Lihue, Kauai

It was at Waimea Bay that Captain Cook first landed, which is why Kauai is the Hawaiian Island of Discovery. And there’s no question why it’s been nicknamed The Garden Island. Kauai’s lush tropical greenery and sparkling sand beaches have long lured visitors to its tropical beauty and cultural diversity.

Not only does Kauai provide the perfect wedding backdrop, its secluded beaches are the perfect venue for an intimate wedding or a large celebration. No wonder so many celebrities choose Kauai for a destination wedding and ultimately buy a vacation home on the garden isle.

But there’s more to Kauai than beauty and solitude. Visitors enjoy the slow-paced lifestyle of its residents along with local culture, activities, shopping and dining. A rental car will get you easily from town to town on its one highway. From the breathtaking ocean views from the Princeville resorts on the North Shore, south to picturesque Wailua Falls, and west to Kokee and Waimea, there’s more to do and see than one would image on such a sleepy island.

Waimea Canyon, often referred to as the "Grand Canyon of the Pacific,” offers vast views and imposing stature. The famous Kalalau Valley Lookout reveals a breath-taking waterfall, green pleated cliffs and a deep, carved valley. Don’t forget to also visit Mount Waialeale, the wettest spot on earth and the tallest mountain when measured from the sea floor.

Kauai has accommodations for every taste: large luxurious resorts, vacation condos or rental homes, B&Bs and timeshare developments. Activities include world class golf, hiking, biking, kayaking, helicopter tours, fishing charters, whale watching and horseback riding. Want to try something out of the ordinary? Don a hardhat and headlight to go mountain tubing down the Hanamaulu ditch system, a series of tunnels and canals originally built to irrigate Kauai’s sugar plantations.

There’s no end to the culinary options of Pacific Rim dining offered by world class chefs. And shopping is available at many shopping plazas and boutiques that line Kauai’s charming towns. Get there via Island Air‘s daily service to Lihue airport from Honolulu or nonstop from Kahului, Maui.

The beaches, the waterfalls, and the greenery that doesn’t seem to end…it’s time to discover Kauai.

For more information about Kauai, visit the Kauai Visitors Bureau web site or the Kauai County web site.