Kaua'i: The East Coast

Color photos fill this guide. The author lives in Kaua'i, one of the most beautiful places on earth. Here we focus on the east coast of Kaua'i. This is the most thorough guide to this area available, with candid hotel and restaurant reviews based on detailed personal inspections. You'll find lavish beachfront resorts, intimate rain-forest B&Bs, family-friendly condos, and much, much more. Our dining reviews range from Asian-fusion cuisine to hearty, affordable plate lunches. Where to find secluded beaches; secret spots for snorkeling; the best outfitters for everything from diving to deep-sea fishing; the top galleries and shops. Family-friendly accommodations and activities; tips on how to get married in the islands; recommendations for the best honeymoon resorts; and advice on finding the best airfares and package deals. Shopping, sightseeing, the beaches, parks, trails, waterfalls all the details are here. The best places for fishing, hiking, golf, tennis, scuba, ocean kayaking, along with camping, horseback riding, biking, whalewatching. The best hikes, bike trips and watersports are described, with information on the tour operators. Driving north on Kuhio Highway from Lihu`e will bring you to the Coconut Coast, which is basically the windward or eastern side of the island. The area got its name from the 2,000-plus coconut trees that were planted here in 1896. Starting off in Wailua, the area is steeped in ancient Hawaiian history. The remains of heiau (temples) that date back hundreds of years line the mouth of the Wailua River. The Hawaiians considered this area to be sacred. Wailua was reserved for Hawaiian royalty. It was the religious center of the island. The land was so sacred that Hawaiian royals would travel here from all the islands to give birth. Ancient petroglyphs can be found here, along with the historic Fern Grotto, Lydgate State Park, the spectacular Opaeka'a Falls, Keahua Forestry Arboretum and Steelgrass Chocolate Farm, which you can tour. In the 1950s Coco Palms opened in Wailua. It was the first resort on Kaua`i. In the early 1960s, Elvis Presley came to Coco Palms to shoot scenes for his movie, Blue Hawai`i. Up the road you'll enter Kapa'a Town, the largest settlement on the island.