Five million years ago, a small chain of islands began to form and sprout life. One of these islands stood out especially. Greenery covered the mountains, palm trees shot up on the beaches and colourful corals guarded the shores and created a sanctuary that would soon house one of the most diverse underwater ecosystems on the planet. Millenniums later, this life would give rise to the most beautiful and pristine locations the world has ever seen. This is the island of Kauai.
There are few places left on this earth that can boast such a landscape that this island has been blessed with.
Enormous mountains are distributed across the island, painted in a lush green, occasionally divided by towering waterfalls as tall as the Empire State Building, where immense volumes of water cascade down, eroding the rocks in the small pools below. These waterfalls are scattered all over Kauai, as the fresh water tries to find its way from the mountains to the sea. The rivers, some of the largest in Polynesia, curve around all areas of the island in their quest to reach the ocean, which is met by a plethora of golden beaches, littered with palm trees and drenched in sunlight.
Kauai is situated within the Hawaiian island chain, in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, nearly 4000km from mainland America. It’s the northernmost island in the chain, as well as the oldest, most magical and most rich in the ‘Aloha Spirit’.
The island of Kauai is the adventure traveller’s dream — the diverse geography and topography of the land allows for all sorts of adventures and voyages.
Not only do the massive mountains provide exceptional scenery and breathtaking views, they also provide some of the most spectacular hikes in the world. The most renowned coastline to hike on the island is the awe-inspiring Na Pali Coast. This 40km stretch of world-famous coastline has made appearances in Hollywood hits such as Jurassic Park and Pirates of the Caribbean, due to its mythical-like beauty and one-of-a-kind cathedral cliffs. Many of the beaches along this coastline are considered sacred to the Hawaiian population and closed off to the public due to the sheer sanctity of the area, however there are sections of the coastline that are accessible to hikers. The most revered coastal hike on the island is the Kalalau Trail, along the Na Pali coast. This demanding 34km hike follows a perilous coastal footpath that at some points, is just inches away from a 4000ft drop down to the rough seas below. These risks however, are worth taking, as after the daring trail has been braved, hikers will emerge at the famed Kalalau Beach, only accessible by hike. Some hikers claim this beach to be the most incredible sight they have ever seen.
There are many other ways to experience the mountains and backcountry that don’t require you to brave heights of 4000ft, and with much less walking too. If breathtaking views are a priority, but there isn’t enough time to scale the mountains and follow the path, you can fly through the sky along one of Kauai’s many zip lines and experience a thrilling ride amongst the jungle canopy. Kauai’s mountains and valleys are lined with zip line systems from six different companies, allowing you to see the epic views of Kauai whilst speeding along a 1,200ft zip line.
If speed is a priority but so is being land-based, then the better option would be to take the off-road ATV tour through the mountain jungle, stopping at a few hidden waterfalls along the way. Mud-ridden tracks with tight bends and steep hills run all throughout the island jungle, perfect for a speedy tour of inland Kauai on a rapid quad bike or mud-buggy.
Speed isn’t for everyone however, and those looking for a more serene experience will still have plenty to do on this diverse land. Rivers snake around every bend of the island, often leading to, or coming from one of the island’s unique waterfalls. One of the greatest rivers for this is the Wailua River, which can be navigated by kayak, and after a short hike, there is a spectacular secret waterfall, which makes for a refreshing and invigorating swim.
For those who favour salt water, Kauai is encircled in a 180km coastline, with sun-drenched beaches all around. With easily accessible beaches on the north, east and south shore of the island, there is no shortage of desolate beaches that can be enjoyed in peace, without having to worry about that ever so frequent duo with a racket ball set, that seem to be on every other beach in Dubai. Each beach on Kauai has its own characteristics and no one is the same as another. Thrill seekers and watersport enthusiasts will thrive on the eastern beaches such as Kealia Beach, where there’s a plentiful supply of waves for anyone armed with anything from a body board to a paddleboard. When opting for a more relaxed and tranquil experience, northern beaches such as Lumaha’i Beach, offers that picture perfect scene of warm golden sand being hugged by the sparkling crystal clear water as it slowly advances and retreats along the shoreline. Kauai truly has some of the most stunning beaches in the world, which are often hidden or only reachable after a short hike – allowing travellers to have whole beaches to themselves.
If being above the surface of that sparkling crystal clear water isn’t enough, there are plenty of opportunities to dive down and submerse yourself in the underwater metropolis that surrounds this mystical island, either through snorkelling or with scuba equipment. Kauai has the largest reef of all the Hawaiian Islands, made up of a diverse range of colourful coral that hundreds of species of tropical fish call home, making these reefs an active and vibrant place to dive or snorkel and experience the true magnificence of the ocean, that people seldom see. Larger marine species also frequent the area, which range from sea turtles and octopi, to eagle rays and tiger sharks – making these underwater habitats all the more exciting.
It’s difficult to define the word “paradise”, because we all have different pictures in our mind when we hear the term. But Kauai can be seen as the universal image of paradise, that’s why Hollywood turns to this little slice of heaven for their movies. The waterfall that Johnny Depp leaps off in Pirates of the Caribbean, the enormous open valleys that the dinosaurs stampede across in Jurassic Park and even the jungle scenes from Avatar, along with many other famous scenes, have been filmed on Kauai. Why? Because Kauai is the picture that forms in all of our heads when someone utters that enchanting word – paradise. It’s the reason why a multitude of celebrities have summer homes on the island and it’s the reason why huge numbers of adventure seekers flock to this Pacific archipelago every year. Kauai has absolutely everything to offer, making the island capable of satisfying the needs of everyone, from a relaxed traveller in search of the perfect beach, to a seasoned adventurer seeking the next big thrill. Unlike a lot of other preferred holiday destinations, Kauai has maintained its natural foundations and has avoided being tainted by the usual toxins that invade most tropical paradises, ruining the natural beauty of the area. There are nearly no buildings taller than a coconut palm tree, no heavy traffic expelling heavy pollutants and certainly no large crowds being transported around in huge tour buses. Kauai is what the earth used to be – the jungle is abundant, the mountains are rugged and the ocean is vibrant. Kauai is the last great paradise.
Words By: Jake Lyle
