United States / Hawaii / Kauai

"Thank the Rainbows"

Get used to rainbows on Kauai. The "Garden Island" of Hawaii is also the "Rainbow Island." The rain does all sorts of wonderful things here. The south end is drier. Sunnier. And has the most tourism. See the plantation town of Old Koloa. Still charming, though touristy. And Poipu beach. A popular winter swimming beach. But our favorite southern spot was the more interesting and more secluded Mahaulpu Beach, with sand dunes, coves & cliffs.

But it's up north, around Hanalei, that gets our vote for the best of Kauai. It's unbelievably green & lush. The terrain is interesting. Dreamlike, with waterfalls & misty clouds, from the sudden rains that come & go. Because of the appealing surroundings, it's been "home" to lots of movie plots, including South Pacific, Jurassic Park & even King Kong.



Beyond town, all is rural, heading toward the spectacular Na Pali Coast. Hike a little or a lot, above the spectacular cliffs. And wander the beach at Hanalei Beach Park, where you can perch yourself on the huge roots of an old ironwood tree to take in view. We gained a greater respect for the ocean as we sat there, watching winter's dangerous, but glorious, pounding surf.

Summer time is as busy as it gets up north, when lots of Californians vacation around the Hanalei area. The weather is at its best then. Or at least its most predictable. An ideal family place, northern Kauai mimics a California lifestyle, but more laid back. You'll find real estate prices to be very high, appealing to second home buyers. But even so, you can thank the rainbows, a direct result of all that rain, for still keeping Kauai what it isn't...On everyone's Hawaiian itinerary!

Winter days can be complete wash-outs. But you can expect brief showers or downpours any time, even in the summer. The reward is lush surroundings and those rainbows. Don't let the rain deter you. Our December visit had plenty of sunshine, between the raindrops. It's all part of the Kauai experience.
Northern Kauai is especially suited for getting outdoors.

Everyone hikes around here. And for golf enthusiasts, courses like the one in Princeville, is reason enough to visit. Hanalei town is picture perfect. The shopping area is perhaps a bit too contrived. But the town is so small, that it still has character. Kauai's counter culture (loosely speaking) lives in this area. Nature lovers, who have a great interest in keeping the island low-key & simple.