Kauai, Molokai, and Lanai in Focus

Kauai, Molokai, and Lanai in Focus

The oldest island, Kauai, is known as the "garden isle" and is covered by lush tropical vegetation. The Poipu Beach area south of the Lihue airport is situated on the south shore, which has the warmest climate and the least rainfall. Poipu and the surrounding area are the site of numerous resorts and condominium developments.

Several upscale resorts are also found on the north shore, which has the most rainfall and, therefore, the richest vegetation. In the interior of the island, Waimea Canyon, a spectacular 3,600-foot-deep gorge, can be explored by foot along hiking trails or from the air by charter helicopter. Dense tropical rain forests surround Hanalei, known as the residence of media celebrities. Kilauea Point, the northernmost point in the main Hawaiian Islands, is the site of a 167-acre wildlife refuge.

Popular leisure activities on Kauai include windsurfing, canyon hiking, rafting, water skiing, scuba diving, snorkeling, and touring by helicopter.

Molokai, which has eluded significant modernization, is an island without traffic lights, highrise buildings, or daily newspapers (the local newspaper is published once every two weeks). However, the 261-square-mile landmass is rich in history and culture. According to Hawaiian legends, the hula originated in Kaana, a western mountain region of ancient Molokai. The island is the site of one of Hawaii's largest heiaus (temples), as well as a historic sugar mill that has been restored as a museum.

The remote seaside community of Kalaupapa is situated at the base of a 2,000-foot cliff and can only be reached by aircraft, boat, or mule. In this town, a Beligan priest, Father Damien de Veuster, once ministered to people stricken with Hansen's disease. The landscape is covered by deep, verdant valleys, jagged mountain peaks, and sheet cliffs descending to white sand beaches. The Molokai Ranch Wildlife Park is a reserve for Barbary sheep, kudu, sable antelope, and other rare animals. The island has an 18-hole golf course and facilities for water sports, mule rides, helicopter tours, and Hawaiian entertainment.

Lanai is a privately owned island that, until recently, was devoted exclusively to pineapple production. In 1992, two luxury hotels opened, along with a championship golf course. The island's landscape includes unusual stone gardens, fields of ancient petroglyphs, pristine beaches, and picturesque bays. Underwater lava caverns called the Cathedrals are one of the most interesting dive sites in the Pacific Ocean. On shore, outdoors enthusiasts enjoy horseback riding, fishing, hiking, and picnic excursions.