Hawaii - Isles

• The Big Island • Kauai • Maui •
• Oahu • Molokai • Lanai • Niihau • Kaho'olawe •

Kauai
Kauai is named ‘The Garden Island’ for its lush scenery. Being the oldest island, its mountains are smoother and less rugged and most of its interior is a mountainous forest reserve. Kauai is dry and sunny on its southern and western sides, and has long stretches of white-sand beaches. The North Shore is lush and tropical, with waterfalls, beautiful beaches, and incredibly green valleys.

Highlights include the Na Pali sea cliffs, Waimea Canyon, and some of the best beaches in Hawaii.

A road runs three-quarters of the way around the island ending at Haena in the north and Polihale in the west. Roughly center are Poipu, Lihue and Kapa’a where most of the population lives. At the extreme ends, major populations centers are Waimea and Hanalei.

Movie makers have chosen Kauai for its beautiful scenery and its comforts. Dozens of films have been shot here and major films include South Pacific, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Jurassic Park, and King Kong (to name but a few).

Kauai is the fourth largest of the islands and has an area of 558 sq. miles. It is 33 miles wide and 25 miles from north to south. The highest elevation is Mt Kawaikini at 5243 feet.

As with the other islands, Kauai’s temperature varies more with location than season. Average coastal temperatures are 70°F in February and 77°F in August. At the higher elevation in Kokee State Park, temperatures can drop into the 30s during winter nights. Kokee averages 55°F in February and 65°F in August.

Kauai’s average annual rainfall is about 40 inches but variances are extreme. Waimea in the south averages only 21 inches while Princeville in the north averages 85 inches. To top it all, Mt. Waialeale in the swampy interior averages a whopping 486 inches, a world record. It is known as the "wettest spot on earth". Summer trade winds keep the humidity from becoming oppressive and bring in showers.

Major Attractions
Waimea Canyon, Hanalei Valley, Koke'e State Park, Fern Grotto, many stunning beaches and, for the intrepid, Kalalau Valley

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Maui is named after a Hawaiian demi-god. According to legend, it was Maui who fished the islands out from the ocean, and who forced the sun to slow its travels across the skies so that Maui's people could enjoy the warmth, and have time to fish and farm.

Maui has much to offer the visitor, including beautiful landscapes, white-sand beaches, world-class water sports, and prime whale watching country.

Other highlights on Maui include the tourist destinations of Lahaina, the Kaanapali and Kihei strip, while the small towns of Haiku, Kula, Makawao and Hana offer a totally different experience. Other treasures are the Haleakala volcano site and the famous Hana Highway.

Many artists and craftspeople have long been drawn to Maui. Its nickname is ‘The Valley Island’, the official color is pink, its flower is the low-i which is a type of rose, and the unofficial slogan is Maui no ka oi -"Maui is the best".

Maui is the second largest Hawaiian Island with a total land area of 728 sq. miles.

Maui’s west coast is largely dry and sunny while the southeast coast and the Kula uplands receive more rain and commonly have intermittent clouds. Temperatures vary more with elevation than season. The variance between winter and summer is only about 7°F in most places. The average August temperatures (over a 24-hour period) are 77°F in Hana, 78°F in Lahaina and Kihei, 79°F in Kahului and 50°F at Haleakala summit. The lowest temperature ever recorded was at the summit of Haleakala(14°F) and temperatures hovering around freezing are the norm at the summit on winter nights. The mountain even gets an occasional winter snowcap.

Average annual rainfall is 69 inches in Hana, 13 in Kihei, 15 in Lahaina, 19 in Kahului, and 44 at Haleakala's summit. Puu Kukui, the highest peak of the West Maui Mountains, gets 400 inches of rain a year, just five miles from the dry Wailuku plains.
 
Major Attractions
The historic whaling town of Lahaina, the Maui Ocean Center, the slopes and vistas of Haleakala Crater, the winding road to Hana, and the white sand beaches of the Kaanapali coast.

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• The Big Island • Kauai • Maui •
• Oahu • Molokai • Lanai • Niihau • Kaho'olawe •