Experience the best of Kauaʻi

Discover

Kaua̒ iEASY-TO-USE MAPS

HIGHLIGHTS

SUSTAINABLE TRAVEL

ITINERARIES

I SBN 978 -1 -74220 -467 -3

9 781742 204673

99125

1ST EDITIONPublished Sep 2012

USA $21.99UK £15.99

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p31Lihu‘e

p59Kapa‘a & the Eastside

p99 Hanalei & the North Shore

p151Po‘ipu & the South Shore

p185 Waimea Canyon & the Westside

Our promiseYou can trust our travel information because Lonely Planet authors visit the places we write about, each and every edition. We never accept freebies for positive coverage so you can rely on us to tell it like it is.

Experience the best of KauaʻiThis full-color guide reveals the island’s beaches, sights and off-the-beaten-track adventures so you can discover the real Kaua‘i. Realize your dream vacation with insider insights, honest reviews and simple planning tools.

tips and resourcesSUSTAINABLE TRAVEL

ITINERARIESmake planning your ultimate vacation simple

reveal the must-see attractions and unbeatable experiences

HIGHLIGHTS

make getting around the island a breeze

EASY-TO-USE MAPS

Kaua‘i

Discover

EASY-TO-USEMAPS

discover-kauai-1-cover.indd 1 8/06/2012 3:16:46 PM

Discover ContentsI

This edition written and researched by

Paul StilesE Clark Carroll

Kauaʻir Beaches

1 Sights

4 Sleeping

5 Eating

6 Drinking

8 Information

The Best…Lists for everything from beaches to wildlife – to make sure you don’t miss out

Throughout this book, we use these icons to highlight special recommendations:

These icons help you quickly identify reviews in the text and on the maps:

Local experts reveal their top picks and secret highlights

DetourSpecial places a little off the beaten track

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Contents

This Is Kauaʻi ..................4

Kauaʻi Map ......................6

Kauaʻi's Top 15 Experiences ........8

Kauaʻi's Top Itineraries ............. 20

Get Inspired ..................25

KauaʻiMonth by Month ..........26

Need to Know ...............28

Lihu‘e 31Itineraries ......................32

Highlights ......................33

Lihuʻe’s Hidden Beaches .............39

Kapaʻa & the Eastside 59Itineraries ..................... 60

Highlights ...................... 61

Wailua ........................... 62

Blue Hole .......................78

Waipouli .........................78

Kapaʻa ........................... 82

Kealia Beach .................93

Anahola ........................ 94

Koʻolau Road ................ 96

Donkey Beach ...............97

Hanalei & the North Shore 99Itineraries ................... 100

Highlights .................... 101

Kilauea .........................102

Kalihiwai Valley ........... 110

‘Anini ............................ 110

Princeville ..................... 111

Hanalei ........................ 121

Hanalei National Wildlife Refuge ............ 127

Beyond Hanalei .......... 137

Haʻena..........................140

Haʻena State Park ......144

Na Pali Coast State Park ...................145

Honopu Beaches ........148

Poʻipu & theSouth Shore 151Itineraries ....................152

Highlights ....................153

Koloa ............................154

Poʻipu ...........................160

Makauwahi Sinkhole .......................164

National Tropical Botanical Garden ........ 167

Kalaheo .......................180

On the RoadPlan Your Trip

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Directory .................... 286

Transport ....................294

Behind the Scenes.... 299

Index ............................300

How to Use This Book .................... 311

Our Writers ..................312

Waimea Canyon & the Westside 185Itineraries ....................186

Highlights .................... 187

ʻEleʻele & Port Allen Harbor .........................188

Nuʻalolo Kai .................189

Hanapepe .................... 191

Waimea .......................200

Kekaha ........................ 209

Barking Sands ............ 211

Polihale State Park .... 211

Waimea Canyon State Park ...................212

Kokeʻe State Park .......216

Niʻihau .........................224

Kauaʻi Today .............. 228

History ........................ 230

People of Kauaʻi ........ 239

Food & Drink ..............244

Hawaiian Arts & Crafts .......................... 252

Family Travel .............. 256

Green Kauaʻi .............. 259

Outdoor Activities & Adventures ................. 269

Survival GuideIn Focus

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p31Lihu‘e

p59Kapa‘a & the Eastside

p99 Hanalei & the North Shore

p151Po‘ipu & the South Shore

p185 Waimea Canyon & the Westside

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This Is Kauaʻi

The values of the

ancient Hawaiians

are alive and well

here

Tropical paradise – if ever there was an idea with a power-ful grip on the mind, this would be it. And if ever there was a place to match, it is the Garden Island of Kauaʻi. The emerald pinnacles of the Na Pali Coast, the painted walls of Waimea Canyon, the misty mountains of Hanalei and the sunny beaches of Poʻipu radiate outward from the an-cient cone of Mt Waiʻaleʻale, all of which is surrounded by a cornucopia of flamboyant marine life. These elements forge a magical union that sets this island apart from the world and, indeed, produce the giddy feeling of having risen above it.

With an astonishing list of outdoor adventures, Kauaʻi will puncture your resort bubble. Here you can soar over tropical valleys, zip through treetops on a cable, paddle to inac-cessible beaches and float through mountain caves. Each new experience is a special, often unforgettable, way of interacting with the island.

Kauaʻi inspires more inward explora-tions, too. The values of the ancient Hawaiians are alive and well here, rooted in mountains, waves, clouds and a holistic understanding of the natural world. You will encounter this in simple ways, such as when someone gives you directions mauka (toward the mountains) or makai (toward the sea). On a deeper level, this traditional culture is built on moderation, balance, fairness and unity, producing a gentle pace of life, strong families and legen-dary hospitality.

You can’t help admiring the way that Kauaʻi has preserved itself in the face of the 20th century. Here, no town surpasses 10,000 people. By law, no building is taller than a coconut tree, and it is impossible to circumnavigate the coast by car. When a multimillion-dollar ferry arrived to begin serv-ice to neighboring islands, Kaua‘i residents, concerned over environmental and other issues, blocked its path. It never returned. Visitors do.

Hanakapiʻai Falls (p146)MARK PARKES/LONELY PLANET IMAGES ©

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