Things to do on the Island of Kauai home | reservations| sites n' sounds| maps| photos | Garden Studio

boating		surfing
beaches		horses
snorkeling		hiking
golf		sailing
tennis		polo

waterskiing

fishing

windsurfing

helicopters

kayaking

scuba

shopping

There are 6 world class golf courses on Kauai. Princeville, former home of The Kemper Open, has 76 holes, and is rated " #1 in Hawaii" by Golf Digest. The Prince Course is approximately a 30 minutes drive from Makaleha Mtn. Retreat. Wailua is the home of our public 18 hole golf course, and is 10 minutes away. A 20 minute drive will take you to Lihue, where the Kauai Lagoons  sports a 36 hole, Jack Nicklaus designed, championship course. Further south in Poipu, 45 minutes away, we have the Kiahuna 18 hole course, and the Poipu Bay Resort 36 hole course, home of the PGA Grand Slam.  top

Several exciting boat tours will help you explore the magical Napali Coast. Zodiac tours, catamaran cruises, whale watching tours, and scuba and snorkeling tours, leave from Hanalei (35 minutes drive), Lihue ( 20 minutes drive), Poipu ( 45 minutes drive) and Hanapepe and Port Allen ( 45 minutes drive). top

The North Shore of Kauai is a true surfing mecca. Besides World famous Tunnels Beach, there are several surf spots are about a 30 minute drive, including Kalihiwai Bay, Anini Beach and Hanalei Bay. Spectacular Kealia Beach, which offers excellent surfing, is only 15 minutes away. On Kauai, there are nearly as many surf spots as there are beaches. In Poipu, a 45 minute drive, you will find world famous Brennecke's Beach, the body surfing capital of Hawaii. top

Deciding which beach to visit might be your most challenging daily task. You can drive to Kee beach which is a 40 minute trip, and enjoy some of the best snorkeling in the world. There are swimming beaches, shelling beaches, sunset beaches, beaches with lots of activity, and beaches where you can be totally alone. You can be assured that as a guest at Makaleha Mtn. Retreat, you are very near to some of the finest white sand beaches in the world. top

There are 2 excellent riding stables within a 30 minute drive from  Makaleha Mtn. Retreat. Both Silver Falls Ranch and Princeville Stables offer 3 hour trail rides through Kauai's back country to a waterfall, for a picnic and a swim. A 45 minute drive to Poipu will take to you to CJM stables for a 2 hour coastline trail ride to the remote Mahalepu Beach area. top

Anini Beach is only 25 minutes away, and offers very good snorkeling along a 3 mile coastline enclosed by a long outer reef. Inside the reef, you will encounter a myriad of colorful tropical fish and several species of coral. 40 minutes away is Ke'e Beach, and Tunnels Beach both known for their good water clarity.  For the more adventurous, several boat tours offer snorkeling trips in reef areas along the Napali Coast. top

The trail head gateway to the Napali Coast is a scenic 40 minute drive from Makaleha Mtn. Retreat. A day of hiking into remote Hanakapiai Valley has been the highlight of many vacations. From the beach, you can hike to the magnificent Hanakapiai Falls. Short hikes can be enjoyed from trails beginning above Opaekaa Falls lookout in Wailua ( 10 minutes) . From Koke'e Lodge, a 1 1/2 hour drive, you can hike several trails that meander throughout Kauai's ethereal mountain country, where you will encounter plant and bird species found no where else on earth. top

Tennis courts abound on Kauai. A 25 minute drive to Princeville Resort will bring you to two excellent tennis Clubs. The Hanalei Bay Resort has  7 courts overlooking Hanalei Bay, and The Princeville Tennis Club has 6 courts. Both clubs are open to the public, and have on site tennis pros, a racquet shop, and equipment rentals. Other very good facilities are found  in Lihue at The Kauai Lagoons, and in Poipu at The Kiahuna Racquet Club, and The Poipu Hyatt. top

You can enjoy miles of tropical water skiing nearby along the Wailua River, a 10 minute drive away.Equipment rental and instruction is available. top

Deep sea fishing charter boats are close by and within a 30 minute drive. Half and full day charters with all fishing gear included are available at Anini Beach and Hanalei Town ( 30 minutes), and offer private and group charters to offshore areas that are teeming with exciting game fish such sailfish, marlin, and yellow fin tuna. top

Kauai's polo team is world class, and The Kauai Polo Club is only 25 minutes from Makaleha Mtn. Retreat. The field is located across from Anini Beach Park, and matches are held each Sunday during the season. Enjoying a tropical polo match on a sunny Sunday afternoon, while looking out on the blue Pacific Ocean, is an experience you will not want to miss. top

Windsurfing at its best is found at Tunnels Beach ( 35 minutes) and at Anini Beach, a 25 minute drive, where  companies offer equipment rentals and lessons. Other favorite spots are Hanalei Bay and Poipu Beach. You may rent equipment in Hanalei, and drive to any spot you wish. Shipwreck Beach in Poipu, 45 minutes away, is strictly for very experienced windsurfers. top

Good kayaking is the rule in the Kalihiwai River, 20 minutes away. Both ocean and fresh water kayaks can be rented in several nearby locations, and can be easily strapped to the roof of your car for transport anywhere on the island. top

Kauai's clean, clear offshore waters attract  scuba divers from all over the world. There is a dive shop in almost every town on the island, so gear rental, air, and instruction can be easily found. Scuba lessons and certification for beginners is available at The Hanalei Bay Resort, a 25 minute drive, in a five acre pool, complete with man made waterfalls. top

Several boat companies host a variety of sailing tours in large, seaworthy, ocean catamarans. Sunset cruises complete with cocktails, as well as leisurely Kauai sailing tours down the Napali Coast can be booked from many companies around the island. top

A helicopter tour is the only way most people can see the magnificent beauty of Kauai's remote interior. Tours leave from Princeville Airport, which is only a 25 minute drive, and in Lihue. There are few experiences that can match a helicopter flight over the most beautiful island in the world. top

While you are in a very private area at Makaleha Mtn. Retreat, you will find that everything you need is 15 minutes away at the Kapaa shopping center, or in a charming mom and pop store nearby which is only a 3 minute drive. Kapaa Shopping Center has a large, modern grocery market, several good restaurants, art galleries, clothing stores, and everything you might expect. The island has an abundance of gift shops that sell items which are crafted by local artists. There are many roadside stands with exotic tropical fruits, organic produce, and flower leis. In Poipu, at the Spouting Horn Park, you will find an outdoor flea market where you can buy shell jewelry and all sorts of tourist items at good prices. top

 

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