Kauai

The Ancient Island of Kauai

Text by Valerie Mellema

Each island in the chain of Hawaiian Islands offers evidence of its geologic age. The island of Kauai easily demonstrates that it is the oldest of the large Hawaiian Islands. It contains not only evidence of millions of year of evolution, but it also contains some of the oldest evidence of mankind living in the islands.

Currently only three percent of the island is developed and used by man; the rest is left in its original state. The geography of the island is remarkable for its diversity. On Kauai is the wettest spot on the planet, a canyon similar in appearance and size to the Grand Canyon on the North American Continent, the famous waterfalls from the “Fantasy Island” television program popular in the 1970s, and the remarkable range of “pali” or mountains that are uninhabitable and untamed.

The history of the island is also remarkable as it contains evidence of an unknown race of people called the “Menehune” who lived on Kauai before the arrival of the first Polynesian people. Their method of fish farming was used successfully by their conquerors and the Menehune Fishpond is a popular destination for travelers. Also still in existence is the Menehune Ditch, an aqueduct created by the mysterious and unknown culture.

The famous Captain Cook first made contact with the Hawaiian people while on Kauai and the spot is marked with a statue. The Russian government established a fort in Kauai during the 1800s, and though they failed at claiming Hawaii as their own the ruins still remain. Fort Elizabeth is open for self-guided tours year round.

Kauai is also the location of the only navigable river on all of the islands, and at the end of the Wailua River is the famous “Fern Grotto” where such celebrities as Bill Gates have had their wedding ceremonies. The Grotto itself has only recently recovered from the catastrophic damage done by a hurricane over ten years ago. The place is also remarkable for its natural acoustics, and is known to harbor an amazing number of feral cats.

Of course a visit to Kauai would be considered incomplete if it did not include a trip to the Kilauea Lighthouse at the southern tip of the island. Looking due south from the lighthouse presents an uninterrupted view to New Zealand, though it is thousands of miles from view, and the cliffs surrounding the lighthouse are home to a remarkable number of endangered and unique sea birds – including frigate birds and the state bird, the Nene.