawaiian artifacts that portray the historical events in Kauai. At the back of the Kauai Museum building, you will find the office that issues the permits for hiking and camping. The admission cost into the Kauai Museum is about $5 per adult and $3 per child.

The beautiful island of Kauai has offered travelers scenic vistas, gorgeous beaches, and beautiful rainforest hiking all on a very accessible island location. Golfing, swimming, sailing, fishing, and scuba are just a few of the opportunities available when you travel to Kauai. Read on to learn more about this gem in the Pacific Ocean.

Kauai is very easy to navigate; the island is small enough to travel to all the attractions to be found while staying in one part of the island. There are three main areas of the island: Poipu, in the southern part of the island, the Royal Coconut Coast in the east, and Hanalei/Princeville on the northern part of the island. The largest concentration of resorts and hotels are in Poipu Beach. Three miles of beautiful white sand coastline play host to many international visitors every year. The southwest coast has a more rugged beach, not suitable for swimming, but great for walking and reflection. Golf is a popular pastime in Poipu, where you can find several championship golf courses. Another gorgeous sight worth seeing in southwestern Kauai is Waimea Canyon. It's similar in character to the Grand Canyon, but on a smaller scale. Forty-five miles of maintained trails allow for hiking, and some of the trails take you all the way down to the floor of the canyon.

The east side of Kauai features more affordable accommodations for those who travel on a budget. The beach at Kalapaki has gorgeous fine sand next to a protected harbor that boasts safe swimming conditions year round. For the adventurous surfers, there are several championship courses that can be explored along the wilder coastline beyond the safety of the beach. The Royal Coconut Coast offers more in the way of affordable accommodation; named for the ancient Hawaiians that resided there, the river valley nearby features gorgeous venues for kayak exploration. The beaches along this coastline can be rough, so it's recommended for strong swimmers.

The rainforested North Coast provides awe-inspiring wilderness views and remote beaches, perfect for quiet walks or snorkeling. The Na Pali has one of the greatest hiking trails in Hawaii that winds its way along steep trails through the rainforest. Helicopters and sailing charters offer sightseeing opportunities to otherwise inaccessible parts of the Na Pali coast. The Hanalei Valley provides tranquil mountain views as well as a scenic overlook that looks down into the floor of the valley. A beautiful swimming beach in Hanalei Bay is also accompanied by many opportunities for kayaking up the streams and around the bay itself.