Kaua’i–The Garden Isle

Nearly thirty years ago, we took our first trip to Kaua’i and fell in love with the island.  Having gone there yearly since that first trip, Kapa’a has become our home away from home.

Geologically, Kaua’i is the oldest of the Hawaiian Islands.  It is the fourth largest.  It contains the wettest spot on Earth with an average of 460 inches of rain annually on the side of the volcano Mt. Waiʻaleʻale.

From 200 to 600 CE Marquesans arrived to the island. They brought taro, sweet potatoes, and sugar cane with them.  TheTahitians came next, forcing the original Marquesans out. 

It wasn’t until 1778 that Captain James Cook arrived at Waimea Bay, the first European known to have reached the Hawaiʻian islands. He named the archipelago the Sandwich Islands after his patron, the 6th Earl of Sandwich.

A great warrior, diplomat and leader, King Kamehameha I united the Hawaiian Islands into one royal kingdom in 1810 after years of conflict. Kauai and Nihau were the last to join the Kingdom. From 1820 to 1845, Lāhainā on Maui was the Capital of the Kingdom.

In 1835 the first sugar plantation opened on Kauai, and agriculture became a dominant economic force in the islands.

The overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom was a coup against Queen Lili’uokalani  that took place on January 17, 1893, on the island of Oahu. Queen Liliʻuokalani was placed under house arrest at ‘Iolani Palace in Honolulu. She died in 1917.

While imprisoned Queen Lili’uokalani wrote the following hymn:

In 1900, the Organic Act established the Territory of Hawaiʻi. and in 1959, Hawai’i, along with Kaua’i, became the 50th state of the United States of America.

The Garden Island

Kaua’i is called the Garden Isle because of its beautiful lush green mountains and valleys.  From the majestic Na Pali Coast to the breathtaking Waimea Canyon, Kauai boasts some of the world’s most spectacular natural wonders.

The royal coconut coast on the East side, where we stay, has beautiful white sand beaches backed by a mountain range with the magnificent Mt. Wai’ale’ale, the main volcano that formed Kaua’i.  The major river that flows out of Wai’ale’ale is the Wailua River that flows into the ocean at the Coconut Coast.  Water was wealth to the Native Hawai’ians, so the coconut coast was special because people there never had to fear drought.  Thus, Wailua was chosen as the first capital of Kaua’i.

Kauaʻi’s dramatic North Shore is an enchanting setting full of rugged mountains, lush taro fields, lovely beaches and spectacular sea cliffs.   It spans the coast from Kilauea to Ke’e Beach.

Enter Kauai’s South Shore through the Tree Tunnel (Maluhia Road).  Kauai’s South Shore is a paradise of incredible beaches and sun to go with them.  If it is raining where you are on the island, go to the South Shore to find sun.

Kauaʻi’s West Side feels like it’s a world away. Here, spectacular natural wonders and historic sites meet small towns with a glimpse of Kauaʻi mainly seen by locals. Hanapepe and Waimea Canyon are two places found there as is the spectatular Napali Coast.

Interestingly, there is one road around the island. It goes from Ke’e Beach in the North to Polihaki Beach in the South. There is about a stretch of 17 miles of the Napali Coast where there is no road.

Over 150 movies have been filmed on this island over that past 80 years. There is a wonderful movie site tour that I recommend. It is fun to see so many sites of movies and TV shows we all know.

“Holoholo” means to go for a walk, stroll or sail. The kaona or hidden meaning of holoholo means to follow your spirit and intuition – to free your mind and act from the awareness of Being. Whatever happens, happens; you go with the flow because it’s all part of the adventure.

Through these next posts, you can holoholo around the Garden Island.