East Side of Kauai, Hawaii

550 square miles, Kauai is the oldest, northernmost Hawaiian island. You can only reach Kauai by air, so you know you're in for something special. While most of Kauai is uncommercialized, the East Side or Coconut Coast is the most populated region, with about 16,000 of the 58,000 residents. Coconut Coast is called so, because of the abundance of coconut palms. Legends make great stories and connect us to our past. Kauai's stories and landmarks show you what was traditional in ancient life for the native Hawaiians. Royal births were announced in the Wailua Valley by striking the "bellstone", a boulder that rang like a bell. Near another royal birth stone was the Holo-holo-ku Heiau, a sacred site, that was eventually turned into a cemetery around 1890. The largest heiau on Kauai is Poliahu Heiau, named after the snow goddess of the island of Hawaii. She supposedly lived on Mauna Kea. This heiau contains several terraces, idol sites, and a "god stone" five feet high. Between Wailua and Kapaa a mountain ridge, Nounou Mountain or Sleeping Giant, looks shaped like a giant sleeping on his back. This giant was constantly eating. The villagers one day were tired of feeding him, so they put rocks in a vast quantity of fish and poi. He ate till he was full. He lay down to nap, but never awoke. Kamokila Village replicates old Hawaiian architecture and construction. The "Outbreak" movie set is still there. These cultural landmarks are not only interesting to hear about, but they enrich your understanding of Kauai when seen in person. Wailua River State Park you have to see to get a feel for its 1,000 acres of land. Within the park is Lydgate Park. Great for snorkeling and safe for the fam, the lagoon is surrounded by lava rocks against the open ocean. Accessible only by boat on the Wailua River, the Fern Grotto is an attraction not to be missed on Kauai. It is cool and cooled off by the dense ferns and waterfall mists. You may fall in love with the place and get married there, as couples marry there every year. If marrying here is not a priority, at least seeing the Fern Grotto on your vacation should be; and seeing the Opaekaa Falls ought to be another. These picturesque falls can easily be reached by short walk from the road. Kealia Beach is no secret, with bathers on the gleaming sands, surfers and body-boarders catching Pacific waves. As East Side is populated with a town like Kapaa, this beach is conveniently located near stores that have all the extreme and leisure gear you need to make your days on Kauai out of sight. There are several restaurants and over 70 shops in Kapaa Town. Local arts and crafts, antiques, water ski and kayak rentals are found here. This is the place to be for the dinner and theatre of Laua. Kauai's sports and leisurely activities are akin to a dream state: helicopter and plane tours of the island, waterskiing, wind surfing, surfing, on- and off-shore fishing, golfing, cruises, hiking, camping, scuba diving, snorkeling, swimming, mountain biking, tennis, kayaking, whale watching tours, and sunbathing in the Hawaiian sun with the Pacific breeze. Vacation here and no matter where you are on Kauai, there is an activity for you.