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Diving Deep into Kauai's Lush Waterfalls and Hikes

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  Beautiful view from above of Wailua Falls. Almost no one gets to see from this angle unless they fly over in a helicopter. There are amazing hikes and waterfalls on all of the Hawaiian Islands. But there is something special about how easy it is on Kauai to experience some of the best that the island has to offer. Many of these waterfalls in this post, you can drive right up and check out from an easy overlook. We did a easy/moderate hike to another waterfall called Ho'opi'i falls, which was well worth it. All of this post was done in one day, and all are relatively close together. We saw three waterfalls and did three hikes. Waterfalls: Wailua Falls, Opaeka'a Falls, and Ho'opi'i Falls Hikes: Hoopii Falls Trail, Sleeping Giant, Tree Swing This island is just filled with adventure. If you have never been, definitely check it out. Rent a car, drive for two days, and you will see so much of the same stuff. Wailua Falls, tumbling down into a swimming hole that is only...

Exploring the North Shore of Kauai: From Kailua to Kalalau

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  View from the drone. This aerial shot is of the channel leading out of the lagoon at Anini Beach, one of the north shores most well-kept secret beaches. When you visit the island of Kauai, it is worth spending an entire day driving and exploring the North side of the island. There are so many hidden beach, snorkel spots, photo and wildlife hot spots, the towns of Kilauea and Hanalei, caves, and beautiful scenery around every turn. In fact, you might need more than one day. We tried to stop at all the hot spots. We saw nesting sea birds at the Kilauea Lighthouse, walked out to the end of the Hanalei Pier, flew my drone at Anini Beach, and even hiked up the Kalalau Trail into the Na Pali coast at the end of the road. We stopped to see the biggest taro patches in the state, and roadside snack shops in historic plantation buildings. The rains definitely came in, the closer we got to the end of the road. But that just added more waterfalls to the cliffs. Everything was green as it usu...

Clear Morning atop Waimea Canyon, Kauai

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  We were so lucky to get a clear morning at the top of Waimea Canyon here on Kauai. Looks at this view! Kalalau Valley expands below us, all the way to the ocean. This is where the famous Na Pali coast trail ends, 11 miles later. If you aren't going to hike into it, standing above it is the next best thing. And you can just drive up Waimea Canyon, park, and this view is only a few steps away from the parking lot. Last time I was on the Hawaiian island of Kauai, I missed the opportunity to drive up to Waimea Canyon. The rain and low clouds had settled in by the time I was there. So this time, it was high on my list. I was there with a film crew, getting material for an UnCruise Adventures promotional film for a new land-based extension for our Hawaii cruise. After coming with us on a seven day expedition cruise to the Big Island, Maui, Molokai, and Lanai, guests could then opt to fly to Kauai for an extra five night package. We needed to get all of Kauai's best attractions and ...