Things to do / Travel Guide
Kauai's natural beauty makes for plenty of scenic overlooks throughout the island. Here are a few to whet your sightseeing whistle:
Kilauea Lighthouse and Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge
Constructed in 1913, the Kilauea Lighthouse is a National Historic Landmark. Even though it's no longer operated for sea-going traffic management, it still houses the largest clamshell lens in the world. Set inside the Kilauea Wildlife Refuge, visitors can see a fantastic variety of seabirds, some of which are on the endangered species list.
Red-footed boobies, wedge-tailed shearwaters, and Laysan albatross all come to nest on Kauai at different times of year. While the red-footed boobies come to Kauai in the spring and stay from February-September, wedge-tailed shearwaters come in April and stay until November, and the Laysan albatross is around from November-July.
Kee Beach State Park
Visitors can see breathtaking Napali Coast from the gorgeous beach at the Kee Beach State Park. A quaint meadow, also within this state park, contains a stone altar called Lohiau's Hula Platform. Legend has it that Laka, goddess of the hula, performed her dance on this very spot. Modern day hula dancers have been known to leave offerings for her here. The park is located at the western end of Highway 56 in the town of Haena.
Kalalau Lookout
Four miles north of the Kokee State Park is Waimea Canyon Drive, which is home to the 4,000-foot-high Kalalau Lookout. The lookout is located close to the end of the road, just above Waimea Canyon. From here, visitors can look out over the valley below, which features great ridges and waterfalls, and can also see the satellite dishes of Kokee U.S. Air Force Station, so be sure to bring your camera for this one!
Waimea Canyon
Located in the village of Kokee, Waimea Canyon was created by an ancient fault in the earth's crust. Known as the “Grand Canyon of the Pacific,” this site, which begins at Waimea and ends in Polihale, is well worth visiting. A deep gorge serves as the setting for a 19-mile river that is best seen after a heavy rain, when the haze clears out. The canyon is 2 miles wide, 3,600 feet deep, and 10 miles long.
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