Kaua‘i – Nature’s Playground For Families

LIHU‘E, KAUA‘I – There is one thing parents will probably never hear once they arrive at their family vacation destination, the island of Kaua‘i -- that would be the kids asking, “are we there yet?” Unless, of course, the short drive to the boogie-boarding beach is taking longer then the young family members think it should.
Arriving from California, mom, dad, a teen daughter, an eleven-year-old son and seven-year-old Mikey were prepared for non-stop fun. Mom said they had vacationed at national parks, theme parks, lakes and cities. This was their “big trip of a lifetime.” They always heard that Kaua‘i is great for kids. Little brother, Mikey, added that the parents were just welcome to come along for the ride.

SLEEP LATE
Nice thought, but traveling with a family usually means heading out for fun, by dawn’s early light – or even before. The island has accommodations for every budget. Some resorts have fun water features, including water slides and sand-bottom swimming pools. Others have Hawaiian themed children’s programs, from coconut hat weaving to classes in how to identify the colorful Hawaiian reef fish. Many families opt for a condominium resort stay. A condo kitchen doesn’t mean mom has to cook, but it makes for an easy breakfast, fresh pineapple and snacks at the fingertips and a place for the leftovers when small eyes are bigger than tummies.

ASK THE EXPERT
Hotel activity desk staffs are a great resource when the tour and adventure choices outnumber the vacation days. High on the family list; helicopter rides, boogie boarding, hikes at Koke‘e State Park with a “mom says” mandatory stop at the Koke‘e Natural History Museum. Talking the folks into an all-day kayak and waterfall swimming adventure might be the most family fun ever. Downhill bike riding, from the top of the “Grand Canyon of the Pacific,” Waimea Canyon, is a rolling nature walk. Both parents and kids enjoy riding horses and visiting a ranch to meet a few dozen once-wild pigs. Mikey thought they would be the perfect family pet. Fresh water adventure choices include kayak trips up rivers or mountain tubing down a waterway that was once a sugar irrigation ditch. The list of ocean activities is almost endless.

GET WET!
Kaua‘i has more accessible beaches than any other island. Some beaches are just right for swimming. Others are ideal for snorkeling, boogie boarding, surfing, tidepooling or beachcombing. Favorites for families who want to meet the residents of a tidepool include ‘Anini Beach, Salt Pond Beach and Lydgate Park.

Often ranked as the number one beach in the world, one look confirms that Po‘ipu Beach is kid-friendly. The calmer waters are perfect for family fun and surfing or boogie boarding lessons. The instructors and lifeguards will say that an adult should always swim with the kids. No matter how calm, those small waves are on the edge of a big ocean and no one is waterproof. Check with the lifeguards and they can give directions to the spot where the surf is up and the pros are catching waves. That is the spot to stay on the beach, go oooooh and aaaaah and break out the telephoto lens.

CALORIES TO BURN
Dad thinks Kaua‘i is the golf paradise of the world. Late afternoon tee times at several courses are a perfect time for a family lesson, where mom proves to be the crack shot.

Ages vary for adventures. Mom and the older siblings found the treetop zipline adventure to be a perfect adrenaline rush, while Mikey and dad wandered around Koloa Town, easily finding their way to the homemade ice cream store.

A six-passenger mud hog dune buggy is pure excitement. The old sugar mill trails are often mud city. Cover-up clothing comes with the tour. The kids, ages five and up, are the “lookouts” for wild pigs and rare birds. Families having too much fun to think about photos can count on an ATV guide to be the shutterbug. Cruising along, the terrain often looks familiar, even on the very first Kaua‘i trip. Why? Because more than fifty major feature films, from Blue Hawaii and South Pacific to Jurassic Park and Hook, have been filmed on the island. A bit cleaner, but still fascinating, is a tour in four-wheel drive vehicles headed for all the movie and TV sites, equipped with a video player and film clips. Mikey recognized scenes from Lilo & Stitch and kept looking for the infamous “626.” The folks spotted the shot at Moloa‘a Beach where the shipwreck happened on Gilligan’s Island.

TASTE TREATS
One universal food truth about kids – if someone else offers it, they usually try it. Moms and dads love Kaua‘i for just this reason. Occasional roadside fruit stands attract visitors and local shoppers alike. Hawai‘i’s kids love a freshly opened coconut, fresh pineapple or papaya. Kids follow kids. The Hawaii favorite, “Shave Ice,” is close to the familiar snow cone. Adding sweet Azuki beans and ice cream may be daring, but, hey, why not.

Following the crowd is usually a good way to find family dining. First stop, tiny eateries with takeout counters, serving what is locally known as “plate lunch” – teri-chicken or beef, hamburger steak or fried spam, macaroni salad and two scoops rice. Takeout is great for a picnic at the beach park. Saimin, recognized by visitors as “ramen,” is best at Hamura’s in the town of Lihu‘e. The wait, and there is always a line, is worth the taste treat. Once served, Mikey turned slurping the bowl of noodles into a contact sport.

The island boasts every ethnic flavor and style of dining, from family fare to elegant Pacific Rim Cuisine. Children are welcome everywhere. Fresh fish, island fruits and Kaua‘i grown vegetables are a “don’t miss” and even the picky eaters are inclined to dive in after a day of adventure.

TRAIN TREKS
Who wouldn’t want their very own, life size steam engine? For Mikey it was too good to believe. In his dreams he is a conductor. On several Hawaiian Islands sugar cane was harvested and moved to the sugar mill by trains. Those days are long gone from island agriculture. On Kaua‘i the fun of riding through sugar cane fields and coffee farms, with a stop to toss some fresh fruit to a pasture of pigs, goats and sheep, is available throughout the year. The Kaua‘i Plantation Railway, with all hardwood-trimmed cars fashioned after the traveling coach of King David Kalakaua, is located at Kilohana Plantation. It chugs around a 100-acre estate, returning to the station house for shopping, dining and horse drawn carriage rides.

TURTLES & GOONIES & TURNS, OH MY!
The Kilauea Lighthouse was built in the early 1900s. It was the world’s largest “clam shell” light, a beacon to guide ships from around the world. No longer needed for that use, it has been transformed into one of the island’s busiest tourist spots. Families are invited to watch as the “visiting” Laysan albatross, frigate birds, red-footed boobies and other seabirds visit, over and over. The binoculars, provided by the volunteer staff, are the perfect way to “spy” on the protected Hawaiian Monk Seal snoozing on the sand and the green sea turtle having a seaweed lunch. Mikey thought the native Hawaiian nene goose looked like he was wearing a pin-stripe suit.

NIGHT LIFE
Possibly the loveliest thing about Kaua‘i is the entertainment. Poolside or beachside at sunset the tiki torches are lit and a lovely hula dancer tells the tales of old Hawai‘i to the lilting strum of guitar. The lu‘au shows off dances from many Pacific islands. Mikey liked the fire knife dancer best and even tried to wiggle a Tahitian dance. Some resorts have professional productions, others have hotel staff that bring their ukulele or guitar and sing some sunset songs. Hawaiian music has been known to charm the iPod earphones right off the teenager.

BETCHA DIDN’T KNOW
Kaua‘i was created by the eruption of one massive volcano. No worries, that volcano has been extinct for about six million years. Kaua‘i is the oldest of the eight major Hawaiian Islands. It is known for a sculptural landscape that has inspired artists, writers, adventurers and schoolteachers for a hundred years, leading to the reason most parents are “wowed” by their kids’ knowledge of the island.

A quick “exit” interview of kids waiting the Lihu‘e Airport, ready to fly home to their mainland destination, produced a family opinion poll with a unanimous outcome. Mom, dad, all the kids loved this giant playground of an island. But, how did they know it was really the greatest family vacation ever? No question, Mikey likes it!

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