The Island of Kauai (the Garden Island) is the oldest and most northerly of the Hawaiian Islands. Rivers and streams wind and bend through magnificent jungles. This tropical paradise is blessed with wide sand beaches and waterfall etched mountains.
It's 553 square miles (1,432 square kilometers) are highlighted by some of the state's most enchanting scenery including the Waimea Canyon. The majestic Waimea Canyon, labeled the "Grand Canyon of the Pacific" by Mark Twain, rises more than 5,000 feet (1,524 meters) though the central mountains.
Most evening entertainment is centered on restaurant bars and hotel lounges, alhough many tourists prefer an evening cruise or luau.
Kaua'i is the only Island where Mokihana berries grow. It was here that the legendary race of little people, the Menehune, flourished. The first successful sugar plantation was established on this Island in 1835.
Mount Waialeale (why-ollie-ollie) stands at the center of the nearly round island. This extinct volcano is considered the wettest spot on Earth, with almost 500 inches (1,270 centimeters) of rainfall each year. This precipitation is surprisingly concentrated. A few miles west, an arid region receives a mere 6 inches (15 centimeters) of rain annually.
Hiking, camping, sportfishing and scuba diving are excellent on the island. Kayak on the same river that Indiana Jones escaped, or windsurf beside playful spinner dolphins. Enjoy a whale watching expedition, or explore exquisite waterfalls on a scenic helicopter tour, or from a zodiac craft. Horseback riding offers breathtaking vistas from the mountains to the beaches.