Kauai, the Garden Island, is the oldest of the main Hawaiian islands. It is considered the most pristine of the main islands with its many white sandy beaches and verdant mountains and valleys. Quite uniquely no buildings taller than a coconut tree are allowed to be built on Kauai. Scenic sites include picturesque Hanalei Bay, the Na Pali Coast, and Waimea Canyon -- the "Grand Canyon of the Pacific." Kauai also boasts the only navigable river in Hawaii, the Wailua River which flows from inaccessible Mt. Wai'ale'ale, high above its which in its remote mountain top reaches has the wettest spot on earth drawing an average of 480 inches per year. The climate and rainfall patterns on Kauai, however, have more in common with the other Hawaii Islands in which mild sunny dry weather is normal for every month of the year with summers slightly drier and winters somewhat damper usually because of night and early morning showers.
A favorite for movie directors looking for paradise, Kauai's spectacular beauty has provided the backdrop for a huge array of films including 'South Pacific,' 'Uncommon Valor,' 'King Kong,' 'Fantasy Island,' 'Blue Hawaii,' 'The Thorn Birds' and, most recently, 'Jurassic Park' and 'Six Days, Seven Nights.'
