Kauai – The Garden Island with Long Time Hawaii Resident Mary Deal

Kauai held me for 20 unforgettable years. It’s a place that offers  much to see and do, mostly all outdoors. Kauai has more beaches than all the other islands combined. Some of the main beaches from the north and wrapping around the island are Kee, Tunnels, Hanalei, and Anahola on the north shore, Kealia and Wailua on the east side, Poipu on the south shore, and Poliholi on the lower west end.

Geologically, Kauai is the oldest island of the 5 main islands and lies 105 miles across the Kauai channel from Oahu, the next island southward. Kauai is about five million years old. Each of the main islands are their own counties. Some of them incorporate smaller islands. Kauai county includes Kaula, Lehua and Niihau.

Captain James Cook sailed into Waimea Bay in 1778. He was the first European to reach the islands and promptly named them The Sandwich Islands, after a British Earl.

Later, other countries would try to maintain a presence and rule the islanders, namely Germany and Russia. Germantown is still standing in ruins along the Hanakapiai River on the north shore, but a difficult climb to get to. Germantown became a district of Lihue, the county seat. The Russian effort is evidenced by the ruins of Fort Elisabeth on the South Shore. Too, the homes of former Hawaiian Queens still stand as museums.

Kauai is known for having a more distinct Hawaiian dialect which is spoken in pure form on the private island of Niihau. Some clues to the old dialect were that the older language used a T instead of a K; Tauai instead of Kauai and Tapaa instead of Kapaa.

Mt. Waialeale is known as the wettest spot on earth with a annual rainfall averaging 460 inches. Because of the rainfall in the mountains, Kauai has the only navigable river in the Hawaiian Islands. The rain causes everything to grow like a veritable garden, hence the nickname “The Garden Island.”

Many small plantation towns still stand. They were active during the busy eras of sugar cane production. Each town has its own history and historical sites to see. Some offer guided tours, like the old McBride Sugar Cane mill in Lihue. The Hanalei Taro fields remain from the original Hawaiians and are the leading source of poi throughout the Islands.

Like on all the islands, you’ll find hula shows, hukilaus, luaus, canyons, hiking trails and waterfalls too numerous to mention. Golf and water sports abound. Zip-lines run in the most inconceivable places, offering a peek at vistas not normally seen. Yet, if all you want to do is sit and sip and listen to the surf, you will easily find a favorite spot on a beach and never be bothered.

Because of its jungles, Kauai is famous for numerous movies being filmed around the island. Movie tours are offered to former filming locations. Also of interest is the local film festival. Kauai has everything all the other islands offer, but it’s managed in a down-home, laid-back atmosphere where people are quick to offer a smile and an Aloha, the word that best describes Kauai.

Mary Deal is an Amazon best-selling, award-winning author of suspense/thrillers, romance, a short story collection, writers’ references, and self-help. She is a Pushcart Prize nominee, Artist and Photographer, and former newspaper columnist and magazine editor. She is currently writing the third story in her Sara Mason Mystery Series.

Some of her websites: 

Her Web site:  https://www.marydeal.com

Linked In:  http://www.linkedin.com/in/marydeal

FaceBook:  http://www.facebook.com/mdeal

Twitter:  http://twitter.com/Mary_Deal

Google+:  https://tinyurl.com/y8j723lr

Goodreads:  https://tinyurl.com/hvvomeo

Her Art Galleries 

Mary Deal Fine Art

http://www.marydealfineart.com

Island Image Gallery

http://www.islandimagegallery.com

BONUS! A special treat this week:  

Mary is offering two winners their choice of one eBook each from her list of books on her author

page at Amazon. You must leave contact information in case you win.

And, your comment also enters you into the End of the Month Grand Prize Drawing!  Make sure to get your chance by leaving a comment and a method of contact. 

Visit Mary Deal's website to see how you can get free book promotion there: https://www.marydealcom/creative-friends

(all info provided and released by author)