A Vacation to Hawaii Beautiful Kauai Hawaii - The Garden Island - Part1-Lihue to Na Pali Coast

There's an Island, across the sea

Beautiful Kauai, Beautiful Kauai

and it's calling, to you and me

Beautiful Kauai, beautiful Kauai

In the midst of Fern Grotto

mother nature made her home

'neath the Falls at Wailua

where lovers love to roam

I'll return to my isle across the sea

Beautiful Kauai, Beautiful Kauai

where my true love is waiting for me

Beautiful Kauai, Beautiful Kauai

Randy Farden wrote “Beautiful Kauai” at a hotel on the Garden Isle in 1967. It became a hit the following year after Don Ho recorded it and later became a hula standard thanks to Kawai Cockett and the Lei Kukui Serenaders. "The song was inspired by the fantastic view of Hanalei Valley, Mount Nomolo Kama and the bay he saw from his hotel window,” said Tony Todaro, in his book Golden Years of Hawaiian Entertainment. Farden was born in Honolulu but grew up in Waianae. He is a member of one of Hawaii's most accomplished musical families.

© 1968
Lyrics & Music: Randy Farden

I had the privilege of recording Beautiful Kauai while living there in the 1980's.

I thank http://www.squareone.org/Hapa/b1.html for the above information. Mahalo.

Please enjoy this video, produced in part by my friends, Art Umezo and Mr. Gonsalves.

In the 1980's I moved from California to Kauai, along with my 3 children and Steinway Grand Piano. It was an adventure that changed my life forever. I found myself growing to a whole new level as a performer while working with top named artists in the music industry. My spirit soared and took flight as I learned the true island meaning of "aloha".

While Kauai is a breath-taking Island for a dream vacation, it is a "journey of knowledge" to live there. Stay with me now, as I share with you some of my favorite places on the "Garden Island".

Kauai has only one road going from one end of Kauai to the other. God help you if you happen to be behind a slow, easy-going driver. As the pianist for The Sheraton Hotel at Poipu Beach, I can't tell you the number of times I arrived late to entertain both locals and visitors. I finally learned to give myself plenty of time to travel the distance from my home to Poipu Beach.

Along with all the memories of life and growth on this magnificent island, are the memories of the devestating hurricane, "Iwa". Mother nature had enough of my music, and she grabbed the 6ft. black beauty and sent it out to the sea. The entire hotel, everything, looked like it had been bombed. Even changes to the sea shore were unrecognizable. The entire island sat in a state of fear in the midst of the screaming wind.

On Tuesday, November 23, 1982 at mid-afternoon, a twenty-foot-high surf crashed over the seawall, over the swimming pool and into the ground-floor rooms at the Poipu Village hotel near Koloa landing. Automobiles were lifted and moved about in the resort's parking lot. All over the island, power lines were down, houses shambled and destroyed, and most roads impassable. Great trees were splitting and waves demolishing buildings. My son, Randy and I were lucky - only slight damage to our home (the car suffered damage) and we were without power for days. We could not get out of our area to get supplies. We tried to barbecue a turkey for Thanksgiving with our small outdoor grill. It burned to a crisp but the peanut butter and jelly sandwhiches were delicious. We were alive!

I bought a home for me and my little family which nestled at the foot of the Waialeale Crater. This is the wettest spot in the world, surrounded by waterfalls dropping thousands of feet. We would view these waterfalls daily, either by looking through our glass wall, or from the back deck. Spectacular! Kauai Helicopters offer rides going directly into the crater. You will find several companies to choose from when you are ready for your ride.

 Hanalei Bay is one of my favorite, beaches on Kauai.  I enjoyed the beautiful trees growing right on the beach to use as shade on hotter days.  But what I treasured more than the trees, was the Wialua River that reached its end right into the ocean at Hanalei Bay.  This made it possible to take a brisk, cold swim in the river, then walk a few steps to the ocean and enjoy the warmth of the bay. Depending on traffic, it was about a 25 minute drive from home.

The television series, Fantasy Island, was an extremely popular show, starring Ricardo Maltaban and Herve Villechaize. The series ran from 1977 to 1984, produced by Aaron Spelling. The opening scene features one of Kauai's most beautiful waterfalls, Waialua Falls. Located just off the main (and only) highway, it is something to behold.

The first thing most people do after landing at the Lihue Airport is to drive around the island. You have to choices - you can go Northward which will lead you to the wetter , windward side of the island, or you can choose to go South to the dryer, leeward side of Kauai. The road ends in either direction when it meets the looming NaPali Coast. The single, main highway does not circle the island.

Since the airport is in Lihue, the county seat, you may want to stop here first. also, this is where you will want to stock up on food, supplies or visit the museum on Rice Street. Now, I will let you in on a little secret. If you're hungry and have a hanker'in for a hot steamy bowl of saimen, you are in for a treat...a delicious, filling and frugal home made treat. The best saimen in the world is right in Lihue at Hamura's Saimin on Kauai. Hamura's is a hole-in-the-wall kind of place on a back street of Lihue that is popular with the locals. It's nothing to look at inside, just a big menu on the wall and u-shaped counter seating. The kids and I ate there several times a month.

Behind Lihue is the port of Nawiliwili, the main harbor on the island. You'll find a nice beach with gentle waves at Kalapaki, some good shopping and restaurants with a flavor of old Hawaii. An off-beat area, you will want to explore the bustling waterfront on foot.

Turning north on old Highway 56, known as Kuhio Higway, you will drive through the  plantation town of Hanamaululu. The next stop will be the Wailua River, the Fern Grotto (where couples get married), then the Wailua Beach. I spent most of my time at this beautiful beach. Conveniently, it was only about 4 miles from my home. The next stop is downtown Kapaa, a fun trip back in time. Leaving Kapaa behind, curving out ot town north, Kealia beach comes into view. The beach is clean and uncrowded and local fisherman have worked the reefs and rivermouths of generations.

The next seven to eight miles is a series of can roads which lead down to the ocean, where you will find secluded coves and beaches. Next, Kilauea begins the north shore which stretches out in a parade of towering cliff faces. Fabulous Princeville is the next main town followed by the stunning Hanalei which begins a series of valleys ending at Ke'e Beach (Bali Hai), where the spectacular Na Pali Coast begins. Bring your snorkeling gear when you visit Ke'e Beach.

The Na Pali Coast, helps to make Kauai extra special among the Hawaiin Islands. It's an area about 12 miles in lenght accessible only by foot, helicopter or small boat. For me - if you can take an excursion here; of all the island I can think of no other place is so majestic and truly unforgettable. The 12 mile hike is nothing short of amazing and if you're up to it you will find that it is the experience of a life-time.

Kauai boasts some of the most beautiful flowers and plants in the world. Almost any vegetable and fruit will grow - some year-round. We spent many a morning, sitting on the deck, filling our tummies with fresh hand picked bananas, papaya, mango, berries, pineapple and kiwi. What a breakfast. The view wasn't bad either with lush,green, Mt. Waialeale and too many waterfalls to count, looking back at us.

The only thing you need to take along with you on a walk or long hike is water. When you need some energy or you get hungry, you simply look for a mango tree or kiwi fruit growing along the side of the path and snack until you are satisfied.

The aloe vera plant can be found just about anywhere. When the need arises. you simply cut off a piece from the plant in the ground and forget the medicine cabinet. The natives know exactly how to use everything growing in the ground. Once, a woman that I didn't even know came to my aid when I was too sick to get out of bed. I remember this dear lady going out in my yard, picking some type of plants and making a tea. It wasn't long until I felt myself again. I could hardly believe it.

I hope you have enjoyed visiting this part of beautiful Kauai. I look forward to bringing you along on part two of this journey when we will take a trip to the south and west shore.  You won't want to miss "The Grand Canyon" of Kauai.