Kauai Vacation

Pacific Perfection: The Great Kauai Beaches

If you’re looking for serenity, excitement or adventure, Kauai beaches are the perfect places to be. Almost half of the island’s coastline is made of both open and commercial beaches featuring an array of beautiful plants and animals on land, air and water. Some of these sites have unique characteristics which are why it is important to be on the lookout constantly and understand some navigation and safety tips.

Finding the Best Beach

The oldest and northernmost island of Hawaii measures around 552 square miles on an almost perfect circle form. It is about 33 miles wide and 25 miles long at its furthest points and only 3% of the land is residentially and commercially used. People generally reside along the coastal points leaving the interior part pristine and conserved. Expect temperature to be around 70 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit although these tend to rise during the summer and drop during late afternoon and evening.

Cool breezes come from the northeast trade winds while the ocean temperature ranges anywhere from 68 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Rain showers are common early in the morning and at night over the mountain ranges.

Anini Beach on Anini Road in North Shore Kauai is one of the safest and most protected sites along the northern part of Kauai. Hawaii’s longest reef runs the whole length of Anini Beach. You will find luxurious Kauai vacation homes at different key points featuring captivating views of the coast and ocean.

One side of the beach only has 4 feet of water that slowly cascades to more than a 100 feet on the opposite end. You can enjoy several activities like snorkeling, windsurfing, scuba diving and swimming. There are campsites as well along shady Kamani trees complete with showers and restrooms.

Donkey Beach is located in East Kauai featuring a combination of rocks, sand and trees. Donkey Beach was named after the common practice of letting donkeys and burros haul sugar cane in nearby fields and plantations. This is a beautiful open beach where you can enjoy snorkeling, picnicking and walking. There are no lifeguards, facilities and restrooms however. Visitors should be cautious about swimming during high tide since waves breaking on ledges and drop offs are unpredictable.

Ha’ean Beach on Highway 560, Northa Kauai is another open beach and is a favorite among surfers. There is a beach and park area with picnic tables, showers and restrooms. Swimming is not recommended however because of deep drop offs.

Beach Safety Guidelines

For amateur surfers and swimmers, it is recommended to swim only at beaches featuring lifeguards and located only a few miles from the nearest health center. Always inform lifeguards and other companions before going into the water and ask for swimming tips and areas of concern. Watch out for warning signs and follow rules. Daily and seasonal changes occur which can make some beaches particularly dangerous depending on the current weather, tide or time of the year.

Waves come in sets and there can be as much as a 20-minute break in between dangerous ones. Stay away from coastal rocks and boulders since strong waves can easily thrash people. Ask how long from the shoreline the drop offs are. Accidents can happen off the water as well so be careful when treading on sand, grass and rocks. It is advised to go with a rip current instead of fighting back.

Call for help immediately and conserve energy. Ask a partner to go with you when doing water activities and if you do not have full information about a certain Kauai beach or body of water, never go out.

The Great Kauai Tour: Interesting Facts in the Pacific

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Hawaii is brimming with culture and traditions which is why millions of visitors flock to the islands from all over the world every year. A Kauai tour is one of the best experiences since you get to enjoy the tranquil scenes, beautiful people and fun-filled activities that make it a very unique place. The island has been the site of many interesting events and holds tales that most individuals only thought were myths.

Good Things to Know

Most areas of Kauai are part of Kaua’i County particularly the city of Lihu’e which is the seat at the southeast coast of the island. Lihu’e is the 2nd biggest city on the island although Kapa’a on the “Coconut Coast” which is situated about 6 miles north has 2 times more people with a population of around 10,000. Waimea at the southwest region used to be the capital of Kauai and was the first island visited by Captain James Cook in 1778. The town of Waimea is found at the mouth of Waimea River which formed Waimea Canyon or “The Grand Canyon of the Pacific” which measures 3,000 feet deep.

Although Hawaii is abundant in both animal and plant species, there is a unique presence of feral chickens in Kauai. Experts speculate that indirect changes in the ecosystem particularly in wild roosters and hens occurred due to Hurricane Iniki in 1992.

A chicken farm was said to be destroyed or sugarcane plantation laborers brought and raised so many chickens resulting to free-roaming chickens today. In the evening, you may notice wild roosters crowing. Huge numbers of Kauai chickens however, are dying most probably because of bacterial infection from overpopulation.

Kauai tours continue to be popular since more than 70 Hollywood movies and television shows have been shot in the island. Included in the list are the musical South Pacific, Jurassic Park which was filmed at Waimea Canyon in 1993, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Six Days Seven Nights, the King Kong remake, Donovan’s Reef in 1963, Blue Hawaii, Disney’s Lilo & Stitch and South Pacific wherein some scenes were filmed in Hanalei. You can also find the U.S. Navy’s Pacific Missile Range Facility or “Barking Sands” on the western shore of Kauai.

Kauai used to have the distinct dialect of the Hawaiian language although it became extinct and was replaced with standard language based on the dialect of Hawai’i island. Still, Kauai dialect usually pronounces “k” as “t” just like old pan-Polynesia. Today, some places are still referred to in “t” such as Tapa’a for Kapa’a and Tauai’i for Kaua’i. Majority of Hawaiians know how to speak English.

More Culture and Experiences

Aside from its melodic language, Kauai features the best of Hawaiian music using a variety of instruments like the ukulele and slack-key guitar. The hula is a very famous dance used as a means of worship, storytelling through chants or “mele” and entertainment. Hula is actually for both men and women including children featuring the popular grass skirts. The most prestigious hula school used to be located in Kauai. Modern music is also starting to evolve such as Hawaiian reggae and hip hop.

Millions of people look forward to a Kauai tour with the lei which are colorful fragrant garlands made of ilima, carnation and plumeria. Anise-scented mokihana lei which are made of Kauai berries are also placed around the neck of visitors occasionally.

Hula dancers used to place lei made of green maile leaves at the altars of Laka, the hula goddess.