Kauai Photos

The "Garden Isle" is arguably the most beautiful of all the Hawaiian Islands. It is home to such wonders as the "Grand Canyon of the Pacific", and the Alakai Swamp- the wettest spot in the world, with an average rainfall of over 400 inches per year!
The first set of photos was taken during a hike I did through some of the NaPali coastline. The next set were taken at a somewhat secluded beach that I probably couldn't find again if my life depended on it. Then there's a few miscellaneous shots taken at various places.
NaPali Coastline
NaPali Caves - Out to Sea
NaPali Caves - Looking In
A Stand of Bamboo
Beach With Rainbow
Kauai Beach
Kauai Valley

NaPali Coastline
For this particular hike, we basically drove to the end of the road and started walking from there. You can disappear for at least a week to cover the whole journey through the NaPali coast, with options such as taking a Zodiac boat to the end, and hiking back. This hike was a 6 mile hike. The first 3 miles was hiking along the coast, until you came to a beach. Fans of the movie "South Pacific" would instantly recognize some of the scenery in this area.

NaPali Caves - Looking Out to Sea
At the end of about 3 miles, you find yourself on a beach, with a stream flowing out into the ocean. There is a small system of caves through which the water flows, on it's way into the Pacific. This is from within the caves, looking seaward.

NaPali Caves - Looking In
Same cave, looking in. The next phase of this particular hike was to follow the stream inland, about another 3 miles, to a waterfall that is the stream's source.

A Stand of Bamboo
On the way to the waterfall, you come across a large stand of bamboo, and what was once a place where the locals processed "poi", a local staple made from taro root. It is interesting to note that bamboo is actually a grass.

Kauai Beach With Rainbow
With the help of a guidebook now long gone, I was able to come across this spectacular beach. It's easy to see why they call Hawaii the "Rainbow State".

Kauai Beach
This is along the same beach, at the far end of where we entered. Interesting contrast between the sand, rocks, trees, and ocean.

Kauai Valley
This photo was taken on another hike. The trail winds through a very muddy Alakai Swamp, then proceeds up along the crest of some of the mountains. Eventually, you find yourself at a little clearing along one of the ridges where some government surveying team left a marker. Not only is this a great place to stop and have a bit of lunch, but if you look off to the distance, this is the site you will see. It was truly one of the prettiest sites imaginable.

	NaPali Coastline For this particular hike, we basically drove to the end of the road and started walking from there. You can disappear for at least a week to cover the whole journey through the NaPali coast, with options such as taking a Zodiac boat to the end, and hiking back. This hike was a 6 mile hike. The first 3 miles was hiking along the coast, until you came to a beach. Fans of the movie "South Pacific" would instantly recognize some of the scenery in this area.
	NaPali Caves - Looking Out to Sea At the end of about 3 miles, you find yourself on a beach, with a stream flowing out into the ocean. There is a small system of caves through which the water flows, on it's way into the Pacific. This is from within the caves, looking seaward.
	NaPali Caves - Looking In Same cave, looking in. The next phase of this particular hike was to follow the stream inland, about another 3 miles, to a waterfall that is the stream's source.
	A Stand of Bamboo On the way to the waterfall, you come across a large stand of bamboo, and what was once a place where the locals processed "poi", a local staple made from taro root. It is interesting to note that bamboo is actually a grass.
	Kauai Beach With Rainbow With the help of a guidebook now long gone, I was able to come across this spectacular beach. It's easy to see why they call Hawaii the "Rainbow State".
	Kauai Beach This is along the same beach, at the far end of where we entered. Interesting contrast between the sand, rocks, trees, and ocean.
	Kauai Valley This photo was taken on another hike. The trail winds through a very muddy Alakai Swamp, then proceeds up along the crest of some of the mountains. Eventually, you find yourself at a little clearing along one of the ridges where some government surveying team left a marker. Not only is this a great place to stop and have a bit of lunch, but if you look off to the distance, this is the site you will see. It was truly one of the prettiest sites imaginable.