Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
History
Like the other Hawaiian Islands, Kauaʻi saw a sea change in all aspects of life with the
arrival of Captain Cook, sugar plantations, statehood and tourism. While Kauaʻi deve-
loped as a sugar town through the early 1900s, it became iconic as a tropical paradise
after WWII, when Hollywood glamorized Lumahaʻi Beach in Mitzi Gaynor's
South Pa-
cific
(1958) and Coco Palms Resort in Elvis Presley's
Blue Hawaii
(1961).
State & County Parks
About 30% of the island is protected by the state as parks, forest reserves and natural-
area reserves. Must-see state parks include the adjacent Westside standouts, Waimea
Canyon and Kokeʻe State Parks, for the awesome chasm, steep cliffs and native forests.
Hiking trails abound, but most trailheads are accessible only by 4WD. Na Pali Coast
State Park is another headliner, as the steep, slippery Kalalau Trail is now practically de
rigueur. Most of Kauaʻi's best and easiest-to-access beaches are designated as county
parks, such as Poʻipu Beach Park on the South Shore; the gorgeous Hana-lei Bay Beach
Park and serene ʻAnini Beach Park, both on the North Shore; and family-friendly Ly-
dgate Beach Park on the Eastside.
Camping
State park
campgrounds can be found at Na Pali Coast State Park, Kokeʻe State Park
and Polihale State Park. Permits are required from the
Division of State Parks
(
274-3444;
www.hawaiistateparks.org
; 3060 Eiwa St, State Bldg, Room 306, Lihuʻe; 8am-3:30pm
Mon-Fri)
, and are obtainable either in person or by mail. Fees range from $5 to $10 per
night and time limits are enforced.
For remote backcountry camping around Waimea Canyon and Kokeʻe, there is no
Department of Land & Natural Resources, State Bldg, Room 306, Lihuʻe; 8am-3:30pm Mon-Fri)
issues free permits for four sites in Waimea Canyon, two sites (Sugi Grove and
Kawaikoi) in and around Kokeʻe and the Waialae site near the Alakaʻi Wilderness Pre-
serve.
Among the seven
county parks
with campgrounds, the most pleasant are Haʻena
Beach Park, Black Pot Beach Park (Hanalei Pier), ʻAnini Beach Park and Salt Pond
Beach Park on the Westside.
Camping permits cost $3 per night per adult camper (children under 18 years free) and
are issued in person or by mail (at least one month in advance) at the
Division of Parks
Recreation, Suite 150, Lihuʻe;
8:15am-4pm)
. Requirements include a signed waiver, applic-
