Kauai for the Adventurous
The garden isle is full of outdoor adventures. If you are in good physical shape and enjoy hiking, there are many unforgettable experiences you must do! The first is the 8 mile round trip hike to the Hanakapi’ai Falls; yes, this is a movie picturesque setting kind of waterfall. This was my absolute favorite vacation activity. First you hike two miles and come out in a small beach in a bay. This is a pretty cute area with a few places to sit in the shade for a picnic lunch. Stop here a bit for a drink of water that you’ve packed in your backpack (take at least 2 liters per person), go for a swim, eat your packed lunch, or just rest in the shade. Then head out for the rest of the two mile hike and climb to the 300 feet waterfall. You step out of the trees and there it is. Yes, you can swim in the pool of water underneath the cascading falls! Be careful when getting into the water because the rocks are slippery. There is a deeper area that’s easier to enter on the side of the pool furthest away from the trail. Beware that the water is cold; it was a bit of a shock to my body! Once you are in and you’ve washed away the sweat from the hike, it feels wonderfully relaxing. Make sure to take pictures and enjoy the moment. Want to stop at a great place to eat after your hike? The best meal I had was at Kilauea Fish Market. I recommend the fish tacos and the Mahi Mahi which comes with two scoops of rice and a nice mixed lettuce salad. Drive a few miles away from the fish market and visit the picturesque lighthouse.
My second favorite activity was the sailing around the Napali coast and snorkeling trip. We used Captain Andy’s for this and sailed on the catamaran Northern Star. Captain Andy’s sails from Port Allen located on the south side and cruises around the west side of the island. The cost includes snorkeling gear, flippers, an open bar, and a hamburger or chicken sandwiches and sides. We were told that Captain Andy’s tours are adventurous in the mornings and relaxing in the afternoons or early evenings. The snorkeling was fun and I had a good time chasing small schools of blue fish but the coral and varieties of fish weren’t very diverse. One of the crew said locals spear fish often in the snorkeling area so the fish have learned to stay away. We saw several groups of dolphins, even one with some babies and a few large sea turtles. If you are really adventurous, you can lay down on the trampolines on the catamaran and hold onto the front to have flying, wet ride. Since you are already close, take a drive over to Spouting Horn and let your body relax while you watch nature at her finest.
Maybe my favorite beach of all time was Ha’ena beach which you will know you are there when you see the huge rock formation on the opposite side of the road that has a large cave you can venture into. When we walked down to the beach it wasn’t very crowded but not romantically private. Keep going west on the beach, cross over the large lava boulders, walk for about 15 minutes and you will find a beautiful section a romantically private beach to enjoy. This beach is also great for snorkeling if you want to rent some gear or you brought your own. If you want to bring a packed lunch, this is a great spot for a relaxing meal. Tunnels beach (Makua) is nearby and is also beautiful but parking is a challenge.
Still feel like doing some hiking? Head up Sleeping Giant with plenty of water and nice sack lunch (I suggest taking lunch meat, crackers, cheese, apples, and energy bars). On the Giant’s neck is a picnic shelter to eat at and rest your body. Then keep heading up to the chin and then the nose. You will have to do some vertical climbing but are the rewarded with a great view! After you are done hiking head over to Kalapaki Joe’s located on the edge of a strip mall. The fresh fish and fish tacos (again!) were great and if you sit inside you can watch any sporting event on one of the bar’s TV’s.
Next head up to Waimea Canyon and stop in the museum to purchase a trail map or google “Waimea Canyon Trails” to download the pdf of the trails http://www.hawaii-guide.com/kauai/hiking_trails/kokee_and_waimea_state_park_hiking_trails. The drive up to the random look out points along the road and daring enough but head out for yet another hike if your legs are still up for it. Canyon Trail is about a 5 hour round trip hike that comes out at the top of another waterfall. You will get to walk along ridges and see gorgeous sites that are only available on foot or from helicopter. Again make sure to take plenty of water and reenergizing snacks. After you drive down the canyon, stop for a well-earned shaved ice at JoJos. Make sure you get the shaved ice with ice cream in the bottom. I recommend the pinacolada and a small fed both my husband and I because it was massive!
