Kauai is about 80% inhabitable, since it is so mountainous and has the wettest place on earth in the middle of the island. Almost everything lies on its shores, so to really see the island, you need to take a helicopter. There are several different companies giving tours, but we chose Jack Harter and their small, doors-off, Hughes 500 helicopter. The hour long tour was educational, beautiful, and exhilarating all at the same time.

 

After the morning tour, we drove around the south side of the island to Poipu and eventually west until the road stopped at Polihale State Park. We also went up into Waimea Canyon, Spouting Horn, and the Allerton Gardens along the south shore.

Helicopter Tour & Southern Kaua’i

8/29/13—9/8/13

Immediately after takeoff, we flew over the airport. Shortly thereafter, we went by the Marriott and saw the NCL ship, which was docked near our resort

Marriott

Manawaiopuna Falls (left), better known as Jurassic Park Falls because of the movie. Kahili Falls (right), better known as the Five Sisters because I guess there are five of them

Some of the beautiful valleys (top right), Waimea Canyon (middle), looking down among the cliffs (below), beaches on the west shore (below right)

 

The beautiful Na Pali Coast (above), spinner dolphins (right), and Kepuhi Beach along the north shore (below)

Just a couple of pictures we could actually capture (above) when our pilot took off barely above the trees and a creek, traveling at 120mph. The Weeping Wall (below) is a series of beautiful scenic waterfalls that tumble down the side of 5,184 foot high Mount Waialeale in the center of the island of Kauai, Hawaii. It is a shield volcano that is the second rainiest place on Earth averaging 426 inches of rain per year. Wailua Falls (left) is 173 feet tall and known for the opening scene in Fantasy Island.

Polihale State Park

Our drive through the canyons took us to Waimea and Koke’e, where we hit a fairly dense fog. We also got our fair share of chicken sightings along the way.

Tree Tunnel Road (left), on the way to Poipu. Beyond Poipu was Spouting Horn (right) and the National Tropical Botanical Gardens, or Allerton Gardens (below).

The famous Moreton Bay Fig trees from Australia, or better known as the Jurassic Park trees

Lots of unique fruit trees

Also discovered along the south shore was surfing