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Oh my, Kauai!
By Susan BelknappPublished: August 01, 2009
As my plane began its descent over Kauai, the oldest of the Hawaiian Islands, I knew it was unlike any place I had ever seen. Ancient, exotic and beautiful, it was obvious why it has been used as Hollywood’s tropical back lot since the 1930s. Like in “Raiders of the Lost Ark,” the first two “King Kongs,” all the “Jurassic Parks” and, recently, “Tropic Thunder,” when the script calls for a “mystical island” or “lush jungle,” film crews head to Kauai.
The 40-minute drive from Lihue Airport to Poipu Beach, on Kauai’s south side, reconfirmed my first impression tenfold. The cragged, verdant mountain peaks were shrouded in mist near the top, while vegetation of every conceivable stripe stretched to the highway.
The Sheraton Kauai was difficult to find at first, because I was envisioning a sprawling resort. Kauai, however, has a strict four-story-
maximum building code, so large resorts don’t compromise the landscape. Most borrow architectural elements from Kauai’s plantation past, creating a charming motif without upstaging the stunning scenery. Once I found the hotel, I was welcomed warmly and made to feel right at home.
By my first morning there, I had assessed that Kauai was an amalgam of disparate elements that come together to form one of the world’s most compelling creations. It is pastoral, yet developed: (cell phone and WiFi reception are available from almost every location; services are plentiful; and the roads are excellent). It is luxurious, yet low-key, cozy yet diversified, untamed, yet safe.
Some of the larger resorts on other Hawaiian islands are like cities unto themselves. You really need never leave, but then do you really experience all the culture and splendor that an island has to offer? The distinct regions on Kauai are like their own beach towns, where tourists are immediately immersed in and welcomed by the locals.
There is something for everyone on the island. I went mountain biking, sightseeing, scuba diving, kayaking, snorkeling, boating, hiking, cliff jumping and zip-lining. I also got an incredible massage at the Grand Hyatt Kauai. But if you want to golf or sip mai tais by the pool, they’ve got that, too. (I thoroughly enjoyed the mai tais.)
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The 40-minute drive from Lihue Airport to Poipu Beach, on Kauai’s south side, reconfirmed my first impression tenfold. The cragged, verdant mountain peaks were shrouded in mist near the top, while vegetation of every conceivable stripe stretched to the highway. The Sheraton Kauai was difficult to find at first, because I was envisioning a sprawling resort. Kauai, however, has a strict four-story-maximum building code, so large resorts don’t compromise the landscape. Most borrow architectural elements from Kauai’s plantation past, creating a charming motif without upstaging the stunning scenery. Once I found the hotel, I was welcomed warmly and made to feel right at home. By my first morning there, I had assessed that Kauai was an amalgam of disparate elements that come together to form one of the world’s most compelling creations. It is pastoral, yet developed: (cell phone and WiFi reception are available from almost every location; services are plentiful; and the roads are excellent). It is luxurious, yet low-key, cozy yet diversified, untamed, yet safe. Some of the larger resorts on other Hawaiian islands are like cities unto themselves. You really need never leave, but then do you really experience all the culture and splendor that an island has to offer? The distinct regions on Kauai are like their own beach towns, where tourists are immediately immersed in and welcomed by the locals. There is something for everyone on the island. I went mountain biking, sightseeing, scuba diving, kayaking, snorkeling, boating, hiking, cliff jumping and zip-lining. I also got an incredible massage at the Grand Hyatt Kauai. But if you want to golf or sip mai tais by the pool, they’ve got that, too. (I thoroughly enjoyed the mai tais.) |
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