Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Stargazing
Any Kauai beach is great for stargazing, almost any night of the year. Once
a month, on the Saturday nearest the new moon, when the skies are dark-
est, the
Kauai Educational Association for the Study of Astronomy
sponsors
a star watch at three different locations around the island: the Pioneer Seed
Company's parking lot, about 1 mile past the intersection of Highways 50
and 580 in Kekaha; the Hyatt Regency Hotel, in Poipu; and the Princeville
Hotel, in Princeville. For information on the next star watch, contact KEASA,
P.O. Box 161, Waimea, HI 96796 (
&
808/245-8250;
www.keasa.org). The
2-hour stargazing starts at 7pm in winter and 8pm in summer.
Moments
To get here, take Kuhio Highway (Hwy. 56), which becomes Highway 560
after Princeville. In Hanalei town, make a right on Aku Road just after Tahiti
Nui, then turn right again on Weke Road, which dead-ends at the parking lot
for the Black Pot section of the beach; the easiest beach access is on your left.
TUNNELS BEACH & HAENA BEACH PARK
Postcard-perfect, gold-sand Tunnels Beach is one of Hawaii's most beautiful.
When the sun sinks into the Pacific along the fabled peaks of Bali Ha'i, there's
no better-looking beach in the islands: You're bathed in golden rays that butter-
up the blue sky, bounce off the steepled ridges, and tint the pale clouds hot pink.
Catch the sunset from the pebbly sand beach or while swimming in the emer-
ald-green waters, but do catch it. Tunnels is excellent for swimming nearly year-
round and is safe for snorkeling because it's protected by a fringing coral reef.
(The waters can get rough in winter, though.) The long, curvy beach is sheltered
by a forest of ironwoods that provides welcome shade from the tropic heat.
Around the corner is grainy-gold-sand Haena Beach Park, which offers excel-
lent swimming in summer and great snorkeling amid clouds of tropical fish. But
stay out of the water in winter, when the big waves are dangerous. Haena also
has a popular grassy park for camping. Noise-phobes will prefer Tunnels.
Take Kuhio Highway (Hwy. 56), which becomes Highway 560 after
Princeville. Tunnels is about 6 miles past Hanalei town, after mile marker 8 on
the highway (look for the alley with the big wood gate at the end), and Haena is
just down the road. Tunnels has no facilities, but Haena has restrooms, outdoor
showers, barbecue grills, picnic tables, and free parking (no lifeguard, though).
KEE BEACH STATE PARK
Where the road ends on the North Shore, you'll find a dandy little reddish-gold
beach almost too beautiful to be real. Kee (
kay
-ay) is on a reef-protected cove at
the foot of fluted volcanic cliffs. Swimming and snorkeling are safe inside the
reef but dangerous outside; those North Shore waves and currents can be killers.
This park has restrooms, showers, and parking—but no lifeguard. To get here,
take Kuhio Highway (Hwy. 56), which becomes Highway 560 after Princeville;
Kee is about 7
1
⁄
2
miles past Hanalei.
7 For the Active Family
For the family that wants to get out and enjoy the island's beauty and natural
resources, you will fall in love with Kauai. Below are my picks of the best places
to go, things to do, and outfitters to hire.
