Kauai, "The Garden Isle," with a population of 58,000, is one of the eight main islands of Hawaii and, at over six million years old, the oldest island in the archipelago.
It earns its nickname thanks to its lush vegetation and diverse landscapes.
The jagged, densely forested cliffs of the north — the Nā Pali Coast — stand in stark contrast to the relatively dry western side, where you will find the Waimea Canyon, also known as the Grand Canyon of the Pacific or the Little Grand Canyon.
The island's highest point, at 1,598 m, is the summit of an ancient volcano: Kawaikini.
The area around the second-highest peak (1,569 m), Waiʻaleʻale, receives an average annual rainfall of 11,684 mm — making it one of the wettest spots on Earth.

The Wailua River, the only navigable river in Hawaii, is also found on Kauai.

Poʻipū, the island's main resort area, sits on the sunny, rain-sheltered southern shore. This is also where you will find the Spouting Horn — a lava tube that meets the sea and, when the waves are right, shoots a geyser-like column of water into the air with a thunderous roar.

Tourism here is less intense than on Maui or the Big Island, though Kapaʻa and its neighboring Coconut Beach remain a popular destination for visitors.