Some of Hawaii's best-kept secrets can be found on Kauai. It's not uncommon for visitors to discover hidden beaches, some lacking so much as a footprint, along the coastline.

See for yourself. Mahaulepu Beach is a two-mile strand of white sand along a reef-protected shoreline in Poipu. Pakala Beach, in Waimea, is surrounded by trees and lush tropical vegetation. A favorite spot for local surfers, it is also one of the best places to enjoy a beautiful Hawaiian sunset. Donkey's Beach in Wailua-Kapa'a is another favorite hideaway. Larsen's Beach on the North Shore seems to extend forever through a secluded area of rolling hills and grassland. Tucked away in a small cove, Kahili Beach, also on the North Shore, is bordered by tree-covered hills and a rock quarry. Wailua Golf Course Beach on Kauai's eastern coast is one of the island's prettiest beaches; it extends for several miles to Wailua. Secret Beach, or Kauapea Beach, on the North Shore, is an ideal spot for bird watching and swimming.

Hiking Trails
Hiking can be one of the best ways to tour Kauai. The optimum trails are found on the Na Pali Coast and in the Waimea Canyon/Koke'e regions.

Koke'e State Park offers about 45 miles of the finest hiking trails in Hawaii. The Alakai Swamp Trail passes through bogs and rain forests to the Kilohana Lookout above Hanalei Bay. Po'omau Canyon Lookout Trail heads through a native rain forest and a series of Japanese sugi trees. Awa'awapuhi Trail leads through a forest to a vista (2,500-feet high) that overlooks cliffs and the ocean. Halemanu Trail offers stunning views of the Na Pali Coast including Honopu Valley and the Valley of the Lost Tribe. Hikers on the Iliau Nature Loop will catch a glimpse of many endemic plant species. This trail begins at Koke'e Museum and passes through a koa forest.

Kalalau, one of the most exceptional trails in Hawaii, is an 11-mile adventure along the rugged Na Pali Coast. This historic Hawaiian trail descends into dense rain forests and climbs along dramatic cliffs. Streams and mountain pools provide refreshing swimming holes, while wild orchids, guavas, kukui nuts, mangos and mountain apples grow in abundance.

Wildlife
One of the best places to bird watch is at the Kilauea National Wildlife Refuge. Here visitors will see boobies, tropical birds, albatrosses and frigate birds that nest in the cliffs. Stand along this rocky peninsula with its spectacular views of the northern coast all the way to Hanalei and it may be possible to spot Hawaiian monk seals, green sea turtles, whales and dolphins. The Hawaiian duck, Hawaiian stilt and endangered Hawaiian gallinule call the 917-acre Hanalei National Wildlife Refuge home.

At Koke'e State Park, see tiny, colorful, endemic Hawaiian forest birds in shades of green, yellow, red and orange. These include the apapane, 'iwi, makihi, anianiau, elepaiao and moa.

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Kauai Visitors Bureau
4334 Rice Street, Suite 101
Lihue, Kaui, HI 96766
(800) 262-1400
(808) 245-3971