Kauai Activity Map
This is the island of Kauai. Take an imaginary trip around it and see what you can see. Then imagine yourself doing it "in person." When you stay at the Hanalei Bay Resort, all of this comes with it.

The North Shore

1. Ka-ulu-Paoa
A path along the left side of the cove just above the rocks leads to the site of one of Kauai's most celebrated ancient hula heiau (temple).

2. Lumahai Beach
Film buffs know that this was the major location for the filming of the movie, South Pacific. Known as one of the most beautiful beaches in the world, it can be treacherous as well as scenic. White sand framed with verdant tropical jungle make it a favorite spot for picnicking but be careful, rip tides can be dangerous during the winter months.

3. Hanalei Bay/Waioli Hui'ia Church
The Bay and Hanalei are legendary throughout Hawaii. With the backdrop of the Na Molokama mountains, and the ridge of Bali Hai across the bay, this is the stuff of which memories are made. The church, built by the original missionaries in 1841, is still in operation and, no matter what your faith, worth visiting on a Sunday to hear the choir singing uplifting hymns in Hawaiian.

4. Waioli Mission House
Built in 1837 by the first western missionaries to come to this part of the island, it's a southern-style home that has seen many additions during the course of its 160-year history. Step back in time to an incredibly gracious period in Hawaiian history.

5. Princeville
Not only will this be your special place in the islands, this 11,000 acre planned luxury community overlooks scenic Hanalei Bay and is one of the best-planned resort communities in the world.

6. Hanalei Valley
At sunset, the valley looks like an impressionist painting. The Hanalei River winds through the landscape from its origination point high in the pali (cliffs). Terraced taro patches lend a sense of timelessness. You can almost imagine the origins of old Hanalei town as a Hawaiian settlement a thousand years ago. Don't miss the scenic overlook.

7. Kilauea Lighthouse and Wildlife Refuge
Built in 1913, the lighthouse is a designated national historic landmark. It once had the world's largest clamshell lens, capable of sending a beacon 90 miles across the sea. The Wildlife Refuge encompasses Kilauea Point and Mololea Point with its Crater Hill sea cliffs which drop 568 feet straight down to the surf. Edged with purple and yellow flowers, the cliffs are a giant rookery for sea birds.

8. St. Sylvester Church
This octagonal stone structure is a church-in-the-round. The great frescoes above the altar of the stations of the cross are by Jean Charlot, one of Hawaii's most gifted artists.

The Rest of the Island

9. Wailua Falls
In Kapaa, Route 583 rises high into the interior and ends at mile marker 3. Far below, Wailua Falls plunges 80 feet over the pali into a tropical pool. It is said that the ali'i (nobility) would come here to dive from the cliff to show off their physical prowess.

10. Fern Grotto
Located on the Wailua river, Hawaii's only navigable river, the grotto is a natural amphitheater which creates ideal conditions for ferns to proliferate. The luminescent green of the tropical rainforest creates an outdoor cathedral which has become one of the island's most popular wedding spots. Catch a boat ride to get here; it's a truly enchanting experience.

11. Smith's Tropical Paradise
This 30-acre botanical and cultural garden is set on the banks of the Wailua River. The impressive and beautifully kept grounds provide an excellent opportunity to familiarize yourself with Kauai's plants and flowers. The gardens are idyllic, and in the evening the luau and musical show is the most popular on the island, featuring Hawaiian music and dances from all over the Pacific.

12. Kilohana Plantation
Though it was constructed in 1937, the estate really reflects the grandeur of Hawaii's golden era of sugar. The tudor-style mansion displays magnificent artwork and antiques. There's a great little shopping arcade and, if you wish, you can take a carriage ride around all 35 acres.

13. Kauai Museum
Certainly worth an hour or two, this is a great chance to get a bigger picture of Kauai's unique history. There's even an exhibit on the menehune (Kauai's little people), who, according to legend, were the first inhabitants of the island.

14. Menehune Fish Pond
One of the menehune's more famous works, this 900-foot fish pond is still in use for raising mullet. The little people are roughly analogous to the leprechauns of Ireland; two to three feet high with hairy, muscular bodies. There's enough anthropological evidence to give credence to the idea that there may actually have been an earlier indigenous race of people who preceded the Polynesians. Whatever the truth, the myth that they inhabited Kauai remains strong. It's also believed that they were gifted with magical powers and often came to the aid of the people of Kauai in times of crisis.

15. Kalapaki Bay
This beautiful beach at Nawiliwili is one of the best swimming beaches on the island. Light swells make it perfect for body surfing and beginning surfing.

16. Tree Tunnel
This famous stand of Eucalyptus trees frame the road into Koloa town. They were planted to provide shade for the donkeys coming back from the sugar fields with their load of cane.

17. Koloa Town
This is the birthplace of the Hawaiian sugar industry, the number one industry of Hawaii for over a century. Time has passed the industry by but Koloa Town has been rejuvenated as a visitor area and glimpse into small-town Hawaii.

18. Shipwreck Beach
Another beautiful spot for snorkeling and swimming but, as with all Hawaiian beaches, it's best to check the surf conditions before you venture into the water.

19. Poipu Beach Park
This is Kauai's best developed public beach park and it can get crowded on the weekends. There's a great protected pool that's safe for even a novice swimmer, and the snorkeling and body-surfing is terrific.

20. Spouting Horn
Wave action compresses into an exposed lava tube forcing spouts of water that can reach 50 feet in the air. From the Horn, there's an unparalleled view of the panoramic coastline plus you can find a flea market here that's a great place to pick up souvenirs.

21. Olu Pua Gardens
The formal gardens of the Kauai Pineapple Plantation have been opened to the public. Olu Pua (floral serenity) is private and traffic flow is guarded to retain the tranquil atmosphere. Very beautiful and relaxing.

22. Hanapepe Valley Lookout
A classic view of an ancient Hawaiian valley. Still terraced in the traditional manner for taro, it's an extraordinary vista.

23. Menehune Ditch
A stone wall encases an aqueduct that was built in a fashion that was apparently unknown to the first Polynesian settlers. It may be the strongest evidence for a pre-existing Hawaiian civilization. The menehune may never have existed, but an 1820 census officially listed 65 people living in the Wainiha Valley as menehune. Strange but true.

24. Waimea Canyon
Called by Mark Twain "the Grand Canyon of the Pacific," erosion and torrential streams have carved a chasm 10 miles wide and 3600 feet deep. Truly remarkable at sunset.

25. Kalalau Valley Lookout
When weather permits, there are two lookouts at the 4,000-foot level almost at the end of the road. An impressive view of the Na Pali Coast, and across the Alakai Swamp to Mt. Waialeale.