About Kauai – Kauai with Keiki

Did you know?

Kauai is also known as “The Garden Island”
Kauai’s weather ranges from 75-85 with not much change in season or from day to night
Ocean temperatures range from 60 to 80 degrees
Kauai’s coastline is 111 miles; it has more accessible beaches than any of the other Hawaiian islands.
Kauai’s West Side Kekaha beach spans to Polihale and is the longest stretch of beach in the State of Hawaii
The islands that you can see from the westside of Kauai is Niihau, Lehua and Ka’ula
Over 90% of the land on Kauai is used for Conservation and Agriculture
70% of the island is inaccessible by foot
Kauai is the oldest island in the Hawaiian chain
Kauai is the 4th largest island
Kauai is the northernmost island in the Hawaiian Island Chain
Kauai is 552 square miles; with a diameter of 32 miles and a widepoint of only 25 miles
Kauai’s Mt. Waialeale is the Wettest spot on Earth, averaging 450 inches of rain per year
Kauai has more rivers than any of the other Hawaiian islands:
Kauai has the only navigable rivers in the state and the longest river is Wailua river at 19.2 miles
There are eight major waterfalls on the island
The highest waterfall on Kauai is Waipoo in Waimea Canyon falling 800 feet
Kauai’s highest mountain is Kawaikini peak at 5,243 feet
The Na Pali Cliffs reach heights of 2,500 feet
Waimea Canyon is approximately one mile wide, 3,600 feet deep and ten miles in length.
There are over 5,000 plants and animals that live on the reefs of Kauai
Kauai has the largest protected population of nene goose (Hawaii’s state bird)
The two native mammals on Kauai and endemic to the Hawaiian islands is the hawaiian hoary bat and the hawaiian monk seal.
Chickens run wild on Kauai after Hurricane Iniki destroyed many of the farmers Chicken coops and got loose. The chicken is the unofficial bird of Kauai as you see them all over the island.
Kauai has no native land reptiles or amphibians and one of the only islands that do not have mongoose.
There are more pigs than people
Most populated town on Kauai is Kapaa
Kauai has over 1 million visitors a year; ⅓ of the people on Kauai are tourists or visitors
Captain James Cook was the first modern visitor that landed on Kauai’s Waimea beach on January 19, 1778
Kauai is the home of the legendary Menehune. Two places to visit on the island to see the menehunes work is the Menehune ditch next to the Waimea Swinging Bridge in Waimea Valley as well as the Menehune Fish Pond located near Nawiliwili.
Kauai Coffee is the largest plantation in the United States
Kauai grows more taro than any other island
Products of Kauai include: Coffee, fruit, vegetables, taro, beef and hawaiian salt
There are no buildings higher than a coconut palm tree. Kauai’s building code has a four story limit on vertical construction.
There have been over 60 movies filmed on the island with popular movies: Jurassic Park, Pirates of the Caribbean, 6 days 7 nights, Fantasy Island and Indiana Jones to name a few.
There are nine golf courses at seven locations on Kauai. Four public courses, four resort courses and one private course.
You cannot drive around the island; Na Pali Cliffs and Waimea Canyon make it nearly impossible to build a road to connect West and North shores
Polihale is the furthest west that you can drive on the island; the end of Highway 50 is before the sugar cane dirt road to Polihale
Maluhia Road Tree Tunnel that goes to Koloa and Poipu has 500 eucalyptus trees that stretch for three miles
Most Locals will say Kaumualii Highway instead of Highway 50; Also when getting directions most will use landmarks (i.e To get to baby beach in Kapaa, when you see the Shrimp Station, turn right by the Texaco. Go straight until you see the one way road).
Moku and Ahupuaa signs are placed around Kauai noting cultural land divisions that were used as part of the history and culture of Kauai and Niihau. Check out the link for more information: www.kauainuikuapapa.com
Kauai’s watershed is an important resource to the daily lives of the people and is the main reason for Kauai’s natural beauty. http://hawp.org/why-watersheds-matter/
The capital city of Kauai is Lihue. The main airport is Lihue Airport (LIH).
The currency used is US dollars, credit cards are widely accepted and travelers checks are also accepted at many businesses.
The main language used is English. A hawaiian creole english “pidgin english” is used by most locals. http://e-hawaii.com/?s=pidgin+english
The color of Kauai is purple
Kauai’s official flower is the Mokihana which is a green berry found in the forests
The area code of Kauai and all the Hawaiian islands is (808)
There is no daylight savings time in Hawaii
Two hurricanes have made landfall on Kauai. Hurricane Iwa in 1982 (Category 1) and Hurricane Iniki in 1992 (Category 4)

If you like these 50 Fun Facts, we got more…click the fish to contact us. We also got “Things to do when it’s raining on Kauai.”

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Kalalau Lookout with views of Napali Coast, shores of Kalalau Beach

1. Kauai County has a no plastic bag ordinance.

Some hotels or vacation rentals will provide reusable bags. If not, you will have the option of purchasing one for a small fee, around $0.50 each for reusable bags upon checkout. Most retailers will provide paper bags or alternatives, so save them to be reused throughout the trip. Also, it is advised that you bring a Hydroflask so you don’t have to purchase plastic water bottles. A Hydroflask is a stainless steel water bottle that keeps water or drinks cold for 24 hours or hot for 6 hours. They come in many different sizes; There is even a 12 ounce “keiki size” for little hands. Hydroflasks have become part of the lifestyle of Kauai.

2. Monk seals, sea turtles, and the Nene goose are protected by law; Keep your distance.

Sea Turtle: Picture taken with a zoom lense

3. It’s hard to get lost.

You will gain confidence in your navigational abilities on Kauai. Highway 50 is the main road that runs all the way from Ha’ena to Polihale. Additionally, you have your cell phone for GPS. So get out of that hotel room and go explore! You should know that you cannot circle the Island of Kauai in a car as the Napali Cliffs block access. The farthest you can go North is to Ke’e beach, where the entrance to the Kalalau Trailhead is. The westernmost point is Polihale beach.

4. You will need to a rent a car.

Although Kauai is a small island, towns are far apart. If you want to explore the different sides of the island and experience all that Kauai has to offer, you will need a car. Also, we drive with Aloha. Overtaking cars doesn’t help to get you where you need to go any faster. Besides that, most of the island is a two lane road which increases the danger not just for you, but for others on the road. Also, relatively speaking residents of Kauai do not use their horns.

5. Got chickens? We do, they’re everywhere.

6. We have traffic too.

You will experience some traffic through Kapaa town and near the tunnel of trees in the early morning and around 3-5 in the afternoon. This is mainly because many are commuting to work or school. The afternoon traffic is called Pau Hana traffic, as residents head home after work.

7. The only major chain retail stores are Walmart, Kmart, Costco, and Long’s Drugs.

These stores carry relatively the same type of merchandise that you would find on the mainland. They do not overly stock summer products and beach essentials. They do tend to offer Hawaii based products like coffees, chocolates, and souvenirs. Renting snorkel gear can get expensive. You could buy gear from these stores, nonetheless if you want specialty items like a full face snorkel mask, the selection is limited. This is especially true if looking for a full face snorkel mask for a child. It is best to bring your own. Also, puddle jumpers are only stocked seasonally. Puddle jumpers are less restrictive than life vests and are better for toddlers. If you want something unique, check out the local shopping. There are a plethora of local boutiques, art galleries, and surf stores.

8. There are tons of “cheap eats” options.

Groceries are expensive and eating out at restaurants can get pricey. However, you can mix it up and be creative with “cheap eats” options. Kauai’s cusine is diverse as there are many different ethnicities represented in Hawaii’s melting pot. Explore the food trucks, local restuarants, and mom & pop stores for “cheap eats”. You may be pleasantly surprised with the culinary expertise and this will also allow you to dive into local culture.

9. Rash Guards are not just for surfers.

It is recommended that you should purchase a rash guard to wear at the beach, especially for your children. Most of these have a SPF of 50 built into them. We have witnessed lots of people who can not enjoy their vacation because of sunburn. Apply sunscreen before you get to the beach and reapply after swimming. Local Surf stores do carry a good selection but it is often hard to find sizes for infants or children ages 2 and below.

10. “You stay on Hawaiian Time”

Slow Down and respect the pace of living. Plan, but don’t over plan. Keep calm. There is no need to rush. Breathe the rich oxygen filled air and enjoy the natural beauty that Kauai has to offer. Remember that you are on vacation, and really there is no where you need to be.

Aloha! KWK

Kauai with Keiki is a resource for visitors to Kauai who are bringing children, given from a L.O.C.A.L perspective, Loving Our Community and Lifestyle.