Hawaii - Kauai Hotels

Kauai is home to a lot of farms and plantations, so agriculture enthusiasts will love some of the special venues on this island. The Kauai Kunana Dairy Farm Tour includes a breakfast and refreshments as well as sampling of the farm's cheeses and fruits. Grove Farm Homestead is a former sugar cane plantation that is now open to the public as a historical venue. You can peruse the lovely gardens and tour the old family mansion and servants’ quarters. If you want to add a little shopping in the mix, stop by the Coconut Plantation Market Place or Anahola Farmers Marketto pick up some Luau supplies or load up on local wares and produce.

Kauai Top 10

Kauai History

• Grove Farm Homestead – Once a real plantation, now an historic site to visit.
• Kilohana Plantation – This sugar plantation dates back to the 1930s.
• Kilauea Lighthouse – A historic lighthouse popular with birdwatchers.
• Waioli Mission House – Built by missionaries in 1837 behind the Waioli church.
• Russian Fort Elizabeth State Historical Park – Ruins of the fort built by Russians in the 19th century.

Kauai Art & Culture

• Luau Kalamaku – Hawaiian culture is symbolised by luaus such as this.
• The Complete History of America: Abridged – A comedy that first ran in London.
• McMaster Slack Key Concerts – You will both be entertained as you learn the history of the slack key and the ukulele.
• Kauai Community Players – A little theatre group in Kauai.
• Evolve Love Artists Gallery of Kauai – This is a small gallery of local artists.

Kauai Shopping

• Kapaia Stitchery – This is a shop for quilters and sewers, but they will take your measurements and make you something to order.
• Mermaid Crossing – This is a quaint gift shop that has something for everyone on your list.
• Poipu Shopping Village – A great mall that features a dancing show on Tuesdays.
• Coconut Marketplace – A mall where you can grab a sandwich and do a little shopping.
• Yellow Fish Trading Company – This is an antique shop specializing in Hawaiian-made items.

Gay & Lesbian Kauai

• Anuenue B&B – This is a gay-owned bed and breakfast that caters to gay couples.
• Donkey Beach – Although there are ant-nudity laws, this is often a nude beach.
• Kauapea Beach – Known as the secret beach because it is a little difficult to access.
• Aloha Ever After – This is a gay-friendly wedding photographer to preserve your memories.
• The Pointe Bar – This is a great place to get a drink and watch the sunset.

Kauai Events

Garden Island Range and Food Festival features gourmet chefs who prepare delicacies from the produce and locally raised meats of Kauai.

Festival of Lights is abrilliant holiday tradition that includes a number of holiday decorating venues all over Kauai throughout the month of December.

Kauai natives celebrate their Polynesian heritage during the annual Coconut Festival in October. Everything featured in this festival has a coconut or Polynesian theme, including the food, entertainment and crafts.

Kauai Aloha Festival, which takes place in September, is one of the best events to experience traditional Hawaiian music, dance and storytelling.

The Kauai Marathon is a sporting event that takes place on the beautiful white Hawaiian sands. The marathon is held in September and proceeds will benefit local nonprofits dedicated to nature preservation.

Paradise Ride Kauai is a bike ride that is organized each year to help raise money and awareness for HIV and AIDS research. It is not a race; it is a two-day self-paced nature ride.

Heiva I Kaua`i Ia Orana Tahiti is a two-day celebration of Tahitian culture that takes place in August in Kauai. Guests enjoy live entertainment, food and craft booths. Music and hula dancing are the main entertainment.

Koloa Plantation Days offer more than 20 family-friendly events that take place on Kauai during the last nine days of July. You can learn a great deal about Hawaiian history and culture, and enjoy food, hula performances, locally brewed beers, and music during this event.

The Hawaii Ocean Film Festival takes place in Kauai during July. The festival features films about oceanography, marine life, and cultural and entertainment themes related to the sea.

Kauai Music Festival is a four-day tribute to the musical arts complete with concerts, a songwriter's conference, and numerous informal workshops.

When to Go

Kauai has tropical weather, so all of the seasons are warm, although winter is a little cooler. The area is very wet as it is a swampland and rainforest.

Typical high temperatures in the summer are in the 80s F (mid-20s C), and they drop only a few degrees into the high 70s F (lower-mid 20s C) in winter.

It rains a lot on Kauai, and the average annual rainfall is more than 400 inches (1,000cm).

Getting There

Lihue Airport is the main hub for flights to Kauai. Many major US and foreign airlines provide service to this airport. Taxis and shuttles are available to provide transport to your hotel.

Most people prefer to drive a rental car while staying in Kauai since this is a more rural island. There are two main highways, and both begin in Lihue. Route 50, named Kaumualii Highway, runs west, while Kuhio Highway, or route 56, runs north.

Tour buses are available in Kauai to provide transportation to main sights of interest, and there are taxis available in town as well.

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