About The Island of Kaua'i This page contains basic background information on the Island of Kaua'i, it's districts, major towns and more. Use the quick links on the right to find the info your looking for, or simply scroll down and enjoy the page. To find property on the Island of Kaua'i use the form at the top of this page, or click here for the home page. To view maps of the Island of Kaua'i, click here. For other Island of Kaua'i resource tools look here.

Contents Kaua'i Overview Quick Statistics Kaua'i Climate About The Districts Major Attractions Kaua'i People Things To Do Moving To Kauai Maps Of All Kinds Loan Calculator Return To Current Search

Kaua'i Overview Some five million years old, Kaua'i is the oldest of the main Hawaiian islands. Thus, millions of years of winds, tides, rain and sun have sculpted knife-sharp ridges and valleys into mountains, created magnificent canyons, nurtured lush greenery, and created an unrivaled countryside. Kaua`i has more rivers, streams and waterfalls than any of the other islands, and it certainly deserves its affectionate name, the Garden Island. The northernmost of the main Hawaiian islands, Kaua`i is 95 miles northwest of Honolulu, the state capitol, located on Oahu. Kaua`i is 627 square miles in area and has a diameter of 32 miles. One of the most remarkable features of the physical geography of Kaua`i is the climate. Mt. Waialeale, the island's second highest peak, has an average rainfall of 485 inches per year, making it the wettest spot on earth. Just a few miles away and 5000 feet lower are the sand dunes on the west side of the island, where a desertlike climate prevails. While it might be raining heavily in the hills of the east side, the south shore can be sunny and a warm 85 degrees. Many acres of green sugarcane cover the plateaus and foothills, yet the industry accounts for less than 1% of the jobs on the island. The economy is sustained by retail sales, hotels and other visitor accomodations, real estate and construction. Lihue, the county seat, is the center of major economic activity for the island and the location of the two most important transportation facilities, Lihue Airport and Nawiliwili Harbor, a deep water port. Kaua`i is the state's third largest island in area, but the least populous of the four counties. It is the only major Hawaiian island with a height restriction where no building can be taller than a coconut palm tree (four stories). The island of Niihau, just off the northwest coast of Kaua`i, is privately owned by the Robinson family and is part of Kaua`i county. Kaua`i's palm-fringed beaches, lofty mountains, and green valleys provide some of the loveliest scenery in the state. It is no wonder that Kaua`i has provided settings made legendary in films such as "Jurrasic Park," "South Pacific," "Blue Hawaii," and the remake of "King Kong." Besides tourism, the major industry in Kaua'i, other significant industries on the island include: Sugar and Coffee Movie Industry Quick Statistics at a Glance Age: 5 million years Population: 62,200 Size miles: 627 Churches: 130 Size acres: 401,280 Schools: 3 Island length: 33 miles Tourists daily: 16,160 Island width: 25 miles Nickname: The Garden Isle Highest Point: 5,243 ft Island Color: Purple Longest River: 19.2 miles Island Flower: Mokihana Highest Waterfall: 800 feet State Bird: Nene Goose Kaua'i Climate The general climate on Kaua`i is ideal, with temperatures ranging from near 90 degrees during the days in the summer months to about 60 degrees at night during the winter. There are really no distinct seasons; even during winter the daytime temperature will reach into the 80s. The coldest months are February and March when the high temperature can fall into the mid 60s. Despite the lack of strong seasonal changes, Kaua`i has an extraordinary variety of microclimates-from desert on the leeward coast to lush rainforests. Rainfall varies dramatically in different parts of the island-from less than 40 inches per year to more than 440 inches at the summit of Mount Waialeale (the wettest spot on earth). If you would like to see the current weather pick Kaua'i Weather. About The Districts For more information about any district simply click on the district name below. Hanalei Kawaihau Waimea Lihue Koloa Major Attractions Waimea Canyon, Hanalei Valley, Koke'e State Park, Fern Grotto, many stunning beaches and, for the intrepid, Kalalau Valley. Kaua'i People Hawaii, known as the Melting Pot of the Pacific is home to an incredibly diverse ethnic population. About 25% of the Kaua'i residents are Caucasian, 17% Japanese and the 19.5 Hawaiian or part-Hawaiian, 14.5% Filipino and the remainder Chinese, Hispanic or a combination of the groups. All the islands are known for their Aloha Spirit and you can expect to find generosity, friendliness and compassion wherever you go. Things To Do Below is just a small list of activities that are available to visitors and residents of Kaua'i: Miles of hiking trails and mountain bike trails Surfing and body boarding Scuba and snorkeling Shore fishing and deep sea fishing Boat cruises Cultural Arts Centers Cave Explorations Luaus Golfing Museums Coffee Tours Flower and Tropical gardens Music Whale and Dolphin watching Helicopter tours Horseback riding Kayaking and Canoeing Bird watching Shopping, shopping and more shopping

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