Kauai, Hawaii, is the least developed of the Hawaiian Islands. Although the island is seeing a rather large push of growth in housing and chain discount department stores, the buildings are not towering cement icons of metropolitan habitation. The beauty and lushness of Kauai still pervade, even with the encroachment of development.

Adventures and Activities

The draw for most visitors to Kauai is the endless possibilities of adventure, or simply the pursuit of drifting off on a quiet, warm beach. If you seek adventure and have ever wanted to soar over the ocean like a bird, or longed to experience the feeling of your flying dreams, Birds in Paradise will make your desire reality. This Kauai flight training school flies the latest and safest powered hang gliders (trikes). With a perfect safety record, owner and senior ultralight pilot Gerry Charlebois of BIP has been in business on Kauai since ’88. This experienced pilot and flight instructor is also an amazing stuntman and videographer for the movie industry, National Geographic and Extreme Kauai sports videos.

Charlebois and his staff of expert aviators take students on introductory flights over the coastlines, jungles and island interior. The views from the trikes are astounding; dolphins swimming in pods off the turquoise colored northern Kauai coast; green sea turtles basking on secluded beaches; and the majestic Na Pali cliffs with their inaccessible cascading waterfalls only visible by air. Charlebois and veteran Aussie pilot Mark Overend instruct students with no prier flight experience everyday. Their professional demeanor, knowledge of Kauai and flying expertise are assuring and these guys are truly nice individuals.

A boat charter with snorkeling or diving is number two on amazing activities for Kauai. Many reputable charter companies offer a variety of packages for divers, snorkelers or visitors who just want a scenic voyage. The prices vary depending on your interest, so shop around. Generally, you can get a better price if you contact the business directly rather than booking through an “activities company.” The activities companies do have their benefits, if you want to book adventures from a variety of different businesses; these activity companies will do all the work and scheduling and generally offer a lower combined rate.

For a fantastic snorkel and sightseeing adventure combined, contact Holo-Holo Charters. This is one of the few companies sailing to the forbidden island of Niihau for snorkeling.

Holo-Holo offers a spectacular seven-hour Na Pali and Niihau excursion that includes touring the Na Pali coast, snorkeling at Niihau (gear included), a tasty continental breakfast, buffet deli lunch and a spirits bar.

The tour starts in the morning on Kauai’s south shore at Port Allen on a 60-foot, custom made steel catamaran. This gleaming white dream rides the ocean’s waves more smoothly than many other tour boats and has a cool interior providing a few seated tables, as well as shade. As the Cat glides up the Na Pali coastline, sunrise is just beginning to peek over the verdant cliffs. The waves breaking along the rocky crags resemble the hue of a jade milkshake. Spinner dolphins playfully leap in the air, riding the bow wave of the boat.

Captain Ted and crew begin their fascinating oratory of the Nap Pali cliffs and point to where ancient Hawaiian kings were buried. Small waterfalls appear around a precipice and guests rapidly snap away on their digital cameras. This is indeed a magnificent vantage point and the shear beauty of the green pinnacles rising from the ocean is a site always remembered.

On calm surfs, Captain Ted is able to maneuver the Cat into small caves that dot the coast. These illuminated and shimmering caverns are the stuff of dreams with the undulating water colored a surreal blue.

The next destination is Niihau for snorkeling. The usual spot for snorkeling is between Niihau and Lehua Crater in a large reef area with a drop off. The snorkeling here is outstanding with bright, tropical fish, deep clear blue water and the rare Hawaiian Monk Seal swimming in close, curious about the two-legged fish splashing about. On occasion, White Tipped Reef sharks are visible gliding down beyond the drop off.

Holo-Holo Charters provides sensational tours with intriguing information and legends. The captains and crew are knowledgeable, fun and vastly competent; they go the extra distance to make sure guests are comfortable, have fun and stay safe.

An ideal sport on Kauai is kayaking. Four traversable rivers by kayak vary in length and width. On the North shore, the Hanalei River is a perfect adventure for beginners and seasoned kayakers. The Kayak Kaua’i Company (friendliest kayak company and generally the best prices) is located at the mouth of the bay and river. The company rents kayaks and provides tours for the Hanalei, as well as various other rivers, lagoons and sea voyages. The three-and-a-half hour trip up the Hanalei is beautiful with guava and banana trees woven in a lush jungle forest. Golden Angle’s Trumpet flowers dot the banks and panoramic views of the valley walls display misty waterfalls. The Hanalei River is peaceful and with no motor boats allowed, it’s one of the best and longest rivers to kayak.

The Wailua River on the east side of the island is the most popular, but kayakers have to contend with occasional motor boats. In addition, it is a bit more difficult to rent kayaks without guided tours for this river. The journey is a safe expedition with gorgeous views and culminates in a path (about a one-mile easy hike) that leads to an enticing waterfall with swimming. The water is cold, but on hot days, it is a sublime experience to wade under the cascading sprays (Watch out for slippery rocks). It’s a great place to rest, take photographs and eat lunch before kayaking back. Make sure to check when tours are scheduled to avoid large crowds.

The newest adventure activities on Kauai are mountain tubing and zipling. Mountain tubing is a blast and is suitable for all ages. If you’re an adult, you get to feel like a kid again. Kaua’i Backcountry Adventures purchased an old defunct sugar plantation and converted it into an eco-friendly, inner-tube ride. The three-hour escapade starts out on large inner-tubes with handles that carry riders on a picturesque journey through the water canals that fed the sugarcane fields. Spectacular scenery, flumes and voyaging through various short caves (the caves were hand-carved by plantation workers in 1870 for the cane fields) make for an exciting new quest. At the end of the journey, lunch awaits and a natural mountain stream for swimming.

If zooming through the air in a harness is more your speed, Backcountry offers a zipline experience that is exhilarating. It is completely safe and riders soar over a beautifully lush tropical canopy with mountain views on a thick steel cable. With the zipline and lunch, the adventure generally runs about three-and-a-half hours. This adventure is best suited to individuals 12-years and older that are in fairly fit condition. For additional information, visit KauaiBackCountry

Sometimes the best activity is to experience the beauty and serenity of a tropical garden. Two exquisite gardens in Kauai are the Na Aina Kai and the National Tropical Botanical Garden. The NTBG is located in Koloa on Kauai’s south shore. Fragrant exotic flowers, tropical trees, plants and shrubs meander along the ten-acre pathways in the main garden. Bananas, papayas, macadamia and lime trees stand in profusion near the Plantation Cottage Garden near the visitor’s center. This section of the NTBG is small in size, but a tremendous place to take photographs and just stroll through the tranquil grounds. The McBryde and Allerton Gardens are incorporated into the NTBC and are located two miles away. These grounds are extensive and visitors can spend all day walking through the McBryde gardens. A scenic tram ride conveys visitors through the Allerton Gardens that traverses past the sparkling sea.

The Na Aina Kai Gardens are located in Kilauea on the north shore. Half of these gardens are sculptured and offer a different landscape but are just as lovely as the native gardens. Visitors can stroll or ride through the 240-acre Botanical Gardens and Sculpture Park. This oasis flows along through themed gardens with stellar views of meadows and the ocean. It feels as if you’re far away from humanity and in a true paradise.

---