
verybody loves Kauai. We second that emotion. Weve always said that Kauai is what you imagine Hawaii to be if youve never been there, like Hollywoods version of a South Pacific island (over 50 movies have been filmed on Kauai, including South Pacific). While Kauai is really in the North Pacific, it is truly spectacular - a unique place of dramatic contrasts. Fluted, verdant pali (spire-shaped mountains), sculpted by eons of surf, wind, and rain, rise majestically from the cobalt-blue sea. Red rock canyons carve their way toward coconut groves and strands of sand. A cloud-crowned volcanic peak collects more rain than anywhere else on earth. Yet a few miles away, only 19 inches of rain falls every year.
Kauai may have been the first landfall when the canoes arrived from the Marquesas and Society Islands over a thousand years ago. Due to the elements of nature, the forces of time, and the discovery of the islands by Europeans, there are no remains or records to prove which island was settled first. This we do know: It is the birthplace of hula, the great oral history tradition of the Hawaiian people. Today Kauai is a wonder of the tourism world. One of the best golf resorts in the state, Princeville, sits on a bluff overlooking some of the most gorgeous scenery in the world. A vast hiking network in two state parks beckons the nature enthusiast. Stunning beaches, some top-notch accommodations and restaurants, and a quiet, peaceful demeanor make Kauai a great place to go to relax, honeymoon, or just enjoy the company you keep.
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