Exploring Kauai’s Natural Wonders
In the heart of the Pacific Ocean lies the enchanting island of Kauai, a paradise for adventure seekers and nature enthusiasts alike. With its lush landscapes, breathtaking coastlines, and diverse ecosystems, Kauai offers various outdoor activities that cater to all levels of adventurers. Flying, Hiking, Sailing, Snorkeling, and Waterfall Chasing in Kauai to view its amazing sights makes for a once-in-a-lifetime adventure for intrepid travelers. Kauai offers no shortage of natural wonders to explore on this tropical island.
Flying: Exploring the Na Pali Coast by Helicopter
Quite a few helicopter tours fly over Kauai. We chose Island Helicopters, which lands at Jurassic Falls, where you can spend time taking pictures. While there was wind and fog during the flight, the pilot skillfully maneuvered us to the best views. At the last minute of researching lenses to bring, I opted to take a wide-angle 10-22 mm. Island Helicopters restricts the size of the lens you can bring to 4″ so that it doesn’t obstruct any views. Here are some of the photos we got during the flight and at Jurassic (Manawaiopuna) Falls.
Hiking in Kauai: A Nature Lover’s Delight
Kauai is home to some of the most picturesque hiking trails in the world. Whether you’re an experienced hiker or a novice explorer, there’s a trail for everyone.
Kalalau Trail
The renowned Kalalau Trail, nestled along the Na Pali Coast, offers stunning ocean views and challenging terrain for the seasoned hiker, but it requires permits. The number and kind of permits you need depend on how far you want to hike. If you only want to hike the first two miles, you will need, at a minimum a Ha’ena State Park day use pass. But, if you want to drive to the parking area and hike from there, you’ll also need a parking pass(es). If you want to stay all day, you’ll need three parking passes, one for each time slot.
You’ll need additional permits if you want to hike farther than two miles. You will need a camping permit, whether you intend to camp or not, and you’ll need an overnight parking permit. You must obtain camping permits before parking permits. Currently, only 60 people are allowed on the Kalalau Trail at a time, and you can only acquire permits 90 days ahead of the time you want to go. If you’re going during peak times, you may not be able to get permits. Fortunately, there are lots of other hiking trail options.
Waimea Canyon Trails
For a more leisurely stroll and less of a headache regarding availability, the Waimea Canyon Trails provide panoramic vistas of the “Grand Canyon of the Pacific.” Four of the Waimea Canyon trails are the Waipoo Falls Trail, the Koaie Trail, and the Kukui Trail, and they give you great views of the Canyon. But if you had your heart set on seeing the Na Pali Coast from the Kalalau Trail and couldn’t get permits, you can try hiking the Awaawapuhi Trail or the Pihea Trail. I say, “try” for a reason.
Hiking in Kauai involves traversing slick, thick, muddy trails. Tree roots permeate the terrain. We saw people sliding down trails wearing nothing on their feet. If you attempt this, you’ll likely end up ramming your feet with roots. We took our hiking boots, but even those slipped and slid on the muck. We would recommend adding ice crampons to your hiking boots.
No matter which trail you choose, be prepared to be immersed in the island’s raw natural beauty. Here are some pics we got of the hike on the Awaawapuhi and Pihea Trails, the former being the more adventurous and the latter being very slippery at the start. You may as well resign yourself to sliding on your butt downhill. The photos below, unfortunately, don’t adequately depict the incline or decline. But the Awaawapuhi trail required ice cream from Lapperts at the end!
Awaawapuhi Trail
Pihea Trail
At least with the Pihea Trail, we got a partial view of the sea. Unfortunately, we had to get back down the hill to our sunset dinner cruise, so we couldn’t wait for the fog to clear.
And since still shots don’t adequately depict the terrain, here’s a video that better shows what you’re in for.
Sailing: Enjoying the Ride up the Na Pali Coast
Taking a cruise up the Na Pali Coast is a wonderful way to see the ground level of this beautiful area. You might even encounter dolphins, whales, rainbows, and sunsets. If you’re prone to motion sickness, definitely take your Dramamine or ginger ahead of time. It can be a bumpy ride. We took the dinner sunset cruise with Blue Dolphin Charters. They were so good, especially at making Mai Tais! We encountered the dolphins you see below as well as a whale, which I, unfortunately, caught too late. But in the photo at the bottom left, you can kind of see a fin.
Snorkeling: Delving Into Kauai’s Underwater Paradise
The waters surrounding Kauai are teeming with marine life, making it an ideal destination for snorkeling enthusiasts. Grab your mask and fins and dive into the underwater wonderland of vibrant coral reefs and tropical fish. Tunnels Beach, also known as Makua Beach, offers some of the best snorkeling on the island. Lawai Beach on the island’s south shore provides excellent snorkeling opportunities amidst a tranquil setting. When we were there, you could only go as far as Hanalei Bay on the north side of the island. The road was blocked due to a hurricane that had hit the island a year before, and the area had still not recovered from the damage. The surf was fairly rough on the north side of the island as well, so we only went snorkeling on the south side at both Lawai Beach and Poipu Beach. Here are some snaps out of the video that we got. The video we’d shot before we got a GoPro so it was not as stable as our GoPro videos.
Chasing Waterfalls: Discovering Kauai’s Cascading Gems
Kauai’s verdant landscapes are adorned with picturesque waterfalls waiting to be explored. The Wailua Falls, with its 80-foot cascade, is easily accessible and offers a mesmerizing sight for all visitors. Venture deeper into the island’s interior to discover the hidden gem of Waimea Falls. Here you can take a refreshing dip in the inviting pool beneath the falls. Don’t miss the iconic Opaekaa Falls, viewed from a scenic overlook. You can take in the beauty of this natural spectacle and others here. One of the waterfalls we took canoes to on the Wailua River and then hiked through more muck and mud to find. When we got there, I discovered I’d forgotten to grab the SD card from the laptop and return it to my camera. So we hiked all through the mud and muck carrying the camera gear for shots I had to take from my phone.
Exploring: Seeking out More of Kauai’s Wonders
Kauai is not a huge island, but it takes longer than you anticipate to get from the south to the north. Renting a car is a must. We stayed half our time near Poipu and the other half in Princeville. One of the places I had on our agenda was a lava arch. But finding it proved difficult. It turned out, all we had to do was look behind our condo! The address of the MAKAHUENA condo we stayed in is 1661 Pe’e Road, Poipu, HI 96756. The lava arch is directly behind it.
Another attraction in the south part of the island is Spouting Horn, which is pretty easy to find. One hurdle you’ll encounter is the large number of roosters that occupy the nearby land.
Coming from Lihue to Poipu, the drive takes you through a beautiful grove of eucalyptus trees, known as the Tree Tunnel. The original 500 Eucalyptus trees were a gift from Pineapple Baron Walter McBryde to the community in 1911. The trees were leftover from a large landscape project of his estate home, now the grounds of the Kukuiolono Park and Golf Course in Kalaheo. McBryde was the co-founder of McBryde Sugar Company and managed the Kauai Pineapple Company.
In the north, you can drive up to the lighthouse and wildlife refuge at Kilauea. As it is home to many seabirds, it’s a great attraction for wildlife photography. And there are some wild, beautiful beaches, boasting picturesque tidepools along the way to Princeville. Pictured below is Kauapea (Secret) Beach.
In conclusion, Kauai offers a plethora of outdoor adventures for those seeking to immerse themselves in the island’s natural beauty. Whether hiking through lush valleys, snorkeling in pristine waters, or chasing majestic waterfalls, Kauai’s diverse landscape promises a truly unforgettable experience for all who venture into this tropical paradise. So pack your bags, grab your sense of adventure, and get ready to explore the awe-inspiring wonders of Kauai.
If you’re trying to decide which island to visit in Hawaii, take a look at our stories on the other islands in the Hawaii category.