Kaua‘i – A Lovers’ Paradise

LIHU‘E, KAUA‘I – Sunlight dances on the ripples of the Wailua River. It reaches into the deep valleys where the river begins, announcing the day to the island of Kaua‘i. All along the riverbank, the early morning light brightens the deep tropical forest. Sun warms the backs of the kayak paddlers, headed up-river on a romantic adventure.
As they pull in at the trail to the waterfall, three couples share their stories. They are each on Kaua‘i to find their own special romance. Couple #1, twenty-somethings from New Jersey, are on Kaua‘i for their idea of a perfect adventure honeymoon. First, the river trip, swimming under waterfalls, then they’ll try a treetop zipline, take some surf lessons and finally a mega-hike on the Napali Coast.

Couple #2, thirty-something attorneys from California, exchanged vows in a big city cathedral. Their honeymoon choice? A Kaua‘i cathedral of palm trees and the romance of an island to make their own. They plan to dine at quiet seaside restaurants, listen to local Hawaiian musicians and enjoy a picnic lunch at a secluded beach.

Couple #3, married for thirty years, came to Kaua‘i to renew their vows at the historic Wai‘oli Hui‘ia Church in Hanalei. After raising five children they are savoring a totally romantic, just-for-two getaway. They are on a quest to really discover the island and mingle with the people. What these couples, and many others know, is that Kaua‘i really is the island for lovers – for lovers of nature, lovers of culture and lovers of elegant pampering and gracious hospitality.

Countless Kaua‘i adventures fill every possible type of romantic wish, from helicopter rides into valleys with more waterfalls than you can count to hold-your-breath action soaring on ziplines. All around the island there are walks, hikes and serious treks for the sure-footed. The direct route to great sites of great movies can be a “cushy” air-conditioned van with a driver and a TV monitor to watch famous movie clips.

For Couple #1, cushy didn’t matter. They were good with the get down-and-dirty three-wheeled ATVs and four-wheeled “Mud Bugs” all in a convoy following a tour leader. The long, green, Jurassic Park valley at the end of the old sugarcane trail made a romantic backdrop. Off with the mud gear and dirt boots, provided by the tour company, that was covering their colorful aloha attire. The resulting photo looks like a movie poster from South Pacific, Blue Hawai‘i, King Kong or Raiders of the Lost Ark, all filmed on Kaua‘i.

Kaua‘i is a relaxation paradise. Beaches, parks and gardens invitingly beacon visitors to relax, read a book or do absolutely nothing. Driving around the island calls out to the “inner photographer,” one vista being even more spectacular than the last.

Pampering. That was high on the list for Couple #2. They found lovely spas, ready to anoint them with coconut oil, rub them with Hawaiian sea salt and wrap them in healing seaweed and native ti leaves. Beyond those anticipated and enjoyable spa treatments, they couldn’t stop talking about the amazing Hawaiian lomi massage, presented in their suite, by an accomplished Hawaiian healer who taught them how to share the massage experience with each other.

Wedding locations run from exotic to historic. A good example is the 100-acre palatial estate Kilohana Plantation, where “destination” weddings are welcomed. Brides can arrive in a horse drawn carriage or in an elegant, hardwood passenger train on the new Kaua‘i Plantation Railway. The train, modeled after the sugarcane trains of the 1920s, can transport the wedding party and guests to a reception, from tented elegance to relaxed-picnic in a native fruit orchard. Or the vows can be celebrated with fine dining in the estate’s drawing room.

Couple #3 set out to find Hawaiian history. They followed the map, visited historic sites, like the Menehune Fish Pond and the Kokee Museum. What they also found were cultural specialists, storytellers and craftsmen sharing their culture, handed down from generation to generation. They learned about rising before dawn to chant up the sun. They watched as carvers prepared native woods for drums. At a lu‘au they were entranced by the graceful hula dancers, telling tales of old Hawai‘i. They golfed on courses so green they almost glowed. They shopped. They enjoyed dining on Kaua‘i; intimate dinners to remember, fresh island fruits savored at sunrise and the catch-of-the-day, seasoned in unique and delicious ways, all part of the romantic experience.

One Kaua‘i truism: “wet is fun!” Kayaks, surfboards and catamarans provide wet and wild ocean fun. Lessons, for landlubbers, are readily available. Known for extraordinary beaches and ocean activities, most Kaua‘i visitors agree that giving a surfboard or some snorkel gear a try is as mandatory as going for the bunny hill at a ski resort. Couples looking for the unique wedding location can pick a secluded beach, a watercraft or hanging ten on a surfboard. Some expertise is required for the latter. There are even tales of couples decked out in scuba gear, tieing the knot several fathoms deep. In all the islands, only Kaua‘i offers navigable rivers that are inviting and pristine. Like the pot of gold at the end of a rainbow, the waterfall and pool at the end of the kayak trip can be the perfect wedding or vow renewal setting. Hawaiian ministers, called kahu, are never surprised at a location request.

The island boasts numerous world-renowned, creatively designed botanical gardens that invite romance, such as sculpture-filled Na ‘Aina Kai Botanical Gardens or Smith’s Botanical Gardens. Some couples take the inviting to heart, planning a “wedding-moon” for family and friends to attend. Condominium accommodations are perfect for the visiting family, friends and the kids while the wedding couple enjoys a suite at a luxury resort. Many Kaua‘i hotels have in-house wedding planners, ready to make all the arrangements.

Kaua‘i’s capable wedding planners make life easy. They often begin planning with bride and groom-to-be a year or more in advance. They can also provide the how-to and where-to in a much shorter time frame. The planners can organize the wedding license, flowers, music, minister, food, transportation and offer dozens of choices for the wedding location. Most of the island’s hotels, resorts and condominiums have at least one picture-perfect location for weddings or vow renewals.

Ask these three couples, or any of the thousands of honeymooners, newlyweds, lovers and friends who have made their fondest memories on Kaua‘i -- they will say that Kaua‘i is truly the island of love. And, before the lovers leave, they are often already planning their return.

ABOUT KAUA‘I – HAWAI‘I’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 Hawai‘i’s top 15 golf courses, according to Golf Digest.

For travel information about Kaua‘i, Hawai‘i’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