Kauai County, Hawaii

The shoreline of Glass Beach is covered with millions of brown, aqua, clear and blue sea glass pebbles, but also consists of other remnants from what looks to be a former salvage yard (do not walk barefoot in this area). Although that may be the case, there is a lot of beauty to be captured here...

Among all of the places in the Hawaiian islands, Kauai is my favorite. It's what you imagine when you think of Hawaii. It's still relatively undeveloped and there are no freeways on the island. Waimea Pier, which is located at Waimea Beach, epitomizes the old feel of Kauai.Located on the west sid...

On the South Shore you can find the Spouting Horn. There's a small beach park with a great lookout where you can watch a blowhole spout a plume of thundering water into the air. This waterspout occurs whenever the waves are forced under the rocky shelf and up through a lava tube. The water someti...

Iliau, an endemic plant to Kaua'i's westside, grows along the path -- hence the name: Iliau Nature Loop -- is located in Waimea Canyon State Park. Not far after mile marker 8. It has the same trailhead as Kukui Trail.Native vegetation are identified in signs along the path. There are excellent vi...

You will need a 4WD high clearance vehicle to reach this trail. To reach the trailhead, take Highway 580 which will eventually turn to dirt. You'll cross over a couple of streams and when you reach a Y, take a left. In one more mile, you will reach a second Y which you will turn left. If the gate...

This easy-to-handle trail is a good one for the whole family. The trail starts from "Shipwrecks Beach", in front of the Grand Hyatt and follows the coastline for 2 miles to Maha'ulepu Beach. Along the way, you'll witness beautiful, rugged coastline and multiple lookouts over the ocean. This tra...

People have accessed the falls directly from the Canyon Trail, which begins between mile marker 14 & 15. You'll follow a dirt road for a bit, leading to a 3.2 mile hike (not my recommendation). The hike is more enjoyable via the recently opened spur trail, which starts at the Pu'u Hinahina lo...

Kawaikoi stream trail starts 3/4 mile beyond the Forest Reserve entrance sign on the Mohihi-Camp 10 road & across the stream at "Sugi Grove". It's a DLNR maintained trail, so there's signage & mile markers for the trail.At 1.75 miles total-roundtrip, it's a very easy walking trail, great ...

Parking at the trailhead is limited to approximately four vehicles, so arrive early. If you are unable to park, continue down Highway 580 and you will find parking next to Kawi Stream. The beginning of the trail, an old fire road, starts with a gradual incline where you are exposed to a variety o...

A strenuous 7 mile hike, depending on which way you start, that takes you from the world renowned Kalalau Valley from Pu'u O Kila lookout, through dense mossy forests, across a stream, up to the highest swamp in the world and ends in views of Kaua'i's north shore of Wainiha valley and Hanalei Bay.

Drive Waimea Canyon Drive until you reach mile marker 17. Continue about half a mile further, park at the turnout on a corner near a telephone pole. The trailhead is directly back from the turnout.You'll first encounter a maze of criss-crossing hunter trails. Stay mostly to the left, following ri...

This is one of the most beautiful waterfalls on the island of Kauai. There is a designated parking lot with a viewpoint to see the top of the falls. 

Kalepa Ridge is a narrow, unofficial trail that starts at the Kalalau Lookout in Koke'e State Park. To get to the trailhead, drive to the popular Kalalau Valley Lookout near the end of highway 550 in Koke'e State Park. Look toward the left (ocean side) of the parking lot where you'll see the unm...

There are lots of options for heli rides in Kauai, ranging from plush interiors with AC and noise canceling headphones, to deeply discounted, crowded rides, but my personal recommendation is to find a company that offers a doors off option (there are two options as of winter 2015/16). Not only w...

There are a few different approaches for this hike - you can take either the East route, West route, or the Kuamoo-Nounou route. The East route is closest to nearby towns of Kapa'a and Wailua, so for convenience I chose this route.The trail quickly begins with several switchbacks, all of which a...

First, you need kayaks to get on the river. I bring my Oru Kayak with me everywhere, but we did have to rent one additional, and there are rentals everywhere - a quick Google search will get you tons of options. You can launch your boat from directly across the Wailua River Marina where you see t...