Cruising to Kauai, Hawaii

Kauai is a small island west of Oahu, and what it lacks in size it makes up for in beauty. It is known as the Garden Isle, for it is covered with flowers and vegetation, the pleasant byproduct of a more generous supply of rainfall than received by the other islands. In fact, the summit of Mount Waialeale is one of the wettest places on the earth, receiving an average of 444 inches of rainfall annually. If you are lucky enough for your cruise ship to dock here, you will be swept away by the magnificent scenery, including towering cliffs and jagged peaks, lush green valleys and abundant rain forests, beautiful sandy beaches and swaying palm trees. Kauai has such an exotic beauty that several movies have been filmed here, including "Raiders of the Lost Ark", "King Kong", "South Pacific" and the "Jurassic Park" series. Waimea Canyon, nicknamed the "Grand Canyon of the Pacific" by Mark Twain, is located here, too, and it is almost 3000 feet deep with beautiful red earth cliffs.

Ships dock at Nawiliwili Harbor, which isn't known for much except its fun name. A local law mandates that no building may be constructed taller than the height of a coconut tree, so you won't find glitzy hotels or large shopping centers here. Less than one mile from the pier, you will find some of the best shopping on the island - especially of pearl jewelry - at Anchor Cove Shopping Mall. Just behind the shopping mall is a spectacular beach called Kalapaki Beach, which is supervised by lifeguards and is safe for swimming. Further south you will come to Poipu Beach, which is worth the 15 mile ride for its crystal clear water, pure white sand, and lava rocks. Kauai's most famous beach is at Hanalei, where you can catch surfers riding the waves. There are several shore excursions which bring you closer to the unbelievable beauty of this island, including river tubing, hiking and kayaking. You can even sign up for a zipline adventure, soaring high above the spectacular scenery on a high wire zipline.

If your taste runs more to history than scenery, visit Old Koloa Town, located about an hour's drive from the port. This town has been preserved from the days when waves of immigrants came here to work on the sugar plantations, with its original buildings now converted into shops and restaurants. In the center of town is a small history center, and individual buildings are labeled with plaques detailing their original functions and unique histories.

By: Stephanie Larkin