for the perfect Hanalei vacation rental.
HISTORY
More Than Just a Pretty Place. Hanalei has a cultural and historical history that is as rich and varied as any of the other islands. The collection of ethnic diversity present today tells volumes in how the island became so rich in its variety of foods, cultures, music and everything that goes with a melting pot of peoples. Its Hawaiian heritage began long ago and included kings, queens and then soon thereafter, sugar barons, cattle barons and tourists. From the taro fields to the Russian fort and all of the movie sets, you will have a unique experience in seeing how Hanalei came into being. For starters, it all began with Hawaiians and their beliefs that still flourish today. Almost everyone knows the work Aloha, even those who havent been to the Islands. Its more than just a word for Hawaiians; its a way of life. Its more than just a greeting or a salutation; its a sharing of ones spirit with another, as simple as a smile or the sharing of food such as at a luau. This extends into the custom of giving a lei which is the sharing of love and respect. The official lei of Kauai is the mokihana and maile lei. Strands of mokihana berries and maile leaves are picked in the Kokee forest and strung together and given to another to allow the energy of the goddess Laka to enter into the receiver.
The art of the dance also has some roots in Kauai. The hula is an ancient dance that is poetry in motion. It has gone as a means of worship to a form of entertainment. The hula pahu or drum dance is believed to have started on Kauai. The Kaulu-O-Laka heiau or temple above Kee Beach in Haena is one of the most famous hula platforms in the Islands, if not the most famous. Along with the dance, the Hawaiian music is an eclectic mix of musical influences from all over the world. It is believed to have started with the missionaries and has been added to since. In Hanalei you may find slack key entertainment at the community center and other locations, just look through the entertainment guides.
For those living in Hanalei, it has always been an agricultural community. When the first Hawaiian settlers came they planted taro as the main crop and it is still grown today. Nearly all of poi that is eaten today in Hawaii is grown in the Hanalei Valley. Taro is used to make poi and is one of the oldest cultivated foods in the world. Poi is a staple in the Hawaiian diet and can be tasted at almost any luau. A couple of the other places to visit in Hanalei along with the taro fields includes the Waiolo Mission House built in 1837. The Waioli Church was built shortly thereafter and is a tribute to early Hawaiian architecture. If you like the movie South Pacific you must visit the Hanalei pier that was featured in the movie in 1958. Much of the musical was filmed in Hanalei near wear the Hanalei Bay Resort now sits. There is much to see and do in Hanalei, enjoy your adventures. Aloha!
PACKING
Going to Hanalei on the island of Kauai is quite an adventure or at least it can be. You can get away with bringing a knapsack full of stuff or several suitcases and a carry on. It all depends on what you are going to do while in Hanalei and how much you have to spend on shopping while there. If you are planning on lying out on the beach or taking boat rides, all the while sunning your body to get a perfect tan, then you may need very little in the way of clothing. A couple of bathing suits, some sandals or flip flops as some people call them, some good tanning lotion, preferably a couple of different SPFs, a covering when you have just had too much or when you need to go in a get a bite to eat and the clothes you need to wear on the airplane. They may not allow you to wear a bathing suit on the plane. As you plan your trip and this is only a portion of how you will spend your time, then you need to start adding clothes and accessories. Of course it is going to be different depending on your specific needs.
If you are planning on snorkeling or diving, the bathing suits are fine but you may want to add a light diving outfit depending on your tolerance for the cold. Of course if you have your own gear or any portion of it, youll want to pack that also. Depending on how many dives you plan though, you may want to rent most of the gear. If you are going to add boogie boarding to the list after a morning of diving, then you may want to throw your own boogie board on to the list and on to the plane. Same goes for surfing and bringing your own surf board. Along with those, depending on the time of year, you may want to throw in some sort of wet suit also.
If youre going to go out and eat at nice places or take in some of the cultural events around the Hanalei Bay area, you may want something a little fancier than a bathing suit. Although, it is pretty laid back and the atmosphere allows most anything to go, you may feel better in a little nicer outfit. There are different cultural events throughout the year in which to participate or watch. Along with the nice outfits, you may want to throw in some hiking clothes to take in the back country. The Na Pali Coast is close to Hanalei Bay and its well worth the hike to see some of it. If you are going to be spending most of your time at a local spa, you may find they will lead you on some hikes and may even recommend what you need to bring on your trip. The good news is, even if you forgot to pack it, you can find something on the island that will work whether you rent it or buy it. You really can get away with the clothes on your back and a toothbrush if you are so inclined. Aloha!
ATTRACTIONS
A Bit of Culture While Visiting Hanalei. There are many things to keep you busy while on vacation in Hawaii. From surfing and all of the beach activities to shopping and eating and just sightseeing are all things to keep you busy and entertained. Just with this short list of stuff to occupy your time, its hard to choose where to do it all. Which island is the one you want to play on and explore? Do you want to see an active volcano, drink the best coffee in the world where it is grown, or see snow in Hawaii? If so then the Big Island is for you. How about seeing some of the biggest waves in the world during the winter surf season, or visiting the hustle and bustle of Honolulu, or paying homage to those who were lost during or who fought back for the duration of the attack on Pearl Harbor? If so, then Oahu is the place to be. You get the picture; just picking one island is hard enough due to the variety of activities to do on the various islands. There are so many different things to do in Hawaii it would be impossible to list them all. However, one activity you may not want to miss is visiting the local museums and cultural events the island on which you choose to vacation.
One place you may want to choose if you are looking for a laid back experience where you can have all of the charm of a true Hawaiian experience without the hustle and bustle of Oahu, without the faster pace of Maui or the great expanses of the Big Island is the island of Kauai. It is called the laid back island due to the limits of expansion that the locals have placed on the developers. The local Hawaiians want to keep it simpler and less crowded than the other popular islands. It is an impressive island with one spot designated the wettest place on earth. It is up in the mountains and it doesnt imply that the rest of the island is as wet, it isnt. As a matter of fact you can find some relatively dry parts of the very same island. As you pick a place to stay, you may want to consider Hanalei for its beauty and charm. Its on the north side of the island and the coast is magnificent. Since the island isnt that big, it is relatively easy to get to any other parts of it at any time.
The cultural events and activities in and around Hanalei are excellent and will keep you entertained for hours. One such place is Hoopulapula Haraguchi Rice Mill, Hawaiis only remaining rice mill. Step back in time and visit a working taro farm and learn about Hawaiis agricultural and cultural history. Youll even get a taste of the Polynesian present in your lunch served while visiting the rice mill. Plan ahead as this is not a museum you can just walk up to the door and enter.
If you get the chance to catch the Hawaiian slack key guitar and ukulele concerts youll get to hear traditional songs and stories of Hawaiis musical past. Many are held at the Hanalei community Center. Check your local listings for this and more music in the area. This is just a small taste of what can be found if you look around for interesting activities to keep you entertained while visiting the area around Hanalei Kauai.
RESTAURANTS AND NIGHTLIFE
Laid Back and Eating Well go Hand in Hand on Kauai. Kauai is known as the laid back Garden Island of Hawaii. It is one of the wettest spots on earth with rainfall averaging from thirty-five inches to four hundred and sixty inches on the east side of Waialeale, the wettest mountain in the world. Kauai is the fourth largest and the oldest island in the Hawaiian chain. It has ninety miles of coastline surrounding five hundred and fifty-two square miles of astoundingly beautiful island. Its beauty is world renowned from the splendor of Waimea Canyon, known as the Grand Canyon of the Pacific, to the lush two thousand foot cliffs of the Na Pali Coast. As you can imagine, with so much rain concentrated in a relatively small area, there are numerous waterfalls both accessible and hidden in the lush tropical forests. Not to say that Kauai is all tropical forest as it also has a relatively dry side. The north and east sides of the island are called the windward sides and are the wettest, thus the lushest part of the island. The south and west sides are the leeward sides and are relatively normal in the amount of rainfall.
The North Shore of Kauai is where you will find Hanalei Bay and the town of Hanalei. As you drive along the picturesque road around the island, youll pass Lumahai Beach and then cross seven one-lane bridges before arriving at Hanalei Bay. The town and beach are surrounded by mountains that depict emeralds as the light plays on the various colors of the lush landscape. Within these mountains youll find shimmering waterfalls that will captivate your attention for hours if you allow yourself that luxury. On the other side of the road you will find aquamarine seas that are as beautiful as any in the world. Within these waters you may even catch a glimpse of your first whale if you are visiting the island during the winter months. Playing alongside the whales are dolphins and many other sea creatures. You may want to don some scuba gear and immerse yourself into their fascinating world to obtain a closer look and enjoy the splendor of their colors and underwater ballets.
Although Kauai is known for its laid back and relaxed atmosphere and the fact that the locals have limited the amount of development and growth, there are still plenty of activities to keep you busy. One of the most important ones is dining. No matter what youre doing youre going to want to eat. In this part of the island, eating is truly a delightful event not just a necessity.
Youll find everything from the recognized tastes of the American cuisine to the savory flavors of the heart of the Mediterranean. A unique oceanfront dining experience awaits you at the Mediterranean Gourmet located at the Hanalei Colony Resort. Whether you are looking for a relaxed lunch or an exquisite dinner this restaurant merits a visit. If youre looking for something with a local flavor and locally grown products you may want to visit the Café Hanalei at the Princeville Hotel. For those with a hunger for Polynesian food the Tahiti Nui offers the unexpected where serendipity reigns. For the best breakfast on the North Shore check out the Hanalei Wake-up Café. If you need a lunch to go, visit the Hanalei Gourmet located in the Old Hanalei School House. Of course you are welcome to stay and listen to the live music when youre not in a hurry. There are many more restaurants to quash your appetite. Enjoy the adventure of tasting your way around Hanalei while you kick back and relax on the Garden Island.
More Than Just a Pretty Place. Hanalei has a cultural and historical history that is as rich and varied as any of the other islands. The collection of ethnic diversity present today tells volumes in how the island became so rich in its variety of foods, cultures, music and everything that goes with a melting pot of peoples. Its Hawaiian heritage began long ago and included kings, queens and then soon thereafter, sugar barons, cattle barons and tourists. From the taro fields to the Russian fort and all of the movie sets, you will have a unique experience in seeing how Hanalei came into being. For starters, it all began with Hawaiians and their beliefs that still flourish today. Almost everyone knows the work Aloha, even those who havent been to the Islands. Its more than just a word for Hawaiians; its a way of life. Its more than just a greeting or a salutation; its a sharing of ones spirit with another, as simple as a smile or the sharing of food such as at a luau. This extends into the custom of giving a lei which is the sharing of love and respect. The official lei of Kauai is the mokihana and maile lei. Strands of mokihana berries and maile leaves are picked in the Kokee forest and strung together and given to another to allow the energy of the goddess Laka to enter into the receiver.
The art of the dance also has some roots in Kauai. The hula is an ancient dance that is poetry in motion. It has gone as a means of worship to a form of entertainment. The hula pahu or drum dance is believed to have started on Kauai. The Kaulu-O-Laka heiau or temple above Kee Beach in Haena is one of the most famous hula platforms in the Islands, if not the most famous. Along with the dance, the Hawaiian music is an eclectic mix of musical influences from all over the world. It is believed to have started with the missionaries and has been added to since. In Hanalei you may find slack key entertainment at the community center and other locations, just look through the entertainment guides.
For those living in Hanalei, it has always been an agricultural community. When the first Hawaiian settlers came they planted taro as the main crop and it is still grown today. Nearly all of poi that is eaten today in Hawaii is grown in the Hanalei Valley. Taro is used to make poi and is one of the oldest cultivated foods in the world. Poi is a staple in the Hawaiian diet and can be tasted at almost any luau. A couple of the other places to visit in Hanalei along with the taro fields includes the Waiolo Mission House built in 1837. The Waioli Church was built shortly thereafter and is a tribute to early Hawaiian architecture. If you like the movie South Pacific you must visit the Hanalei pier that was featured in the movie in 1958. Much of the musical was filmed in Hanalei near wear the Hanalei Bay Resort now sits. There is much to see and do in Hanalei, enjoy your adventures. Aloha!
PACKING
Going to Hanalei on the island of Kauai is quite an adventure or at least it can be. You can get away with bringing a knapsack full of stuff or several suitcases and a carry on. It all depends on what you are going to do while in Hanalei and how much you have to spend on shopping while there. If you are planning on lying out on the beach or taking boat rides, all the while sunning your body to get a perfect tan, then you may need very little in the way of clothing. A couple of bathing suits, some sandals or flip flops as some people call them, some good tanning lotion, preferably a couple of different SPFs, a covering when you have just had too much or when you need to go in a get a bite to eat and the clothes you need to wear on the airplane. They may not allow you to wear a bathing suit on the plane. As you plan your trip and this is only a portion of how you will spend your time, then you need to start adding clothes and accessories. Of course it is going to be different depending on your specific needs.
If you are planning on snorkeling or diving, the bathing suits are fine but you may want to add a light diving outfit depending on your tolerance for the cold. Of course if you have your own gear or any portion of it, youll want to pack that also. Depending on how many dives you plan though, you may want to rent most of the gear. If you are going to add boogie boarding to the list after a morning of diving, then you may want to throw your own boogie board on to the list and on to the plane. Same goes for surfing and bringing your own surf board. Along with those, depending on the time of year, you may want to throw in some sort of wet suit also.
If youre going to go out and eat at nice places or take in some of the cultural events around the Hanalei Bay area, you may want something a little fancier than a bathing suit. Although, it is pretty laid back and the atmosphere allows most anything to go, you may feel better in a little nicer outfit. There are different cultural events throughout the year in which to participate or watch. Along with the nice outfits, you may want to throw in some hiking clothes to take in the back country. The Na Pali Coast is close to Hanalei Bay and its well worth the hike to see some of it. If you are going to be spending most of your time at a local spa, you may find they will lead you on some hikes and may even recommend what you need to bring on your trip. The good news is, even if you forgot to pack it, you can find something on the island that will work whether you rent it or buy it. You really can get away with the clothes on your back and a toothbrush if you are so inclined. Aloha!
ATTRACTIONS
A Bit of Culture While Visiting Hanalei. There are many things to keep you busy while on vacation in Hawaii. From surfing and all of the beach activities to shopping and eating and just sightseeing are all things to keep you busy and entertained. Just with this short list of stuff to occupy your time, its hard to choose where to do it all. Which island is the one you want to play on and explore? Do you want to see an active volcano, drink the best coffee in the world where it is grown, or see snow in Hawaii? If so then the Big Island is for you. How about seeing some of the biggest waves in the world during the winter surf season, or visiting the hustle and bustle of Honolulu, or paying homage to those who were lost during or who fought back for the duration of the attack on Pearl Harbor? If so, then Oahu is the place to be. You get the picture; just picking one island is hard enough due to the variety of activities to do on the various islands. There are so many different things to do in Hawaii it would be impossible to list them all. However, one activity you may not want to miss is visiting the local museums and cultural events the island on which you choose to vacation.
One place you may want to choose if you are looking for a laid back experience where you can have all of the charm of a true Hawaiian experience without the hustle and bustle of Oahu, without the faster pace of Maui or the great expanses of the Big Island is the island of Kauai. It is called the laid back island due to the limits of expansion that the locals have placed on the developers. The local Hawaiians want to keep it simpler and less crowded than the other popular islands. It is an impressive island with one spot designated the wettest place on earth. It is up in the mountains and it doesnt imply that the rest of the island is as wet, it isnt. As a matter of fact you can find some relatively dry parts of the very same island. As you pick a place to stay, you may want to consider Hanalei for its beauty and charm. Its on the north side of the island and the coast is magnificent. Since the island isnt that big, it is relatively easy to get to any other parts of it at any time.
The cultural events and activities in and around Hanalei are excellent and will keep you entertained for hours. One such place is Hoopulapula Haraguchi Rice Mill, Hawaiis only remaining rice mill. Step back in time and visit a working taro farm and learn about Hawaiis agricultural and cultural history. Youll even get a taste of the Polynesian present in your lunch served while visiting the rice mill. Plan ahead as this is not a museum you can just walk up to the door and enter.
If you get the chance to catch the Hawaiian slack key guitar and ukulele concerts youll get to hear traditional songs and stories of Hawaiis musical past. Many are held at the Hanalei community Center. Check your local listings for this and more music in the area. This is just a small taste of what can be found if you look around for interesting activities to keep you entertained while visiting the area around Hanalei Kauai.
RESTAURANTS AND NIGHTLIFE
Laid Back and Eating Well go Hand in Hand on Kauai. Kauai is known as the laid back Garden Island of Hawaii. It is one of the wettest spots on earth with rainfall averaging from thirty-five inches to four hundred and sixty inches on the east side of Waialeale, the wettest mountain in the world. Kauai is the fourth largest and the oldest island in the Hawaiian chain. It has ninety miles of coastline surrounding five hundred and fifty-two square miles of astoundingly beautiful island. Its beauty is world renowned from the splendor of Waimea Canyon, known as the Grand Canyon of the Pacific, to the lush two thousand foot cliffs of the Na Pali Coast. As you can imagine, with so much rain concentrated in a relatively small area, there are numerous waterfalls both accessible and hidden in the lush tropical forests. Not to say that Kauai is all tropical forest as it also has a relatively dry side. The north and east sides of the island are called the windward sides and are the wettest, thus the lushest part of the island. The south and west sides are the leeward sides and are relatively normal in the amount of rainfall.
The North Shore of Kauai is where you will find Hanalei Bay and the town of Hanalei. As you drive along the picturesque road around the island, youll pass Lumahai Beach and then cross seven one-lane bridges before arriving at Hanalei Bay. The town and beach are surrounded by mountains that depict emeralds as the light plays on the various colors of the lush landscape. Within these mountains youll find shimmering waterfalls that will captivate your attention for hours if you allow yourself that luxury. On the other side of the road you will find aquamarine seas that are as beautiful as any in the world. Within these waters you may even catch a glimpse of your first whale if you are visiting the island during the winter months. Playing alongside the whales are dolphins and many other sea creatures. You may want to don some scuba gear and immerse yourself into their fascinating world to obtain a closer look and enjoy the splendor of their colors and underwater ballets.
Although Kauai is known for its laid back and relaxed atmosphere and the fact that the locals have limited the amount of development and growth, there are still plenty of activities to keep you busy. One of the most important ones is dining. No matter what youre doing youre going to want to eat. In this part of the island, eating is truly a delightful event not just a necessity.
Youll find everything from the recognized tastes of the American cuisine to the savory flavors of the heart of the Mediterranean. A unique oceanfront dining experience awaits you at the Mediterranean Gourmet located at the Hanalei Colony Resort. Whether you are looking for a relaxed lunch or an exquisite dinner this restaurant merits a visit. If youre looking for something with a local flavor and locally grown products you may want to visit the Café Hanalei at the Princeville Hotel. For those with a hunger for Polynesian food the Tahiti Nui offers the unexpected where serendipity reigns. For the best breakfast on the North Shore check out the Hanalei Wake-up Café. If you need a lunch to go, visit the Hanalei Gourmet located in the Old Hanalei School House. Of course you are welcome to stay and listen to the live music when youre not in a hurry. There are many more restaurants to quash your appetite. Enjoy the adventure of tasting your way around Hanalei while you kick back and relax on the Garden Island.
