Attractions and Activities on Kauai's North Shore
Underneath the turquoise cover of the Kauaian Ocean are sea turtles, playful dolphins, majestic whales, colorful coral reefs, and a variety of other marine wildlife. Considering all of this, it is no wonder that this is one of the most exotic and beautiful vacation locations on earth. The north shore, as is true with most islands, is the most beautiful area of the island, and has an assortment of different recreation activities.
Kee Beach Activities
The last accessible beach off the Kauai zipline on the Kauai north shore, Kee Beach has a lot to offer as far as wildlife is concerned, proffering schools of colorful tropical fish and sea turtles that make it the perfect place to swim and snorkel.
Walking along the beach in one direction will proffer a panoramic view of the Na Pali Coast and, in the evening, beautiful splashes of color that dance over the water as the sunset drifts down into it.
Meandering off in the opposite direction puts wanderers on a path that follows a low rock wall to a reef channel and in view of indigenous ruins and shrines. The ancient religious site Ka Ulu a Paoa Heiau is just up the hill from the walkway, located on a viewing platform that overlooks the sea. According to local legend, this site was dedicated to a friend of Paoa, the lover of the volcano goddess Pele. Nearby, in a hillside hollow behind the Heiau platform, there is a shrine to the goddess of hula, Laka.
Na Pali Coast Activities
The 18 miles of this protected coastline was first chosen by early Hawaiians for its tranquility and remoteness. Since it has no roads it is only accessible on foot (or boat) through the winding Kalalau trails that make for excellent hiking through valleys, rainforests, and over awesome cliffs that provide majestic views of the sea.
Na Pali Beach is home to pods of dolphins, turtles, and humpback whales during the months of November through May. From the coast, by boat or catamaran, this is one of the best places to do whale watching in Kauai.
If the intrepid hikers are tired and in need of some pampering after the rigors of the up to 22 mile trek, then they will be happy to know that they are nearby several Kauai luxury vacation rentals where they can go to rest and relax after that challenging experience.
Glass Beach Activities
Just as its name suggests, this beach has copious amounts of smooth, polished glass along its shore. This, and other treasures that wash up, make it the perfect place to go beachcombing.
While the currents, high surf, and winds are too strong for recreational swimming to be enjoyable, they make for an excellent Kauai surf or windsurfing experience. So make sure to bring your boards!
Limahuli Preserve Activities
Set in one of the verdant tropical valleys of Kauai, and surrounded by towering peaks that have been etched by ages of wind and rain, the preserve is back dropped by Makana Mountain and features Limahuli Garden.
The name Limahuli means "turning hands" in Hawaiian, making reference to the amount of work that the native Hawaiians went to in building agricultural terraces in Kauai out of lava rock and planting "kalo" (taro), one of their main crops, in them.
The Limahuli Garden was selected as the best natural botanical garden in the US by the American Horticultural Society (AHS), which is a testament to the natural beauty that enshrouds this national landmark.
The gardens themselves can be explored through guided tours or through self exploration by wandering the beautiful trails that ramble along gardens that are filled with remarkable native plants. Among those featured are Ko'oko'olau with their striking yellow blossoms, sweet and fragrant Gardenias, tall and spiky Iliau, leafy Mamaki, tropical Pineapple, oddly exotic Munroidendron racemosum, fiery red hibiscus trees called Koki'o, the endangered Lobelia niihauensis, and the 'Ohia lehua - probably the most widely recognized Hawaiian tree that is in the myrtle family.
Kalihiwai River Activities
Located between Kilauea and Princeville, two quaint and lovely little towns, the river offers a nice 2 mile Kauai kayaking trip. Reportedly this is the prettiest of all the rivers on the island because of the wide variety of plants, flowers, and other flora that are sprinkled along the riverbank. The turnaround point is where the river calms and a trail winds around to the Kalihiwai Falls - a perfect end to a perfect trip!
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