In September of 2000, About's Guide to Flagstaff/Sedona, Arizona, Dee Estrella, and her husband visited the Garden Isle of Kauai, Hawaii.

Photo by Dee Estrella
About Guide to Flagstaff/Sedona, Arizona

Dee and her husband took full advantage of her time on Kauai to visit several beautiful areas of the island. They made the scenic drive up to the overlooks of the Waimea Canyon and on to the Pu'u o Kila Lookout over the Kalalau Valley on the Na Pali Coast. For better views of the Na Pali Coast Dee and her husband took a catamaran cruise. The views of the majestic pali from the ocean are amazing.

In order to experience the Wailua River Valley, Dee and her husband went on a kayaking excursion up the river, where they hiked through the rainforest to Ho'olalaea Falls. On the return trip they stopped at the world famous Fern Grotto.

From Hanalei Bay west to Ha'ena State Park the Estrellas explored Waioli Beach Park and Kee Beach where the eleven mile long Kalalau Trail to the Kalalau Valley begins along the Na Pali Coast.

Kauai is the oldest and most northern of the main Hawaiian islands, but a mere 20 minutes by air from Honolulu.

Kauai's Mayor, Maryanne W. Kusaka, invites visitors to Kauai in her official message describing Kauai as offering "ancient traditions and diverse cultural heritage, radiant rainbows and verdant vistas, crystal pools and water falls, scared valleys and mountain trails, sporting adventures and spiritual retreats, stunning sunsets and sweet pikake. Kauai, Hawaii's most beautiful island, beckons you to tan on sparkling beaches, to play on famous golf courses and to scan the horizon for migrating whales."

For vacationers who want to avoid the crowds of Oahu and Maui and see Hawaii in a much more natural setting, Kauai is the perfect alternative. In 1999 Kauai was the least visited of Hawaii's four major islands with 1,089,289 visitor arrivals compared with 4,560,142 for Oahu, 2,278.933 for Maui and 1,307,720 for the Big Island of Hawaii.*

The months of July through October are the most popular months to visit Kauai and the winter months of December and January are perfect for folks who really want to get away from it all.

In writing about her trip to Kauai, Dee said, "It was absolutely wonderful and difficult to leave! I truly feel like I've been to paradise now.... We never stopped the whole week and feel like we got to see much of the island, but there were still things left undone - as always. We snorkeled, bodysurfed, hiked and hiked again, took a catamaran boat ride around the island, kayaked up the Wailua River and then hiked through the rain forest to waterfalls that we swam to, visited many beaches and Waimea Canyon, shopped a little, ate a little, and drank a bit, too! Lots of great memories and I'd really like to return someday."

We invite you to view Dee Estrella's photos of the beautiful island of Kauai. Be sure also to visit Dee's site About Flagstaff/Sedona, Arizona.

Kalalau Trail - Na Pali Coast State Park

Kalalau Valley as seen from the Pu'u o Kila Lookout

Kee Beach

Na Pali Coast

Polihale Beach

Wailua River State Park

Waimea Canyon

Waioli Beach Park - Hanalei Bay

*Hawaii Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism

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