Nawiliwili, Kauai — The Garden Isle
The following day brought us to Nawiliwili, on the beautiful island of Kauai. Known as the Garden Isle, Kauai is famous for its lush green landscapes, dramatic mountain scenery, cascading waterfalls and beautiful beaches. It is one of the oldest of the main Hawaiian Islands, and its millions of years of erosion have helped create the spectacular valleys and rugged landscapes that make it so distinctive.
Kauai has a fascinating history that stretches back centuries before European explorers arrived. Native Hawaiians developed thriving communities here, cultivating taro, fishing and making use of the island’s abundant natural resources. Captain James Cook arrived in the Hawaiian Islands in 1778, and Kauai later became an important centre for the sugar plantation industry. Workers from several countries came to the island over the years, contributing to the diverse culture and communities we see today.
There is certainly no shortage of things to see and do on Kauai. Some of the island’s most popular attractions include:
● Waimea Canyon — often called the Grand Canyon of the Pacific, with colourful canyon walls and spectacular viewpoints.
● The Na Pali Coast — dramatic green cliffs, deep valleys and breathtaking ocean scenery, best explored by boat, helicopter or selected hiking routes.
● Wailua Falls — a beautiful waterfall that can be viewed from a roadside lookout.
● The Wailua River — a lovely area for boat excursions and kayaking through tropical scenery.
● Poipu Beach and the South Shore — popular for beach time, coastal scenery and opportunities to spot Hawaiian green sea turtles and, occasionally, monk seals.
Of course, seeing all these wonderful places takes time, and one of the pleasures of returning to an island is not feeling that we have to rush off and see everything again!
A Relaxed Day Close to the Ship
For us, this visit was going to be a quieter one. We had recently spent two and a half weeks on Kauai back in May, giving us plenty of time to explore and enjoy the island. This time, we decided to stay close to the ship and take things at a more leisurely pace.
There was really only one nearby place we hadn’t visited on our previous stay, and that was Kalapaki Beach, about half a mile from where we were docked.
Kalapaki Beach is a lovely crescent-shaped stretch of sand surrounded by palm trees, hotels, restaurants and shops. There are grassy areas as well as sandy beach, making it a pleasant spot to wander, relax or simply sit and enjoy the Hawaiian scenery. For anyone wanting a little more activity, there are also beach rentals and opportunities to try various water sports. It is a convenient choice for cruise passengers who don’t want to venture too far from the ship. Bring your ship towel or in our case our foldable chairs and find a spot on the public beach and relax with a swim and a good book.
And if a day of relaxing at a resort is more your idea of a holiday, there is another option worth knowing about. A resort day pass for around US$75 gives you access to the pool area and use of a lounge chair. That could make for a very enjoyable way to spend a few hours in paradise, especially if you fancy a swim and a little pampering without booking a full excursion. Just be sure to check the current price and availability before making plans.
Sometimes, the best port days are the ones where we don’t have a long list of places to visit. Having already enjoyed so much of Kauai in May, it was nice simply to take in the surroundings and appreciate being back on this beautiful island.
We only have a few pictures to share from today’s visit, but I’ll include a few more from our time here in May to give you a better idea of what this wonderful part of Hawaii has to offer.
Tomorrow, we head to Honolulu on the island of Oahu, where another Hawaiian adventure awaits!
Until next time, mahalo for following along with us on our travels.
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