| Like the other Hawaiian Islands, Kauai is the top of an | | | | Lihue on the southeast coast is the county seat of |
| enormous volcanic mountain rising from the Pacific | | | | Kauai, the site of Nauwiliwili Harbor, and Lihue Airport, |
| Ocean floor. It was formed by a single volcano about | | | | departure point for sightseeing air tours. Here, the |
| 5 million years ago, and is the oldest of the large | | | | island's two main highways meet - Kuhio heading north |
| Hawaiian Islands. | | | | and Kaumualii heading south - so it's impossible to go |
| Kauai lies 33 miles northwest of Oahu across the | | | | anywhere on Kauai without passing through Lihue. The |
| rugged Kauai Channel, which helped protect the island | | | | Huleia River feeds the nearby Menehune Fishpond and |
| from invaders, including Kamehameha I, who never | | | | is flanked upstream by the Huleia National Wildlife |
| managed to conquer it. Kauai's King Kaumualii, facing | | | | Refuge. |
| continued threats of invasion, joined the Kingdom of | | | | Wailua on the east side of the island is a coastal town |
| Hawaii without bloodshed in 1810, ceding the island to | | | | at the mouth of the Wailua River, the only navigable |
| the Kingdom upon his death. | | | | river in the state. Wailua and nearby Kapaa are a |
| At the island's center is the wettest place on earth - | | | | center of activity for locals and visitors. Boat tours |
| 5,148-foot Mt. Waialeale, with an average rainfall | | | | access 80-foot Wailua Falls which feeds into the river, |
| exceeding 480 inches annually. This prolific precipitation | | | | and the Fern Grotto, a fern covered, lava rock natural |
| creates the headwaters for Hawaii's richest river | | | | amphitheater that enhances the acoustics of the live |
| system, the Waimea, Hanapepe, Wailua, and Hanalei. | | | | music, with traditional themes performed here. The |
| These rivers have created Kauai's most striking | | | | area is managed by the state of Hawaii as Wailua |
| geographic features, except for its world-renowned | | | | River State Park. |
| Na Pali Coast. | | | | Hanalei Bay on the north side of the island boasts two |
| Waimea Town, once the capital of Kauai on the | | | | miles of tranquil beach against a backdrop of glorious |
| island's southwest side, was the first place in Hawaii | | | | green mountains. In the summer, the glassy bay offers |
| visited by British explorer Captain James Cook in 1778. | | | | excellent sailing, kayaking and swimming. The bay is |
| It's located at the mouth of the Waimea River, whose | | | | also home to the famous Princeville Resort and the |
| flow helped form one of the most scenic canyons in | | | | Hanalei Curl, a breaking wave known throughout the |
| the world, the 3000-foot-deep Waimea Canyo, often | | | | surfing community. A number of tour boats use Hanalei |
| called "The Grand Canyon of the Pacific." Waimea | | | | Bay as a launch point for excursions down the Na Pali |
| Canyon State Park encompasses 1,866 acres and is a | | | | Coast. |
| popular tourist attraction offering a wilderness area | | | | The Na Pali Coast on the island's northwest side is |
| with numerous hiking trails. Here, bicycle tours are a | | | | Kauai's most famous attraction and arguably the most |
| popular activity for Kauai visitors. This canyon is | | | | spectacular, primitive coastline in the world. It extends |
| protected at higher elevations as Kokee State Park. | | | | from Ke'e Beach on the south and runs 16 miles to |
| Traveling east, counter-clockwise around the island, | | | | Polihale State Park on the north. Na Pali Coast State |
| Hanapepe at the river's mouth, is a vintage Hawaii | | | | Park encompasses 6,175 acres of land located in the |
| village with wooden sidewalks. At nearby Port Allen, | | | | center of this rugged and spectacular coastline. Its |
| the small boat harbor is a departure point for sport | | | | Kalalau Trail is a don't-miss trek for avid hikers. A |
| fishing, scuba diving and excursions up the Na Pali | | | | wonderful variety of sunset cruises, sightseeing sails, |
| Coast. | | | | and snorkeling tours are available, including one to the |
| Poipu is the sunny jewel of the south side of Kauai, a | | | | shores of Niihau. |
| vacation community of hotels, condominiums and | | | | Niihau, 17 miles west of Kauai, is the smallest of the |
| shops built along white-sand beaches. Two miles inland, | | | | inhabited Hawaiian Islands. Also known as the |
| historic Koloa Town, is a charming 19th-century | | | | "Forbidden Isle," it has long been accessible only to |
| plantation town, home of Hawaii's first successful | | | | relatives of the island's owners, the Robinson family. |
| sugar mill. | | | | |