Kauai is the oldest, northernmost, and fourth largest of the Hawaiian islands. And many parts of Kauai are accessible only by air, or in some cases, water. But it is always the most beautiful of the islands, and a popular spot for movie makers and honeymooners. And hunters.
They say the first explorer to find Kauai was British explorer, Captain James Cook in 1778. He landed on the western coast, near Waimea Bay, and named the islands the Sandwich Isles, after the Earl of Sandwich. When King Kamehameha unified the islands, only Kauai set out to deter his efforts. Eventually, King Kaumualii decided to join peacefully with the rest of the Kingdom of Hawaii.
The population of Kauai is only 62,000. My bet is that our friends Rey and Corinne know at least 50% of the population. The island has only 552 square miles, so the likelihood of running into a friend or relatives must be high. The Wailua River, at 20 miles long, is the only navigable river in all of the islands.
Some famous people have second homes here. These include: Ben Stiller, Pierce Brosnan, Michael Crichton, Natalie Merchant, and Bette Midler (born here). A friend here has been the chef for Kevin Costner and Oprah when he/she lived here.
Basically, there is one road that nearly circles the island. If there is an accident during rush hour, the traffic is tied up for hours. In general, I stay off the roads at rush hour, or at least make sure that I am going against the commute traffic. This year, I may rent a bicycle to get around in the cool early mornings.
So, beware old Kauai. We plan to hit all of our favorites over the next week! Starting first with the our favorite sushi bar in the entire world, Kintaro. And with dear friends Rey and Corrine. It was old home week—-so great to see them!!!! Highlight of the trip.
