How many wonders there could be on the small island? From the hanging cliffs on the Na Pali coast to the unimaginable canyons of Waimea, Kauai charms you as nothing else. Just imagine deep canyons, waterfall cascades, beaches, bays, cliffs, corals…And all this on the small island, which can be crossed in one hour but ten days was not enough to explore it completely…

Let us start with taro fields in the Hanalei Valley. Taro is a Hawaiian potato, it is considered the oldest garnish in history. It is made into a paste called poi, and is served with a variety of sauces to spice it up.

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Wailua waterfall. Wailua river, means "Two rivers", starts near the waterfall of the same name. Ancient times, Ali’i, local chiefs, were jumping from the rock between the streams, to prove their manlishness.

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Aloha from the Po’ipu beach, one of the best beaches on the south shore. When it is raining on the north shore, you can safely drive south and enjoy the sun, golden sand and a little bay, sheltered from the ocean by the coral reef.

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When you are finally tired of the beaches, coctails and other trappings of civilization, take the ancient Kalalau trail, at least a couple of mails. The trail is quite steep in the beginning, then goes down and up again, crest by crest, valley by valley. Small waterfalls cross the trail. The impassible jungles open up to magnificient heart-stopping views…

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There are only two ways to make it to Na Pali coast - by the boat or by helicopter. Real adventurers can try to take the trails following the mountain crests, which are quite dangerous… The place is incredible - solitary beaches, surrounded by impassible cliffs, which look more like vertical jungles. Waterfalls and streams are everywhere…

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Kalalau Valley view from Canyon Waimea Park, Kauai. Long and hard 11 miles of the Kalalau trail guard the pristine beauty of this place. This could not stop the filmmakers though. "King Kong" was shot here, as well as "Jurassic Park", "6 days and 7 nights".

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Na Pali Coast, a view from Polihale Beach. This is the last beach on the road around the island, the westernmost point of it. The road ends here and there are uninhabited Na Pali cliffs from here on. The place is wild and empty, with endless sand dunes and huge waves slamming the beach…

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Wai’ale’ale Crater - the wettest place on Earth, surrounded by myths and the ancient gods are still around in those hills and have a lot of followers…

Us, living on the continent, almost forgot our ancestors completely. Here, on Kauai, it is not the case, the stories are still spoken, the elders keep teaching, and young generation - listen and learn. The ring is not yet broken…This is Kauai, the special island…

Red-Tailed Tropicbird, Kauai

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 October, 2008