Palm Royale at Kilauea Bay
Paradise Island Ranch
Kilauea Bay Oceanfront
Aliomanu Beachfront Home
Ultimate Estate Living $14,950,000
20 Oceanfront acres $3,900,000
P r o u d l y S e r v i n g K a u a i f o r o v e r 3 0 Ye a r s !
Super spacious estate home $7,500,000 Large home plus guest house Licensed for a vacation rental $5,450,000
Punahele Perfection
Hanalei Bay views from one of the Largest Princeville homes $2,750,000
Visit for a while and ... 5 - 5 0 8 8 K u h i o H w y. , H a n a l e i , K a u a i , H I 808-826-7244 • w w w. b a l i h a i . c o m
r
ed
u
c
ed
Hanalei Waterfalls
Licensed Vacation Rental $1,175,000
Anini on the Beach
Unique beachfront playground $5,600,000
Makai Golf course Lot
Overlooking the lakes, ready to build $445,000
Elegant Princeville Home On the Prince Golf Course $995,000
Barbara L. Sloan (R)
stay forever ... Kauai
808.651.0028 barbara@balihai.com
Moloaa Bay Ranch
170 Pristine Acres $20,000,000 or Lots starting at $750,000
Kealia Kai Developer’s Lots 12 Remaining lots starting at $995,000
P r o u d l y S e r v i n g K a u a i f o r o v e r 3 0 Ye a r s !
Visit for a while and ... 5 - 5 0 8 8 K u h i o H w y. , H a n a l e i , K a u a i , H I 808-826-7244 • w w w. b a l i h a i . c o m
Prince Course Perfection
Elegant Princeville Home
Kalihiwai Ridge Acreage
Beach Bungalow with Bay Views
Plantation at Princeville
Stunning River Views from Every Room
Positively Stunning $1,389,000
Nature at its Best. Price reduced to $539,000 Comfortably Spacious $399,000
stay forever ... Kauai
Price Reduced $1,495,000
Price Reduced to $799,000
Ultimate Privacy on 5 acres $2,495,000
Barbara L. Sloan (R) 808.651.0028 barbara@balihai.com
Discover Kauai A tropical paradise lying amidst the sparkling blue waters of the Pacific Ocean, Kauai is time-etched mountains, tumbling waterfalls, lush greenery and sun-drenched beaches. The northernmost of the main Hawaiian Islands, Kauai is just 550 square miles and somewhat circular in shape. Majestic mountain ranges radiate from peaks more than 5,000 feet above sea level in the center of the island. Kauai is known as the Garden Island for is ancient emeraldcloaked mountains, brilliant flowers and greenery of many shades. Mostly rural with no buildings taller than a coconut tree (by law), Kauai’s distinct micro-climates, include hot sandy plains, lush river valleys, temperate foothills, high mountain rainforests and a swamp. While there is plenty to keep even the most active vacationer busy — golfing, surfing, hiking, snorkeling and more — Kauai is the low-key and laid back Hawaiian Island. Kauai is the island where Hawaii goes on vacation. 10 Kauai Magazine
July / August / September 2012
hawaiigateway.com
contents Shipwreck Beach - poipu / kerry oda fine art photography / kerryoda.com
July / August / September 2012
12 Koloa plantation days Celebrate the plantation heritage and modern-day vitality of Kauai’s south shore communities of Koloa and Poipu.
18 flying in paradise Discovering Kauai’s hidden wonders from above.
KAUAI M A G A Z I N E publisher
22 splashing in paradise Kauai’s countless ocean and river experiences.
H&S Publishing, LLC Robert M. Self information systems
Tylar Self distribution
H&S Publishing “Printed using recycled paper and environmentally sensitive ink.”
hawaiigateway.com
K A U A I M A G A Z I N E E s t a b l i s h ed 1 9 8 0 Kauai Magazine is published by H&S Publishing LLC. Copyright © 2012. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written consent of the publisher. Publisher is not responsible for any liability associated with any product or service offered by advertisers. All editorial information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Editorial, advertising and business offices are located at 4330 Kauai Beach Drive, Suite G21, Lihue, HI 96766. Telephone: (808) 212-0100 July / August / September 2012
Kauai Magazine 11
“Sweet Memories – 26th Anniversary Celebration” Celebrate Annual Koloa Plantation Days in Sunny Poipu July 20 through July 29, 2012
Over 25 events celebrate the plantation heritage and modern-day vitality of Kauai’s south shore communities of Koloa and Poipu, during this 10-day family-oriented festival. Each year, the festival brings visitors and residents together to learn about Koloa’s multicultural history, experience a diverse range of local foods, culture and activities, explore the area’s unique ecology and archaeology, and enjoy the warm hospitality of the south shore’s resorts, golf courses, and other neighborhood venues. Founded in 1835, Koloa Plantation was Hawaii’s first sugar plantation, bringing with it contract laborers from Asia and Europe who lived together in plantation camps and sharing the foods, music, stories, and traditions of their homelands. Koloa Plantation Days commemorates and celebrates plantation life through a variety of activities throughout the week including cultural performances, craft fairs, local food demos, sporting events, kids activities, rodeos, film nights, an evening (celebration) and the historic parade and park celebration which after 27 years has become a Kauai tradition. The festival opens with the annual Plantation Days rodeo weekend starting with American West barrel racing and a Paniolo BBQ and Bullriding Showdown at CJM Stables co-hosted by Kalapaki Joe’s. Then wake up with the historic Hapa Trail walk where you can learn area archaeology, history and culture. Family and keiki activities abound, whether you take the family to the Sunday rodeo – always a crowd pleaser – or participate in keiki activities
Koloa Plantation Days parade features floats, entertainment and marching bands from the community like Hawaiian Games or mini golf. There are plenty of opportunities for keeping active with a series of outdoor & sporting events a tennis tournament, and a fun run. Guided walks go through historic areas in Koloa and through unique wild, natural areas in Poipu. Or kick back and relax, taking in a “talk story”, a historic film, local music or a family movie night. Many other events, most of them free and suitable for all ages, are sponsored by area resorts, businesses, community groups, and the Hawaii Tourism Authority. Wherever you go, don’t forget to sample “ono” local foods and check out local crafts and products. This year’s colorful parade on Saturday, July 28th through Koloa town highlights the
The festival is a window to Kauai’s plantation history for visitors and our youth as we celebrate “Through the Eyes of Our Keiki” 12 Kauai Magazine
July / August / September 2012
theme “Through the Eyes of our Keiki” with floral floats, walking and equestrian units, decorated vehicles, vintage cars, and music including the Pacific Fleet Band. After the parade, stroll to Knudsen (Koloa) Ball Park for an all-day celebration with a delicious variety of ethnic foods, keiki rides and activities, all day entertainment featuring the cultures that comprised the plantation camps and Hawaii musical talents, a silent auction, and Kauai’s largest craft fair of Hawaii-made products. Visit www.koloaplantationdays.com for more information on this popular event bringing the community and our visitors together. Most events are free or minimal cost. d
The historic Paulo sugar era train comes to Koloa town each year for the festival hawaiigateway.com
e
sc
r
o
w
Princeville Ocean Bluff condominium
Princeville Golf Course Luxury
Princeville Ocean View
Hanalei Lifestyle
Pali Ke Kua At Princeville
Two Vacant Lots at Princeville
Showcase unit $489,000 LH
Tucked Away Ocean View Residence $955,000 Units #13 & #139 $439,000 and $549,000
with Swimming Pool $1,250,000
Short Walk to Beach and Shops $875,000 with Bali Hai Views $345,000 and $360,000
P r o u d l y S e r v i n g K a u a i f o r o v e r 3 0 Ye a r s !
Ruth S. Marvin (R, BIC) 808.652.4422 ruth@balihai.com
5 - 5 0 8 8 K u h i o H w y. , H a n a l e i , K a u a i , H I 808-826-7244 • w w w. b a l i h a i . c o m
HANALEI RANCH
Incredible offering Rare opportunity $14,000,000
PRINCEVILLE ACREAGE
Kapaka Road ranchettes $695,000
HANALEI COLONY RESORT
North Shore’s beachfront condos $495,000
KEPUHI
Best beachfront deal $1,395,000
PRINCEVILLE PARADISE
Gorgeous tropical home $849,000
P r o u d l y S e r v i n g K a u a i f o r o v e r 3 0 Ye a r s !
Michael R. Schmidt (R,CRB) 808-652-6000 michael@balihai.com
5 - 5 0 8 8 K u h i o H w y. , H a n a l e i , K a u a i , H I 808-826-7244 • w w w. b a l i h a i . c o m
Hale Kai Kane
Newly built, 3-bedroom, 3.5-bath contemporary home overlooking Hanalei and Princeville Valleys.
Hale Mikana, Princeville
Beautiful 4 bed / 3.5 bath home with private pool.
Ka Ehu Kai, Hanalei
Tropical 3 bed / 2.5 bath ocean view home. Steps to the beach.
King Hale, Haena F u l l C o n c i e rg e a n d Va c a t i o n S p e c i a l i s t s
Gorgeous 4 bed / 4 bath beachfront home. Stunning ocean views. Newly remodeled.
Offering the finest homes on Kauai’s North Shore 5 - 5 0 8 8 K u h i o H w y. , H a n a l e i , K a u a i , H I 8 6 6 - 4 0 0 - R E N T ( 7 3 6 8 ) • w w w. b a l i h a i . c o m
Hanalei Ohana, Hanalei
5 bed / 4 bath home close to town and beaches.
Ka Ehu Kai, Hanalei
2 bed + loft, 2 bath beachfront cottage.
MEET YOUR TEAM:
Christine, Janell, Sequoia, Mandy and Lisa
LUXURY VACATION RENTALS 808.826.8000 rentals@balihai.com
Discovering Kauai’s Hidden Wonders from Above
Flying Photo: Kerry oda fine art photography / kerryoda.com
In Paradise
Napali Coast
Visitors to the Garden Isle naturally want to absorb as much of paradise as possible. Those who arrive on Kauai by jetliner get just a glimpse of the island’s breathtakingly gorgeous landscapes. However, to view the gushing waterfalls and emerald rainforest of the remote interior requires a smaller form of transportation that provides a closer perspective. A trip to the Garden Island is not complete without some form of an airborne adventure -- one of the three experiences of Kauai’s air-land-sea activity trifecta. Kauai is blessed with wild, untouched natural beauty unlike anywhere else on earth, much completely inaccessible except by air. Ninety percent of the island is not accessible by land vehicle, and 70 percent is inaccessible by foot. Flying tours provide panoramic views of the island’s visual treasures, among them, Manawaiopuna Falls, a location for Jurassic Park, the countless cascading falls of Waialeale Crater, and the famous Napali coast, with its verdant, razor-thin cliffs. A trip around the island by air helps visitors understand the geography and decide which sides of the island they want to explore further. From the air, a passenger observes that Kauai is a mini-continent with micro-climates ranging from desert on the West Side, to the primeval Alakai Swamp above the emerald Napali cliffs, to the Waimea “Grand Canyon of the Pacific,” one of Kauai’s natural wonders. 18 Kauai Magazine
July / August / September 2012
helicopters You can embark on one of these exciting flightseeing excursions in a number of ways. Helicopter tours are the most common method with most companies departing from Lihue (Central) . Others depart from Hanapepe (West Side), , and Princeville (North Shore). Some helicopter tour companies provide noise-canceling headphones with music piped in and narration from the pilot. Flights from the Lihue Airport typically start out over Nawiliwili Harbor and the Menehune Fish Pond. According to legend, the pond was built overnight by the Menehune (little people) who inhabited Kauai before the Polynesians arrived. The helicopters then pass along Haupu Mountain Range, heading continued on page 20 hawaiigateway.com
Kerry oda fine art photography / kerryoda.com
NaPali Coast
continued from page 18 inland and westward over Hanapepe Valley, Olokele, and the dramatic Waimea Canyon. One company offers a special Jurassic Falls Landing Adventure at Manawaiopuna Falls, seen in the movie Jurassic Park. Depending on the time of day, the intensity of the sun, and the presence of clouds casting shadows, the variegated colors in the canyon’s layers range from fiery orange and rust red, to glowing copper and bronze, to pastel hues of taupe and terra cotta. The incredible remote valleys of the Napali coast come into view next. Knife-edge ridges separate the lush valleys where the Kalalau, Hanakoa, and Hanakapiai waterfalls plunge hundreds of feet into streams on their way to kissing the ocean. Sea caves and a hanging valley have been carved out of the coastline by the incessant, pounding surf. Leaving Napali, the chopper passes Mt. Makana, the peak portrayed as the island Bali Hai in the movie South Pacific. Below you can see Kee Beach at the end of the road on the North Shore and the beginning of the eleven-mile hiking trail to Kalalau Valley. Kee Beach is also the site of well-known beach scene between Rachel Ward and Richard Chamberlain from the television mini-series the Thorn Birds. The helicopter next soars over Hanalei Valley, the home of rainbows and patchwork quilts of taro fields, passing by more sparkling waterfalls on its way to the center of the island. In the center of Kauai, Mt. Waialeale -- known as “the wettest spot on earth” with over 400 inches of rain annually -- is also the location of Kawaikini Peak, 5,243 feet above sea level and the highest elevation on Kauai. From above, you can spot the “Blue Hole,” actually a pool, at the base of Mt. Waialeale, and the result of the convergence of two streams and a waterfall. Flights departing from Princeville soar over the Hanalei Valley, the Napali Coast, and Waimea Canyon. One helicopter company provides tours of the “forbidden” island of Niihau, a private island off the west shores of Kauai (and ancestral home of Hawaiian musician Israel “Iz” Kamakawiwo’ole, known for his medley of “Over the Rainbow” and “What a Wonderful World”). Helicopter tours are operated on a weather-permitting basis and reservations should be made in advance. Some companies will arrange custom tours or photo charters to specific sites. Partly cloudy skies with a little rain shouldn’t keep visitors from taking a flight. A veil of mist behind a pali (cliff) accentuates its razor-sharp edge and, as everyone knows, sun and showers are the ingredients for Kauai’s world-famous rainbows (and sometimes double rainbows). 20 Kauai Magazine
July / August / September 2012
fixed-wing airplanes
A slower, more relaxed adventure by air is via a small, fixedwing airplane or an open cockpit biplane. Fixed-wing air tours are 45 minutes to one hour long and cover the entire island of Kauai. Also available are private charter biplanes, departing from Lihue, which allow customized flights. These planes are built to emulate aircraft from the 1930s and 1940s, but with modern modifications for safety and comfort. Standard, pre-designed sightseeing flights of the island from 30 minutes to one hour long are also available.
ultralights
For those who have dreamed of being able to fly, the Ultralight “Trike” – an open-air two-person engine-powered hang glider -- emulates the experience. The Ultralight is as close to real flying (as in, “I’m a bird!”) as you may ever experience. Combine the thrill of this open-air, wind-in-your-hair ride with Kauai’s spectacular scenery and you have an experience better than any dream. The craft is stable, considered to be safer than hang-gliding, features the latest digital instrumentation and global positioning systems, and is engine-powered. The Ultralight takes off and lands on regular runways and has parachutes onboard for safety. If you’ve seen the movie Fly Away Home, the contraption that Jeff Daniels flies to lead a flock of orphaned Canadian geese home (though not on Kauai) is an Ultralight. For incredible images of Kauai taken from the vantage point of an Ultralight, check out the video, Extreme Kauai, available at http://www.bestbookshawaii.com. One of the main reasons visitors choose Kauai as their vacation destination is the island’s incomparable natural beauty. x
Having traveled to the middle of the Pacific Ocean to find Kauai, experiencing the Garden Island from above can be the literal highlight of a dream Hawaii vacation.
hawaiigateway.com
Photo: Kerry oda fine art photography / kerryoda.com
Splashing in Paradise
Kauai's countless ocean and river experiences Hawaiian Green Sea Turtle
A trip to the Garden Island is not complete without some time spent in, on, or under the water. The Pacific Ocean’s turquoise waters surrounding the island and Kauai’s sparkling clear inland streams and rivers beckon whale watchers, anglers, boaters, divers, surfers, and other water sport lovers. The dilemma may be what to dive into first. snorkeling, diving, tubing, and swimming
Beneath the kayaks’ paddles, the surfboards’ swooshing fins, and the touring catamarans’ bouncing pontoons, lives a cool, quiet blue world that belongs to Kauai’s abundant sea life. Diving and snorkeling tour operators provide instructions on how to use their equipment and even how to get great photographs and videos of your sea adventures. Some of the best snorkeling locations are: Koloa Landing; Lawai Beach; Poipu Beach Park; Lydgate Park; Tunnels Beach; and Kee Beach. Grab a snorkel, mask, and flippers for an afternoon, and enter Kauai’s enchanted underwater world. “Tubing” Tours are a unique experience. Plan to get wet. Tubing takes you on a guided tour through jungles and tunnels using former sugar plantation irrigation waterways while you “float on air,” relaxed on an inner tube. Tubing is an effortless way to tour some of the island’s otherwise inaccessible areas.
whale-watching cruises
A whale-watching ocean tour is an intimate way to experience the awesome Humpback Whale and enjoy the variety of Kauai’s beautiful landscapes from an off-island perspective. Every fall, Humpback Whales leave their Alaskan feeding grounds to journey to the waters of the Hawaiian Islands to sojourn for the winter, mate, birth, and nurse their young. (Whales think that Hawaii is romantic, too!) Whale-watching cruises give you an up-close and personal encounter with these magnificent mammals from about November to March, when Humpbacks are most prevalent. You can choose to whale-watch from aboard catamarans, zippy rubber zodiac rafts, cruise vessels, and sail boats. Some tour companies offer dual-powered (motorized and sailing) catamarans for snorkeling, whale watching, and sunset cruises. continued on page 24
22 Kauai Magazine
July / August / September 2012
hawaiigateway.com
continued from page 22 Some provide the more extreme rigid-hull zodiac inflatables. Be sure to bring a camera. A waterproof disposable camera is a good idea, as well as a towel and an extra set of dry clothes, because you will get wet. Binoculars will help with closer observation of whale activity. For best viewing with binoculars, use 8x40 or 7x50 magnification. If you don’t have sea legs, consider taking nonprescription or homeopathic motion sickness prevention medication before getting on any ocean craft. Hawaii winter wave swells can be immense and the sea ride can get quite bouncy. Whales abound in the waters all around Kauai, putting on a show with playful behavior such as fin slapping, lobtailing (slapping the tail fluke), and breaching (jumping out of the water). Don’t be surprised to see a school of Spinner dolphins, traveling in parallel pairs along your tour boat, rhythmically leaping out of the sea. Baby dolphins flip themselves into the air with abandon alongside their parents. You may also spot albatross and Boobies (birds which nest and hatch in the caves of the Na Pali cliffs).
kayaking
Are you ready to dip your paddle in clear fresh water fed by sparkling waterfalls? Or would you rather explore sea caves, cliffs, and waterfalls and then snorkel in a secluded bay or lagoon amid tropical fish? Or both? Then a kayaking tour is the perfect activity for you. Millions of years of erosion and weathering have created more plains and rivers on Kauai than on any other Hawaiian island. Kauai’s six rivers are the only navigable rivers in Hawaii: Waimea; Hanapepe; Huleia; Wailua; Kalihiwai; and Hanalei. Via river kayaking, you can discover tropical rainforests, woods, and swampy jungles amidst a profusion of colorful flowers and
24 Kauai Magazine
July / August / September 2012
butterflies. Most kayak tour operators offer waterfalls tours combining a perfect blend of paddling, hiking, swimming, and picnicking at places like Secret Falls up the Wailua River.
fresh-water fishing
Anglers may be surprised to learn that freshwater fishing for trout and bass on Kauai’s rivers, ponds, streams, and reservoirs is remarkable. You can trout fish at Kokee State Park (on Kauai’s west side) in designated streams, reservoirs, and “ditches.” Trout fishing season begins with a 16-day period in August and continues on weekends and holidays through September. Largemouth bass, small-mouth bass, and the exotic South American peacock bass have been caught in Kauai’s reservoirs. Fishing licenses are required and available online at http:// www.hawaii.gov/dlnr/dar/licenses.htm. For more information, call the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Aquatic Resources at (808) 274-3344.
deep-sea fishing
If you are hooked on deep-sea fishing, both exclusive and shared charter trips are available. Shared charters reduce your cost, but fish caught on shared trips are divided among passengers. Excursions can vary from several hours long to up to two-day overnight adventures to remote fishing spots around the island. On these exciting excursions, you fish for ono, billfish, ahi, mahi-mahi, and more. For fishing, kayaking, snorkeling, diving, surfing, sailing, whale-watching, Kauai is happy to bathe you in multiple water sports. Whatever ways you choose to get wet – in, on, or under the water – the experience is bound to be therapeutic in the magical waters surrounding Kauai. W
hawaiigateway.com
hawaiigateway.com
July / August / September 2012
Kauai Magazine 25
Hale Hoaloha steps to Hanalei Bay
Bamboo Valley Estate
Hanalei Hideaway
Why pay beachfront prices
Perfect Family Vacation Home. TVRNCR permitted $1,850,000.
in Hanalei’s Waipa Valley. Hidden Treasure surrounded by protected private lands. $1,595,000.
“Singing Waters” in Waioli Valley. A world of its own yet min- for a beachfront view? Build your dream utes to Hanalei Bay. $499,000. home across from Hanalei Bay. $1,250,000.
Sarah J. Berntson (R) 808-651-6520 sarahb@aloha.net
SO
LD
Kealia Kai
Princeville
Rare 4 bedroom Cliffs condo $499,000 - SOLD
5 acres ocean bluff estate lot. A great value in an amazing location. $995,000
Making your Dreams a Reality! “Paul delivered a consistent high level of professional service when we purchased our Kauai vacation property. We would recommend Paul to help you too.” —Doreen F, Craig H, Truckee, Ca.
“Paul was very professional and went above and beyond helping us find our home on Kauai.” —Jack and Olga M., Kilauea
P r o u d l y S e r v i n g K a u a i f o r o v e r 3 0 Ye a r s !
Paul Pacuilla (R) 5 - 5 0 8 8 K u h i o H w y. , H a n a l e i , K a u a i , H I 808-826-7244 • w w w. b a l i h a i . c o m
808-639-9207 Paul@Balihai.com
Princeville – Queen Emma’s Bluff
Waipake
Aliomanu Estates
Princeville – Queen Emma’s Bluff
Hale Ikena – Ocean View “Green” Residence $1,599,000 4 acre Ocean & Mountain View Lot
$699,000
HANALEI
Vacation Rental - Across from Wai’Oli Stream $1,350,000 Providing
Professional
Hale Kakela – Hilltop Estate with Pool $2,950,000 Sunset View Residence on Prince Golf Course $830,000
Haena
Hale Lolo – Ocean-centric “Surf Shack” $549,000
Service
Scan the QR Code to the right for additional 5 - 5 0 8 8 K u h i o H w y. , H a n a l e i , K a u a i , H I 808-652-6600 • w w w. b a l i h a i . c o m
property information.
Hanalei
Haena
HANALEI
Princeville – Queen Emma’s Bluff
Koloa Estates
Princeville – Queen Emma’s Bluff
Approved Vacation Rental - Steps to Hanalei Bay $1,049,000 Designed with Island Living in Mind – $1,599,000 2/3 acre – Minutes to Poipu Golf & Beaches $695,000
Rustic Cottage in Tropical Setting - Walk to Beach $519,000 Ocean View Lot on Prince Golf Course $650,000
Updated Residence on Prince Golf Course $1,095,000
Named one of Hawaii’s Top Realtors in 2012 by Hawaii Business Magazine
Sean Ahearn (RA) 808.652.6600 sean@balihai.com
Kalihiwai Ridge
Emme Hale - Secluded and tranquil ~5 acre Riverfront Estate $2,495,000
Kalihiwai Ridge
Ipo Hale - Amenity rich Plantation-style Estate on 3 acres $2,295,000
Providing
Professional
Service
Sean Ahearn (RA) 808.652.6600 sean@balihai.com
5 - 5 0 8 8 K u h i o H w y. , H a n a l e i , K a u a i , H I 808-652-6600 • w w w. b a l i h a i . c o m