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June 3-4, 2025 Marti Eicholz Kauai formed when the Pacific Plate passed over a “hotspot,” magma rose upward and erupted onto the ocean floor, approximately 5.8 million years in age, making Kauai the oldest Hawaiian island. Oahu, our last port of call, is second oldest at 2.2 to 3.4 million years old. Quite an age gap! Nawiliwili, on the southeastern coast of Kauai, is a working man-made port, created by dredging Nawiliwili Bay, providing a safe and convenient area for ships to dock. It is a protected harbor. As The Odyssey cruises toward the harbor, you start to notice something. No skyscrapers or condo towers. Kauai has a building code, stating no structure can be taller than a coconut palm tree. So, buildings are limited to four stories tall. The Odyssey docks at the main port of entry, the gateway to Kauai, Nawiliwili. We disembark to find Nawiliwili Beach Park within the harbor, featuring calm, clear waters, flat golden sand, shade from trees, and loads of opportunities lining the beach, offering a variety of experiences. The Nene Goose is the protected state bird. Kauai has the largest population of Nene Goose. You will notice them along with the wild chickens and roosters, roaming freely throughout the island. There is no Daylight Savings Time here. It makes sense. There is only a minor change in daylight length from winter to summer given the island’s high tropical latitude. Kauai is the wettest spot on earth. Mt. Waialeale averages four hundred fifty inches of rain a year due to: the mountain being round shaped leaving its peak exposed to rain and wind, steep mountain edges, and a volcanic shield that catches condensation from trade winds. The East Side of Kauai is known as the "Coconut Coast" for its palm trees. Half of Kauai’s 111-mile coastline is made up of twenty-eight beaches, more beaches than any other Hawaiian Island. The quiet North Shore is home to Tunnels Beach, a beautiful stretch of pristine shoreline. Kauai is the greenest of all the Hawaiian Islands with its lush verdant landscapes with white sands, wrapping around all sides of the island, tropical flora and fauna, rough mountainous terrain surrounding the rainforests, leaving about 97% of the land undeveloped. Kauai has the 4,000-foot Na Pali Cliffs, a dramatic landscape. It has the biggest gorge, the ten-mile-long and 3,000-foot-deep Waimea Canyon. No wonder Kauai is referred to as the ‘Garden Island,’ a unique blend of natural beauty, history, and culture. Kauai is diverse and steeped in history with no shortage of things to see and do. It is easy to feel the magic that lingers in the air. Waimea Canyon, referred to as the “Grand Canyon of the Pacific,” is a massive, natural geologically deep canyon, offering stunning vistas and hiking opportunities to explore the canyon’s depths. Drive the scenic 19-mile Kokee-Waimea Canyon Road to the Puu O Kila Lookout is one of the best things to do while in Kauai. Wailua River, meaning “two waters,” is the only river in Hawaii that you can navigate. Kayak or paddleboard your way along its 19.2 miles, the longest river in Kauai. The river is home to several places of worship, “heiau” for royalty and chiefs, plus a summit heiau, dedicated to the forest and river god, Kane. Much of Kauai is very rugged and highly inaccessible by foot, so taking a helicopter tour allows you to see remote areas of the island including a waterfall towering four hundred feet, Manawaiopuna Falls (Jurassic Falls), located on private property. If you take the helicopter tour after a rainfall, the ruggedness of the Napali Coast with towering sea cliffs and Waimea Canyon, producing more waterfalls than normal makes the experience truly special. You may be more interested in a boat tour rather than a helicopter tour. That’s okay. Kauai’s famous Napali Coast is a must-do. Helicopter Tour or Boat Tour gives you a perspective that hiking the Kalalau Trail cannot deliver. There is no better place on Kauai to learn about native Hawaiian culture and plants than the Limahuli Botanical Garden. Did you know trees in Kauai have rainbows? You can see colorful rainbow eucalyptus trees at the Keahua Arboretum, a botanical paradise. These trees, native to the Philippines, imported to Hawaii in 1920s, aided reforestation to control soil erosion. Rainbow eucalyptus trees colors occur when patches of bark shed, the bare spots darken, maturing into shades of green, orange, red, pink, purple, and continue to grow over two hundred feet in height. Venturing deeper into the Arboretum, sounds of the rainforest envelop you, soothing melodies of birdsong, the gentle babble of the river that meanders throughout, creates peace and tranquility, a perfect place for quiet reflection and contemplation. I love it here. Kauai is a hiker’s paradise. Near The Odyssey port of entry, Nawiliwili, there are short, easy trails and walks, some with views of the ocean cove and greenery. Scattered all around the island are beautiful trails like Waimea Canyon and on the Napali Coast like Hanakapi’ai Falls Trail, one of the most beautiful waterfall trails on the island. Awa’awapuhi Trail is one of the best hikes in the world and considered one of the best sunset trails on Kauai. The Kuilau Ridge Trail is beautiful and easy, through lush, wet, forested land. It can be quite muddy if its rained. Iliau Loop Trail, one of the shortest trails on Kauai, gives some the best views of the Waimea Canyon. Effort-to-reward ratio, Iliau Loop Trail is second to none. A quick and easy little loop! The Sleeping Giant Trail is short and conveniently located. On a clear morning, the summit rewards with one of the best sunrises. Coffee lovers, Kauai is your haven! Kauai is home to the largest coffee plantation in the US. Kauai, having the largest coffee plantation in America, let’s talk “Coffee.” Hawaii has a reputation for its famed Kona Coffee. Having lived on Maui, Hawaii (over a fifty-year period), longer than anywhere else in the world, I find my favorite coffee to be 100% Maui Coffee from the Maui Coffee Company the best, followed by 100% Kauai Coffee, then third 100% Kona Gold Roast by Lion Coffee. Of course, this is just one person’s opinion. The good news is that you can buy Maui Coffee at your Safeway, Target or order from Amazon. Kauai grows 3,300 pounds of taro a year with around 235 acres of land, dedicated to its production, yielding a value of around $1.82 million. Taro is a starchy, mild, sweet, nutty-flavored root vegetable. In many cultures it is a staple food used in a variety of dishes, from boiled or mashed, to fried or roasted, and even in desserts like taro cakes and ice cream. In Kauai and other parts of Hawaii, taro is a staple food, particularly poi, a paste made from cooked and fermented taro. The leaves from the taro plant are used to wrap steamed pork or chicken. Over the years scenic Kauai has been a popular filming location for movies and TV shows, including Outbreak, Jurassic Park, South Pacific, Pirates of the Caribbean, and Baywatch and Gilligan’s Island. My trivia question for you, “Who is building a 1,400-acre compound on Kauai’s northeast coast, known as Koolau Ranch, featuring two grand mansions, an underground tunnel that leads to a 5,000-square-foot shelter?” Do you have the answer to this massive, secret construction project? The Odyssey’s raves its engines, taking us to our next Hawaiian Island, the Island of Maui, docking in Kahului. Standing, watching the pilot guide The Odyssey out of Nawiliwili Bay Harbor, I give gratitude to the rhythm of The Odyssey and the ocean it cruises for a life filled with joy and serenity. Photo of rainbow eucalyptus trees on Kauai courtesy of Ed Poole. |
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