Kauai is the perfect destination for a romantic getaway, spiced up with a bit of adventure. We invited Australian photographer couple Matt and Renee Hahnel on a week-long Kauai adventure and teamed them up with local Chelsea Yamase. Follow Matt and Renee’s adventures as Chelsea shares her special Kauai spots – from sipping on sunset cocktails and slurping on shave ice to mountain tubing, hiking, cycling, kayaking and flying through the oldest of the Hawaiian Islands.
Experience Matt and Renee’s Aloha
Top 5 Experiences on Kauai
Kauai’s famous Napali Coast is truly majestic, featuring emerald green pinnacles towering along the shoreline for 27 kilometres.
Located on the North Shore of Kauai, the Napali Coast features panoramic views of the vast Pacific Ocean, velvet green cliffs and cascading waterfalls plummeting into deep, narrow valleys. Boat tours depart from the West Side of the island, these offer some of the best vantage points, especially at sunset.
Waimea Canyon, on Kauai’s West Side, is described as “The Grand Canyon of the Pacific.”
Stretching 22 kilometres long, 1.6 kilometres wide and over a kilometre deep, the Waimea Canyon Lookout provides panoramic views of crested buttes, rugged crags and deep valley gorges. There are numerous trails to traverse for beginners and seasoned hikers that offer spectacular views.
Take to Kauai’s historic waterways on a mountain tubing adventure and discover a whole new way to access the island’s tropical interior.
Float down the former sugar plantation irrigation system that was hand-dug by plantation workers circa 1870. The gentle flow of water offers a fun and relaxing ride through mountain-side flumes and tunnels that emerge to stunning views of beautiful and remote locations.
Lose yourself to the gentle trade winds. Listen to your thoughts as the native red iiwi (Hawaiian honeycreeper) sings its song. Inhale deeply and smell the fragrant flowers all around you. In Kauai’s atmosphere of pure tranquillity, you can take pleasure in life’s simplicities.
While known for its impressive cliffs, canyons and rainforests, Kauai also has some of Hawaii’s most picturesque beaches. Eighty kilometres of white sand surround Kauai, and many of these beaches provide intimate atmospheres away from the crowds.
Kauai is draped in emerald valleys, sharp mountain spires and jagged cliffs, carved by time and the elements. The island’s impressive interior is largely only accessible by air, so take to the skies for a sightseeing adventure by helicopter.
From the air you will experience unparalleled views of Waimea Canyon, the Napali Coast and be surrounded by Kauai’s abundant interior, full of waterfalls and lush, green mountains.