Page 72 - WINE DINE & TRAVEL MAGAZINE DISCOVERING ENGLAND

auai is the oldest and northern- For fun and games, there are, of course, the market, we shopped for Kauai–grown
most of the four major Hawai- beaches and all they offer: surfing, snor- coffee, local honey and Portuguese sweet
ian Islands – and its 64,000 keling, swimming, scuba diving, sunbath- bread – fixings suitable for a picnic during
Kresidents aim to preserve its ing. Beyond that, there are rivers to kayak, a bike ride along the Koloa Heritage Trial –
rugged, relaxed individuality as well as its mountains and valleys to hike, forests and a mostly flat ramble past 14 markers that
wild natural beauty: Only 5 percent of the waterfalls for ziplining over. There are leis point out sites important to local history
island’s 552 square miles are designated to wear, hulas to learn, lilikoi (passion fruit) and culture. We shared the road with cluck-
for urban development – and building lemonades to drink – straight or infused ing chickens; they roam free everywhere.
guidelines prohibit structures higher than with locally made Koloa rum. Another day, we toured the Allerton Na-
a mature coconut palm. The island’s ma- With a San Diego friend, I spent a week tional Tropical Botanical Garden, once the
jor highway is a two-lane road that stops
mid-19th -century retreat for Hawaii’s
based on Kauai’s sunny southern Poipu
short of the impenetrable Napali Coast and Coast. At Ko’a Kea, one of the newer Queen Emma. Today the garden is a mas-
leaves much of the island’s interior inacces- (opened in spring 2009) luxe hotels on terpiece of landscape design, merging
sible by car. Locals take pride in maintain- the island, we sat on our oceanfront bal- stunning natural beauty with man-made
ing narrow single-lane bridges that don’t cony, sipping morning espresso (from the art presented in outdoor “rooms”. Like
accommodate tour buses.
in-room espresso maker) as we watched little kids, we posed for photos, tucked
There’s little hustle-bustle here; it’s easy to kama’aina (longtime locals) use traditional between the massive roots of the gar-
feel you’re a part of old Hawaii. lei nets to fish the reefs out front. Later that den’s Moreton Bay fig trees, near the
afternoon we snorkeled those same reefs. spot where director Steven Spielberg hid
Still, the island has every comfort and con- raptor eggs in “Jurassic Park”.
venience a visitor might crave – from five- We strolled the wooden sidewalks of Koloa,
star hotels to plate-lunch trucks and camp- a town that sugar plantations built nearly After we moved mid-week to an ocean-
grounds. Kauai even has Costco. two centuries ago. At the neighborhood front condo at Whalers Cove, we began

72 Wine Dine & Travel Winter 2014