Kaua'i

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Kaua'i

Hawai'i [Written in 1996] I've had the pleasure of visiting perhaps the most delightful place on earth several times: Kaua'i, Hawai'i. A friendly host culture with a gracious and balanced philosophy are a big draw for me, as is the spectacular scenery that I've enjoyed from the air, on the ground, and underwater. (You may partake of helicopter and fixed-wing aircraft, strolls on the beach, in the mountains, and upriver in the grottos and botanical gardens, and snorkeling and SCUBA diving lessons, rentals, and excursions.) There's good food, nightlife, and of course, the lu'au.

Of course it's changed since my first trip in the late 1980s, and rarely for the better. In spite of the changes - and some notable perversions of a usual tourist-based economy - it's a fantastic place to visit. Please be sensitive to the local culture, and treat with great respect what little remains unsullied from our brutish outsider onslaught. There's still lots to see, lots to enjoy. Gently.

Where is Kaua'i? The globe at left is centered over the chain of Hawai'ian Islands. It's a long flight from almost anywhere, but at least there is a great number of charter flights and price-worthy hotel-airfare-automobile rental packages. There's certainly something you can afford. Go talk to your travel agent. Consider staying at places owned by the locals.

[Macro error: Mac OS Error: -1409.]

I've been to several to the islands. Why Kaua'i? Because it's just wonderful. There are other tropical places on this planet, and other sources of fresh mango and papaya and coffee, but somehow Kaua'i just hits the spot. (Why don't I write "Kauai"? Because that's not how it's traditionally spelled, for reasons you'll learn later.) Which one is Kaua'i? It's the westmost island; it's the oldest of the Hawai'ian Islands. (It's not that I don't like the other islands, but that I've gotten to know Kaua'i the best.)

palms airplane So what's the story with these Kaua'i web pages? They're another narrative. I've gotten to be enough of a wired digital nomad that I can travel with a digital camera and laptop, take and pictures, generate web pages, and upload them while I'm still out in "the field" - so you, Dear Reader, can follow me around the globe.

Kaua'i What about the island geography? Kaua'i is roughly circular. There is one major road on Kaua'i. It travels three-quarters of the way around the island; the rugged Na Pali coast is the other quarter - impassible to cars but available to those travelling on foot or via helicopter. Highway 50 goes from the Barking Sands Pacific Missle Range, at 9 o'clock to Lihu'e, at 5 o'clock. (Clock notation seems to make particular sense on a round island with a main road that parallels the shoreline.) From Lihu'e to Ke'e beach at 12 o'clock the road is known as Highway 56. There are several small roads heading to inland towns and one rather large spur that goes into Waimea canyon, the "Grand Canyon of the Pacific". Mount Waialeale, the volcano at the center of the island, is the wettest spot on earth; it gets over 500 inches of rain annually.

Where are we going on this trip around the island? The map above shows the place names for the stops we'll making on our web excursions of Kaua'i. The navigation links at left specify which trip you wish to join. On each there are day trips to the towns, events (the helicopter rides, the lu'au, the fern grotto) for you to enjoy, and panoramae that I made by stitching individual photos together.

Pick a trip and we'll be zooming to the Garden Isle.

Have you found errors nontrivial or marginal, factual, analytical and illogical, arithmetical, temporal, or even typographical? Please let me know; drop me email. Thanks!
 

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