Active Pursuits

If you want nothing more on your vacation than a fabulous beach and a perfectly mixed mai tai, you're in luck -- Kauai has some of the most spectacular beaches (not to mention the best mai tais) in the world. But Kauai's wealth of natural wonders is hard to resist; the year-round tropical climate and spectacular scenery tend to inspire even the most committed desk jockeys and couch potatoes to get outside and explore.

If you have your own snorkel gear or other watersports equipment, bring it. If you can't, don't fret; everything you'll need is available for rent.

Safety Tips

When planning sunset activities, be aware that Hawaii, like other places close to the Equator, has a very short (5-10 min.) twilight period after the sun sets. After that, it's dark. If you hike out to watch the sunset, be sure you can make it back quickly, or take a flashlight.

Setting Out On Your Own Versus Using an Outfitter

There are two ways to go: Plan all the details before you go and schlep your gear 2,500 miles across the Pacific, or go with an outfitter or a guide and let them worry about the details.

Experienced outdoor enthusiasts can follow your noses to coastal campgrounds or even trek into the rainforest on your own, but it's often preferable to go with a local guide who is familiar with the conditions at both sea level and the summit, knows the land and its flora and fauna in detail, and has all the gear you'll need. It's also good to go with a guide if time is an issue. If you really want to see native birds, for instance, an experienced guide will take you directly to the best areas for sightings. And many forests and valleys in the interiors of the islands are either on private property or in wilderness preserves that are accessible only on guided tours. If you go with a guide, plan on spending at least $100 a day per person.

But if you have the time, already own the gear, and love doing the research and planning, try exploring on your own. We recommend that you always use the resources available and inquire about weather, trail, or surf conditions; water availability; and other conditions before you take off on your adventure.

For hikers, a great alternative to hiring a private guide is taking one of the guided hikes offered by the Kauai chapter of the Sierra Club, P.O. Box 3412, Lihue, HI 96766 (tel. 808/246-8748; www.hi.sierraclub.org). The club offers guided hikes on preserves and at special places during the year, as well as 1- to 7-day work trips to restore habitats and trails and root out invasive plants like banana poka, New Zealand flax, nonnative gorse, and wild ginger. This might not sound like a dream vacation to everyone, but it's a chance to see the "real" Kauai -- including wilderness areas that are usually off-limits.

The Sierra Club offers four to seven hikes a month on Kauai. Hikes are led by certified Sierra Club volunteers and are classified as easy, moderate, or strenuous. These half-day or all-day affairs cost $1 for Sierra Club members, $5 for nonmembers. (Bring exact change.) For a copy of the newsletter, which lists all outings and trail repair work, send $2 to the address above.

Fun for Less: Don't Leave Home without a Gold Card

Almost any activity you can think of, from submarine rides to Polynesian luau, can be purchased at a discount by using the Activities and Attractions Association of Hawaii Gold Card, 355 Hukilike St., no. 202, Kahului, HI 96732 (tel. 800/398-9698 or 808/871-7947; fax 808/877-3104; www.hawaiifun.org). The Gold Card, accepted by members on every island, including Kauai, offers a discount of 10% to 25% off activities and meals for up to four people; it's good for a year from the purchase date and costs $30.

You can save big bucks with the Gold Card. For example, if you have your heart set on taking a helicopter ride that goes for $149, you'll pay only $119 with your Gold Card, saving you nearly $30 per person -- almost $120 in savings for a family of four. With just one activity alone, you've gotten the cost of the card back in savings. And there are hundreds of activities to choose from: air tours, attractions, bicycling tours, dinner cruises, fishing, guided tours, helicopter tours, horseback riding, kayaking, luau, snorkeling, rafting, sailing, scuba diving, submarine rides, and more. It even gets you discounts on rental cars, restaurants, and golf!

Here's how it works: You contact the Activities and Attractions Association via mail, e-mail, fax, phone, or Internet . They issue you the card, good for discounts for 1 year after the date you purchase it. You contact the activity (restaurant, rental car, and so on) directly, give them your Gold Card number, and get discounts ranging from 10% to 25%.

Using Activities Desks to Book Your Island Fun

If you're interested in an activity that requires an outfitter or a guide, such as horseback riding, whale-watching, or sportfishing, consider booking through a discount activities center or activities desk. These agents -- who act as a clearinghouse for activities, just as a consolidator functions as a discount clearinghouse for airline tickets -- can often get you a better price than you'd get by booking an activity directly with the outfitter yourself.

Discount activities centers will, in effect, split their commission with you, giving themselves a smaller commission to get your business -- and passing, on average, a 10% discount on to you. In addition to saving you money, good activities centers should be able to help you find, say, the snorkel cruise that's right for you, or the luau that's most suitable for both you and the kids.

But it's in the activity agent's best interest to sign you up with outfitters from which they earn the most commission, and some agents have no qualms about booking you into any old activity if it means an extra buck for them. If an agent tries to push a particular outfitter or activity too hard, be skeptical. Conversely, they'll try to steer you away from outfitters that don't offer big commissions. Another important word of warning: Be careful to avoid those activities centers offering discounts as fronts for timeshare sales presentations. Using a free snorkel cruise or luau tickets as bait, they'll suck you into a 90-minute presentation -- and try to get you to buy into a Kauai timeshare in the process. Not only will they try to sell you a big white elephant you never wanted in the first place, but -- since their business is timeshares, not activities -- they also won't be as interested, or as knowledgeable, about which activities might be right for you. These shady deals seem to be particularly rampant on Kauai. Just do yourself a favor and avoid them altogether.

Outdoor Etiquette

Carry out what you carry in. Find a trash container for all your litter (including cigarette butts). Litterbugs anger the gods.

Observe kapu (taboo) and NO TRESPASSING signs. Don't climb on ancient Hawaiian heiau (temple) walls or carry home rocks, all of which belong to the Hawaiian volcano goddess, Pele. Some say it's just a silly superstition, but each year the national and state park services get boxes of lava rocks in the mail, sent back to Hawaii by visitors who have experienced unusually bad luck after taking forbidden souvenirs home.

Fun in the Surf & Sun

This is the part of your vacation you've dreamed about -- the sun, the sand, and the surf. We'll tell you about the best beaches on Kauai, from where to soak up the rays to where to plunge beneath the waves for a fish-eye-view of the underwater world. Plus, we've scoured the island to find the best ocean activities on the Garden Isle. We'll tell you our favorites and give you a list of the best marine outfitters. We also give a range of activities to do on dry land, from hiking and camping to the best golfing on the island.

Yes, Virginia, There Are Problems in Paradise -- Crime & Weather

You may be in paradise, but be aware there is crime on Kauai. Always lock your bicycle (even for just a minute). You are responsible if it is stolen. Remember that weather in Hawaii is not like your weather back home -- an island rain storm can cause a flash flood. The Kauai Visitors Bureau publishes a free brochure Tips of a Safe Vacation that recommends the following:

Never leave valuables in your car, unattended at the beach

Do not drive into waterfalls or pools of water

Always wear your seatbelt (the fine is very stiff)

On a one-way bridge, courtesy calls for only 6 cars to cross, then yield to opposing traffic

For the free brochure contact the Kauai Visitors Bureau, tel. 808/245-3971.