Kaua‘i – Ready For an “Indiana Jones” Adventure?

LIHU‘E, KAUA‘I – The writers of outdoor magazines and adventure travel books wax poetic about Kauai’s adventures. The “to do” list is so long they often recommend multiple trips. Not practical? Then the thing to do is make an “if we could do it all” list, start at the top and work down. Or, think of it as a recipe for fun – take two scoops of each element – air, water, earth and stir.

The athletic-looking couple from the Midwest were climbers, ready to head up any hill. They arrived at the Lihu‘e Airport with fully loaded backpacks, planning to work their way around the island with no backtracking. They wanted to get every adventure in. They checked off water sports, horses and bikes and ocean kayaking, all to be topped off with an eleven-mile hike on the Napali Coast.

Not all adventurers leave a trail of granola. Two “kick back” visitors from San Francisco were looking for a balance between doing everything and doing nothing. They planned to paddle “up a lazy river” and float back down, take a short hike one day and a pool day the next. They agreed that there is probably a little bit of Indiana Jones in everyone, even a “kick back” kind of traveler. They promised each other to heed the warning signs: Kaua‘i adventuring is contagious!

FLY LIKE A BIRD
Whappata, whappata is the sort of sound a helicopter makes as it soars into the sky. It is the sound passengers don’t hear as they are headed out to see Kaua‘i’s lush forest, cascading waterfalls and spectacular coastline. State-of-the-art headphones will be tuned to soft music or the voice of the knowledgeable pilot, as he notes the lyrical Hawaiian names of island landmarks. As the adventure travelers say, “this birds-eye-view of the island is a perfect way to see what we want to see.”

SOARING VISTAS
On a clear day you really can see (nearly) forever from the lookout at the top of Waimea Canyon. Eons of time, wind and rain carved a 3,000-foot deep, fourteen-mile long canyon into Kaua‘i. The drive up is a winding wonder of breathtaking vistas. From the top, at Koke‘e State Park, there are 28-miles of hiking trails. Rangers advise on hikes based on ability and equipment. At the end of the road a 4,000-foot lookout offers a glimpse into Kalalau Valley, literally the other side of the island where the Napali Coast can only be accessed by an eleven-mile hike.

The Alakai Swamp Trail is not for the casual day hike. Seven miles of bog, with a sometimes-slippery boardwalk, is slow going. Hearts soar for the lovers of bird songs.

The “kick back” travelers found a second trip up the canyon was inviting when, after early morning coffee, their van load of fellow adventurers hopped on and biked down the winding mountain road for a rolling good ride.

LAZY RIVERS
Kaua‘i has the only navigable rivers in Hawai‘i. They flow from the center of the island like the spokes of a wheel. Some run through private forest preserves, others are easily accessible, wandering through lush tropical forests. The river kayak treks can be easy and leisurely. Add a swim in a deep pool, a half-mile hike into a waterfall and swim in a mountain-stream chilled pool, and a paddle back. That usually adds up to a good night’s sleep.

Big water fun can be had on a big inner tube, floating along miles of sugar plantation irrigation water flumes in backcountry Lihu‘e, most dug and designed pre-1870.

WAVE IF YOU’RE HAVING FUN
Ocean kayaking is not for the faint hearted. Just as planned, the “backpackers” took the guided paddle along the Napali coastline. They said it was a long haul, even in the two-person kayaks. The trip, for those in good paddling form, is very rewarding. Waterfalls descended from the cliffs onto the pristine beaches. The entire day seemed like a Discovery Channel documentary. Sea turtles were everywhere. The dolphins had to dive and play as if the kayaks were their giant tub toys. Good thing, the paddlers said, that they made room for the underwater disposable camera. Even if the photo is a blur of grey, they’ll still know it was a cousin of Flipper.

Sometimes the beach is just too warm and sunny, the water a blinding blue. Not a bad place to spend the day, especially when the ocean seems, well, very big. A major kayak trip was too much, so the “kick back” folks opted for the ocean-fit zodiac motorized raft up the coast. With about fifteen soon to be new best friends, they rode the wild waves, were followed by dolphins and found coral reefs that begged for snorkeling. Riding the ocean waves, in the front of the raft, was a bit like trying bull riding at the rodeo. Those in the back generally have a smoother ride and a good laugh. For those who want a more leisurely time at sea, a catamaran sail is the answer.

JONESING FOR A THRILL
So many movies have been filmed on the island of Kaua‘i that it is hard to keep count. Some were “set” in Africa, some in “waterworld.” Everyone’s favorite Jurassic Park scenes can be spotted from many locations. Many films were love stories, and even those had adventure woven in. Think about the scenery in Hook, Outbreak, Six Days - Seven Nights, or Mighty Joe Young.

A hand-held video camera, a bit of imagination and a good editor can turn the “safari-like” adventure into way more than a vacation video. Both couples signed on for a downwind kayak on a jungle stream. Kayaks are tied up. Next came a walk to a waterfall and a swim. Then a covered-wagon ride rambled the adventurers across ranch land, pulled by a tractor. Lunch followed in a tree house. Time for the end of the afternoon adrenaline to kick in with a ride down a zipline.

Adventures still on the “to do” list: get down and dirty on an ATV or mud bug. Take horseback rides through lush forests. Learn to boogie board, surf, snorkel, scuba and snuba. Catch a sugar cane train that stops to allow a deep-woods hike. Board a fishing boat and try for the “big one.” The bravest adventurers can even ride with a pilot for a bird’s eye view of the island in a Microlight powered hang glider. Do it all.

Adventure travelers are almost always “happy campers,” especially when the “campsite” has been one of Kauai’s comfortable resorts. The time will come to stuff the backpack, squeeze that last shopping treasure in the suitcase and head for the airport. The “to do” list now says “done that.” More to do? Of course. But some of the best things on the list are the ones marked “gotta do this again!”

ABOUT KAUA‘I – HAWAII’S ISLAND OF DISCOVERY
Nicknamed the Garden Island, Kaua‘i is green and flourishing with lush flora that runs from the mountains to the ocean. Kaua‘i offers more than 50 miles of white sand beaches – more beach per mile than any other island in Hawai‘i. Only three percent of the island is developed for commercial and residential use.

Other natural wonders include the 3,567-foot deep Waimea Canyon, dubbed “The Grand Canyon of the Pacific,” and the 3,000-foot towering mountain cliffs overlooking the Napali Coast along the northwest shoreline.

A wealth of outdoor activities like kayaking, snorkeling, hiking, mountain tubing, horseback riding, ATV adventures, zipline aerial tours, helicopter and boat tours, offer memorable vacation experiences for the whole family. Kaua‘i is also home to four of Hawaii’s top 15 golf courses, according to Golf Digest.

For travel information about Kaua‘i, Hawaii’s Island of Discovery, visit online at www.kauaidiscovery.com or call the Kaua‘i Visitors Bureau’s toll-free information line at 800.262.1400.

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Contact: Emele Freiberg (808) 539-3440
McNeil Wilson Communications
emele@mcneilwilson.com