Kauai Factoids

There is much talk, if not controversy, about how to split up Kaua'i by region so that it can easily be described on a website such as this. Why the controversy you ask? Well, Kaua'i, like all the Hawaiian islands, is part of a county politically divided into several districts, clockwise: Hanalei, Kawaihau, Lihue, Koloa, and Waimea (seen here). Quite honestly, to the modern day traveler these districts serve no purpose.

The remedy then is to find a way to divide the island into segments that are easy to recognize, describe, and access via the major roads of the island. This is where much of the debate comes from. Every "expert" has their own way of dissecting the island into pieces.

Our way is pretty simple and it's a method we've followed religiously in all of our physical guidebooks. We like to take the North, East, South, and West approach and we've stayed as true as possible to that format here online (see the map above). In general, we've adjusted some region names as needed and kept others to preserve common reference. I'm sure some of you will disagree and send off an email to us, but this system has worked rather well for us and as noted, we're aware others have their own preferred method of dividing up the island.

Ultimately we've divided the island in a manner that helps us group spots together so that they are easily accessible along the major routes of the island. This allows us to use our mile by mile directions to easily and accurately describe each spot here on our website.

Q: Why is Kauai called the “Garden Isle” of Kauai?
A: Well, Kauai is bursting with life from green valleys to luscious gardens and jungle hikes. It is also home to the wettest spot on earth, Mt. Wai’ale’ale which receives an average of 400 inches of rain per year! Kauai is also home to three of the five National Tropical Botanical Gardens, Allerton and McBryde in the south and Limahuli in the north.

Q: Where have I seen Kauai before?
A: Usually when a director wants a tropical paradise or wild, untamed jungle, the Garden Isle is on speed dial. The jaw-dropping waterfall scene from 1993’s “Jurassic Park” was filmed in Kauai as well as the large wooden gate where visitors entered the park. Remnants of the gate still remain and you can take walking tours to see them (sorry, no dinosaurs on this tour!) Scenes from “6 Days, 7 Nights” and “Mighty Joe Young” were also filmed on island.

Q: I thought there was only one Grand Canyon?
A: Well, it might not be quite as “grand” size-wise as the national park in Arizona, but Waimea Canyon has its own charms. Named “the grand canyon of the pacific” by American author Mark Twain, the vibrant colors and rugged landscape of Kauai’s Waimea Canyon will make you forget that you are on a tropical island. At 10-miles long, Waimea is only a fraction of the Grand Canyon's size but it still offers a charm all its own. There are plenty of trails to explore and new plants and animals to see.

Kaua'i is the fourth largest landmass in the Hawaiian island chain that includes eight major islands and 124 islets. The archipelago consists of numerous volcanic islands in the central Pacific Ocean stretching in a 1,500-mile crescent from Kure Island in the northwest to the Big Island of Hawai'i in the east, encompassing an area of 6,459 square miles. The eight major islands at the eastern end of the chain are, from west to east, Niihau, Kaua'i, Oahu, Molokai, Lanai, Kahoolawe, Maui, and the Big Island of Hawai'i.

Kaua'i is the oldest of all the main Hawaiian Islands, dating back some 5.1 million years. Kaua'i lies approximately 105 miles across the Kaua'i Channel, northwest of Oahu. The island is nearly circular in shape with a land area encompassing 533 square miles, that is 25 miles long by 33 miles wide at its furthest points. Of volcanic origin, the highest peaks on this mountainous island are Kawaikini, at 5,243 feet, followed by Mount Wai'ale'ale near the center of the island, at 5,148 feet above sea level. The wettest spot on earth, with an annual average rainfall of 450-470 inches, is located on the east side of Mount Wai'ale'ale. This high annual rainfall has eroded deep valleys in the central mountain, carving out ridges, canyons, and valleys with many scenic waterfalls.

Today, there is no known meaning behind the name of Kaua'i, but native tradition suggests the island was named after the son of the navigator who discovered the Hawaiian Islands.