Exploring Kauai Archives

Planning a trip to Kauai? Learn about Kauai from local Kauai writers. Fun stories, events and things to do on Kauai.

Activities and Things to Do on Kauai

When you think of Kauai, the first things you think of may be sun, surf, and sand, but there are so many things to do on Kauai that you’ll find that the available activities are seemingly endless. Some of the most popular activities do involve the ocean since Kauai is one of the most remote island locations in the world.

With countless beaches and over 100 miles of coastline, there is ample opportunity for surf and sea adventures. Surfing is of paramount popularity on Kauai, and even if you’ve never seen a surfboard in your life, you can easily find surf shops and board rental locations on the island offering surfboard, boogie boards and surf lessons The various beaches, their size, and the strength of the tides also provides a wide range of experience levels from which you can choose, from never-been-on-a-board-before to professional surfing competitions.

Snorkeling is another very popular activity on Kauai. With the shores and reefs along Kauai being home to colorful tropical fishes such as the Trigger fish, Parrot fish, Butterfly fish, Octopus, Needle fish, and Damsel fish just to name a few, it’s easy to indulge in some fish-watching via fins, mask, and snorkel. And, of course there are dozens and dozens of very affordable snorkel rental shops on Kauai as well as outfitters for those who have the need to own their equipment outright.

A Kauai boat tour is the best way to see the amazing marine life, Whale watching is also a very popular activity on Kauai, especially between December and April, as the huge North Pacific Humpback Whales are very often seen offshore during their mating and birthing season. Several species of dolphins also call Kauai’s coastal waters home, including the Hawaiian Spinner Dolphins which are indigenous to the Hawaiian Islands. You will also find several species of sea turtle, as well as Hawaiian Monk Seal.

Of course, there are many more water, air, and land adventures to partake in, such as hiking the hundreds of miles of trails, the coastal path for biking, horseback riding, world class golf courses for the golf enthusiast plantation train tours, and Kauai helicopter tours. There are also tropical gardens, museums, coffee plantation tours and tasting and numerous art galleries, and last but not least – partake in a traditional Hawaiian luau.

For personalized service with Aloha book your Kauai Activities and Tours with Kauai.com. The team at Kauai.com provides a full service activity desk and are available 7 days a week to answer questions, book restaurant reservations, golf tee times and more. Tours and activities take place in various locations island-wide. They help to streamline your trip and make the most of your vacation time.

For up to date Kauai Events and Things to do including music concerts, arts, hula, fundraisers and more check out the Kauai Events Calendar.

Kauai Gift Guide of Locally Made Products

What makes Kauai Products so special? First of all, these items are handcrafted by artisans, chefs, musicians and authors right here on Kauai. Many use materials that are found on the Garden Island including agricultural products like fresh fruits and flowers, koa wood, seeds, seashells, beach glass, and sand. Kauai products incorporate the flavors, scents and feelings of Kauai into their products. When you buy a Kauai product, you are not getting just another plastic hula girl or shot glass made in China, instead these items are made by Kauai residents giving you the true essence of Kauai. Not only that, but by buying Kauai products, you are supporting the local economy.

With the holidays officially upon us, Kauai products make perfect gifts. A wide variety of diverse Kauai merchandise is now available in local stores all over Kauai and on-line.

Art, Publications and Music

Did you know that there are dozens of talented authors, artists and musicians that live right here on Kauai. Children’s Author, Monika Mira offers you The Complete Hawaiian Reef Fish Coloring Book to inspire your children to learn all about the Hawaiian Reef and Susan Dierker offers a playfully illustrated story about Knuckles the Hound of Hanalei and his adventure coming home from the Humane Society. Pam Brown offers Kauai Stories, a delightful collection of humorous and inspiring stories about life on Kauai. Patrice Pendarvis Studio offers a collection of beautiful paintings that encompass the essence of old Kauai. There are also dozens of publications that you may pick up on Kauai that participate in this program.

Food and Floral

If you are looking to create the ultimate care package look no further. Papalani Gelato offers a variety of delicious treats made right here on Kauai using the finest of fresh Kauai flavors. Aunty Lilikoi offers a delicious array of passion fruit jelly, syrup, mustard and treats. Salty Wahine specializes in gourmet Hawaiian sea salts and seasonings. Lotus Fudge offers organic and sustainable mac nut butters, truffles and gluten-free fudge. Hula Baby Bakery specializes in handcrafted biscotti and granola with island flavors. The Aloha Spice Company creates delightful rubs, seasonings and organic herbs. Hippie Café offers amazing gluten-free vegan baked goods. Kauai Coffee grows and roasts rich Hawaiian coffee right on the slopes of Kalaheo and Nani Moon Mead is the only producer of honey wines in Hawaii .

Apparel Jewelry and Accessories

Cane Field Clothing has a nice selection of Kauai made jewelry and accessories. Keiki Covers creates adorable children’s clothing with Hawaiian flair. A ell designs offers custom wedding dresses, but also specializes in clothing that uses natural fibers like bamboo and hemp to create designs that are perfect for island living. KaiKini offers quick-drying swimwear with bright, bold colors and flattering cuts that are all sewn locally. Mailelani’s handcrafts beautiful purses, bags, and table linens from colorful Hawaiian designs. Kauai Carver offers Keoni’s Durant’s handcrafted tikis, fish hook pendants, and natural-edge bowls can be found in the homes of private collectors, on hotel properties and movie sets, and in galleries throughout Hawaii.

Health and Beauty

Shinil Candle & Soap and Island Soap and Candle offers high quality, handcrafted soy candles, olive oil soaps, and lip balms. Ertha found at The Beauty Shop offers luxurious organic and vegan bath and body products like sea salt scrubs, body oil and foaming hand soap and Cloud 9 Hawaii makes organic skin care and sun care products.

There are dozens of stores around the island that now specialize in carrying Kauai Products. Some of these include: the Kokee Natural History Museum, Talk Story Books, the Aloha Spice Company, Kauai Coffee, and Banana Patch Studio on the West Side, Big Save Markets, Sueoka Store,and Living Foods on the South Shore, Kauai Plantation Railway Depot, Hilo Hattie, Kauai Museum and Times supermarket in Lihue, Divine Planet, Big Save Market on the East Side, Aloha from Hanalei, Tahitian Goddess and Hanalei Dolphin on the North Shore.

Don’t forget to check back often on Kauai.com and follow us on Facebook for the latest this season when you are looking to send gifts with the spirit of Aloha.

Enjoy Veteran’s Day Weekend and Phase ll of Lighthouse Restoration at Kilauea Point!!!

KĪLAUEA POINT NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE OFFERS FREE ADMISSION VETERANS DAY WEEKEND AND THE KĪLAUEA LIGHTHOUSE RESTORATION PHASE II NEARS COMPLETION
The Refuge will be CLOSED on Monday, November 12 in Observance of Veteran’s Day

Kīlauea Point National Wildlife Refuge will waive entrance fees throughout Veteran’s Day weekend, Saturday, November 10 through Sunday, November 11. The Refuge will be open regular visitor hours, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. In observance of Veteran’s Day, the Refuge will be closed Monday, November 12. However, Refuge volunteers will be stationed at the Refuge overlook to provide natural history interpretation and assist visitors throughout the day.
The Refuge is also celebrating a milestone as Kīlauea Lighthouse Restoration Phase II nears completion, ahead of the anticipated December deadline. Restoration overall is expected to be completed for the 100th anniversary in May 2013. Extensive restoration efforts to the Kīlauea Lighthouse began in 2010 to bring the structure back to its former glory. The lighthouse is sure to remain the icon of the Kīlauea community.

“I urge everyone to take the opportunity to come to Kīlauea Point over the fee-free Veterans Day weekend to see the exterior of the lighthouse and the progress made so far. This is a fine example of what coming together as a community can accomplish,” invited Shannon Smith, Refuge Project Leader. The project first began with the Kīlauea community when they expressed the desire to restore the lighthouse in 2002. The Kīlauea Point Natural History Association (KPNHA), a nonprofit organization, launched a capital campaign in 2008 to restore the lighthouse. Thanks to the support of the community, the campaign entitled “Beacon for the Generations to Come, Ka Lama Kuhikuhi No Nā Hanauna” raised over $850,000.
The first major phase of restoration involved repairing the unique cast iron roof and lantern assembly. The second phase led by contractor McMillen, LLC and working closely with local subcontractors, involves: removal of interior and exterior coatings; repairs to the concrete tower; removal of concrete blocks from where windows were formerly located; installation of new windows, corbels, and installing new doors- all to restore its historic appearance. Future phases will involve work on the 2nd order Fresnel lens; finishing measures to protect key internal components; and public safety measures to allow for more frequent tours to just above the interior Watch Room level of the lighthouse. The intent is to allow for the public to safely get closer views of the lens and beautiful vistas more often than has been allowed in the recent past, while protecting the lens level, which is the “crown jewel” of this historic structure.
To learn more about the Refuge, visit: www.fws.gov/kilaueapoint ; to learn more about KPNHA, visit www.kilaueapoint.org.
The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. We are both a leader and trusted partner in fish and wildlife conservation, known for our scientific excellence, stewardship of lands and natural resources, dedicated professionals and commitment to public service. For more information on our work and the people who make it happen, visit www.fws.gov.
–FWS–

Kauai Arbor Day Saturday and Plant Giveaway

Looking for a fun and educational experience for you and your family today? Arbor Day Kauai Tree Giveaway will be happening this Saturday November 3rd at Kukui Grove from 9:00 a.m. till 1:00 pm behind Kmart. Native plants including: `a`ali`i, alahe`e, koki`o ke`oke`o, munroidendron, maile, naio, nanu, `ohe, `ōhi`a lehua and pohinahina, as well as papaya, mountain apple, ti plants and more. An addition to this years event educational booths and giveaways sponsored by local Kauai conservation groups will be there to answer questions and share plant facts. Take part in listening to the educators, ask questions and earn stamps toward additional free trees. The event takes place until all the 2,000 trees find a good home.

This event is made possible by Kaulunani Urban and Community Forestry Program and the County of Kauai, National Tropical Botanical Garden Island Resource Conservation & Development, Inc., Kauai Landscaping Industry Council, Kauai Invasive Species Committee, The Kauai Outdoor Circle, Kauai Nursery & Landscaping, Alaka`i Landscaping, the Grand Hyatt, Garden Island Growers, and members of the Kauai Native Plant Society. For more information please call 821-1490 or e-mail kgunder@hawaii.edu.

The Kolea Return to Kauai Marking an end to Summer

The first Pacific Golden Plovers of the season have arrived in Hawaii and can be seen foraging on soccer fields, parks, golf courses, and even lawns. This event marks the end of summer

Kolea, as they are known in Hawaii, spend their summers in Alaska foraging, mating, building a nest and waiting for their chicks to hatch. But, as the season begins to change, these small birds (weighing merely a half pound) begin to bulk up on food in order to gain enough weight to sustain them on the long journey from Alaska to Hawaii. Amazingly, these territorial birds will return to the same patch of grass every year, vehemently defending it if necessary.

Just a few days after their chicks hatch, they will leave them to fend for themselves, flying nonstop for over 70 hours, and traveling at sustained speeds of up to 70mph. When they arrive in Hawaii, they will have lost about half of their body weight, and will begin foraging once again.

The Polynesians were known to have had an intimate relationship with the Kolea. It has been speculated that the Hawaiians may have even discovered their islands by following the migration patterns of the golden plover. It was these ancient mariners, that followed the clues that nature left for them: wind and wave patterns, the position of the stars, the presence of seabirds, their timing and the direction that they flew.

Even the naturalists aboard Captain Cook’s vessel noted the presences of the Golden plover in Tahiti, but the Tahitians informed Cook’s crew that these birds did not nest in the islands, but instead flew north each spring. If they flew north each spring to nest, Cook speculated that their nesting grounds might just lie in the “Great Southern Continent” that they were seeking. His crew would come across these same birds a decade late, in their search for the Northern Passage.

The Kolea’s flight is nothing less than miraculous and to think that they come back to the same patch of grass year after year. What is even more amazing than the adult plover’s journey is that the chicks, who have never been to Hawaii before, begin to appear in October after they have had time to plump up. Since the Kolea is territorial, those that cannot establish a territory in Hawaii, will rest and take on another amazing journey to Australia, New Zealand and other islands in the South Pacific.

The Golden Plovers arrive in Hawaii sporting full mating plumage, which will fade over the winter when they molt. Near the ending of winter, they will molt again and their mating plumage will return. They will also begin to bulk up once more for their spring migration back to Alaska. By the end of April, they will be gone. This will once again mark the changing of the season.

Sources and suggested reading:

Kolea Watch: http://www.hawaiinaturecenter.org/koleawatch.html

Leskiw, Tom. The Discovery of the Hawaiian Islands: A Case of Human-Bird Mutualism. 2006.

Scott, Susan. “Returning kolea mark coming of isles’ winter,” Ocean Watch, Honolulu Star Advertiser. August 19, 2009.

Shapiro, Michael. “Flight of the Navigators,” Hana Hou Magazine. Vol. 7, No. 6, December 2004/January 2005.

Aloha Kauai Twenty Years After Iniki

Today marks the twenty year anniversary of Hurricane Iniki. Winds in excess of 150 mph trampled our island home giving new meaning to the Hawaiian word Iniki, strong and piercing winds.

The winds and rain came. They destroyed our homes, shook our core and altered our island lifestyle. But as soon as the morning after, Kauai we would be reminded of our islands beauty. An ominous full moon would sit above Mount Waialeale and give us our only light, a glow of purple, Kauai’s color. Hurricane Iniki robbed us of so much, but what it didn’t take was our resilience, our community and our Aloha Spirit.

Best Summer Snorkeling At Kauai’s Tunnels Beach

The summer months are almost gone, but lucky for you the big north swells have yet to arrive. There is still time to take advantage of the crystal clear, calm water at Kauai’s best North Shore snorkeling spots, like Tunnels Beach. So, grab your family and some snorkel gear and take a peak at what lies below.

Tunnels Beach offers a unique combination of interesting topography and diverse marine life. Parking is the hardest part of snorkeling here, but lucky for you, some of the local residents have opened up their yards for parking right across from this world-class snorkeling spot. For a $10 fee (and believe me, it’s worth it!), you can park across the street and walk. While it is wise to check in with the lifeguards at nearby Haena Beach Park, the beach in front of the lifeguard stand is not the best place for snorkeling. You must enter 1/4-1/2 mile to the right of the park when facing the beach.

There is a shallow reef at Tunnels with deeper fingers that run perpendicular to the beach, out to the edge of the reef before it drops into about 40 feet of water. Enter at a place where you can stand in the sand and there is a clear shot out to the channel. One such locations is right in front of an alley way that the local dive companies utilize for parking and set-up (you will probably walk down it to the beach if you have parked in one of the paid lots). Once you have made it to the edge of the reef, follow that outside ledge parallel to the beach, heading back toward the lifeguard stand at the beach park. Be careful not to get yourself into a spot that is too shallow. You will return the same way.

The inside reef offers plenty of interesting fish including several species of Hawkfish, which can be found perched upon the scattered heads of cauliflower coral. Schools of Whitebar Surgeon-fish are common here as well. If you are lucky (or early), you might be able to spot some Pacific Green Sea Turtles.

The outer reef offers the best snorkeling here, but this spot is not for beginners. You must know and understand the conditions. A strong current can pull to the left and if you forgot where you entered it is difficult to return. If there is any surf what-so-ever, it is wise to avoid this spot. However, if you consider yourself an expert, the conditions are calm and you have checked in with the lifeguards, then you can cross the channel until you get to the outer reef. Once you have made it out, you may be treated to turtle cleaning stations, larger schools of fish and more undisturbed corals.

No matter where you snorkel at Tunnels, you are sure to be treated to something extraordinary. Just remember, Hawaii’s Beaches can be unpredictable. If you have never snorkeled before you might want to start out at a spot like Lydgate Park, or Poipu Beach where a lifeguard is present. Try out your gear, get comfortable. Use a wetsuit for comfort or a floatation device if you need to. For more information, check out our page on snorkeling tips. Also, bear in mind that Kauai’s beaches are delicate and susceptible to environmental stress. Please avoid standing or stepping on the reef. View marine life from a distance, practice Reef Etiquette and enjoy a safe and memorable snorkeling experience on you Hawaiian vacation.

The Voyaging Canoe Hokulea Arrives on Kauai

Hokulea Arriving in Hanalei

Clouds hung low over the peaks of Namolokama as the remnants of the passing tropical storm moved slowly out to sea. Along the horizon the Hokulea voyaging canoe and crew made their way into Hanalei Bay Saturday morning. Blowing the conch shell from the bow of the boat signaled to the spectators and welcoming crew on shore that they had arrived.

The Hokulea is now tied up to the Hanalei Pier. This a great opportunity to get up close and view the canoe as well as ask questions and learn a little about their vision and upcoming voyages.

The Hokulea is an important part of Polynesian culture and the Polynesian Voyaging Society does a great job sharing the craft of traditional Polynesian voyaging and the spirit of exploration through their program. For more information on the Hokulea check out the website www.http://hokulea.org/

Hunger Games “Catching Fire” Finds Kauai

With the recent big screen hits “The Descendents” starring George Clooney and “Pirates Of The Caribbean On Stranger Tides” with Johnny Depp, today’s announcement by Hawaii News Now doesn’t come as too much of a surprise. Hollywood movie scouts may have chosen the Garden Island of Kauai as one of the filming locations for the movie based on the trilogy by Suzanne Collins, “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire”

Film scouts have been searching out locations within the Hawaiian Islands and have zeroed in on Kauai. With the natural beauty, rugged terrain, isolated valleys, lush green jungles, turquoise waters and wildlife, it is no wonder Hollywood may have again made a smart choice in picking Kauai.

“Catching Fire,” Finnick Odair and the Third Quarter Quell is set to hit theaters late November 2013.

Here are some photos that show you why Kauai is the perfect Film Location:

A Culinary Romp Through Paradise

Cacao Pod Photo by Daniel Lane

On the east side of island is Ein Rogel Farm. A 26-acre sustainable exotic fruit farm nestled in Kauai’s Kahuna Valley. There are 80 varieties of tropical fruit on the estate and the five-million-year-old Makaleha Mountain range provides the trees with pristine
spring water.

A fresh morning dawns as a couple from Colorado eagerly wait for the farm tour to begin. It rained through the night and into early morning, and the group that was to be ten is now three. The birds don’t care. As the clouds break, they sing with the emerging sun.

Kauai is known as the Garden Island because of the abundant rainfall due to Mount
Waialeale. An east facing peak grabs warm, moist trade winds and turns them into
tropical showers. Plants thrive in the graceful dance provided by water and sun, and
somehow being in their midst draws out the life in you.

Under a covered awning in the warm morning air, we chew sticky-sweet sugarcane and
learn it’s called the Hawaiian toothbrush. “I always tell people to have a light breakfast
because when you come on the tour, you’ll be eating a lot!” says our guide, Jesse
Schwartz.

As water spills from Makaleha Falls into one of two streams on the property, we cross a
bridge festooned with bright tropical flowers and shaded by towering camphor trees.

Jesse coaxes a succulent prize from the center of a purple fruit with plump, white
flesh. “Mangosteen is known as the Queen of Fruits,” he says as we slip a piece into our
mouths. “The inside is so sweet that the Queen of England, when Captain Cook was
exploring this area, paid $125 in today’s currency for one of these.”

Pineapple plants and 12 types of citrus thrive with hundreds of colorful flowers. Trees
such as ylang ylang perfume the air. Chickens and turkeys roam freely while bees are
busy in their hives making tropical honey.

Whack! Jesse breaks open a coconut with his machete. We take an ambrosial sip and
learn it is not milk but water that we are drinking. Redheaded Brazilian cardinals spy the
cracked nut and wait for our departure so they can free the husks of whatever sweet
meat we overlook.

Shaded by the canopy of a cacao tree, Jesse compares chocolate to wine. Pumpkin-
orange, crimson-red and chestnut-brown pods dangle from the tree’s branches like sun kissed jewels. “You’ll notice a difference in taste between Kauai chocolate and
chocolate from Ghana or the Dominican Republic,” he explains.

An emerging trend is classifying chocolate. Single estate means it comes from one
farm, and single origin means it comes from one country. Rarely will there be a single
varietal, a common practice with wine. There are ten edible cacao species or varietals,
and Ein Rogel Farm cultivates three.

Nature’s kinetic energy transfers to us as we romp along the orchard. Childhood
memories blossom from the recesses of our minds. We recall our first taste of an
orange, or our mother, cutting a star fruit, and wondering at its shape.

As a freelance farm and food writer based on Kauai, I have met artisans who create
with aloha: Farmers that delight in nourishing bodies with organically grown produce,
and chefs who are deeply gratified when one bite makes a person close their eyes, let
out a deep breath, and sigh in pleasure: Mmmmmm!

A Kauai Culinary Tour

I wanted to spread these seeds of aloha, so decided to create a day-long, farm to fork
culinary adventure. We start the day with a two-hour tour at Ein Rogel Farm, of which I
was inspired to write the story above.

After the farm tour, we’ll meet at the Kauai Marriott Resort. While we sit at the outdoor
courtyard lanai, executive chef Guy Higa will serve a four-course lunch made with Kauai
grown ingredients. He’ll also do a cooking demonstration, so you can ask questions and
learn how the professionals cook.

For Reservations or inquiries call 808-635-0257. Deadline to register is Wednesday July 11

Viewing Green Sea Turtles on Kauai’s South Shore

Photo: Claire Fackler, NOAA, NMS

If you just cannot wait to see a Green Sea Turtle on your trip to Kauai, you are not alone. Encountering a Green Sea Turtle in its natural environment is an exciting and memorable experience.

On Kauai’s South Shore, there are a number of areas where turtles can be viewed safely from shore. Green Sea Turtles tend to congregate around feeding areas that grow marine algae and sea-grass or provide the turtles with shelter, and the necessary species to set up cleaning stations.

If you are lucky enough to see a turtle up close and personal, just remember that sea turtles are protected by state and federal laws, which prohibit you from harassing them. Here are some responsible viewing guidelines recommended by the National Marine Fisheries Service and the State of Hawaii:

• Always keep a safe distance. Do not chase, approach, swim with, try to touch or ride a turtle.
• Never try to feed or entice a sea turtle.
• Remember that loud noises and abrupt movements can startle a sea turtle.

Best South Shore locations for viewing turtles from shore:

Sea turtles can be easily spotted from shore near Brennecke’s Beach. You can either cross the grass at Poipu Beach Park where you can overlook Brennecke’s beach to the left, or walk along the road past Brennecke’s and look back toward the beach. Either way, you are nearly certain to see turtles.

Turtles can also be viewed from the Whaler’s Cove overlook. From the traffic circle in Poipu, take the leg that exits toward the Sheraton. Just past the gravel road that leads to Koloa Landing on your right, find parking and stand by the cement wall where you can overlook the cove.

In fact, most of the rocky shoreline on the South Shore provides feeding habitat for turtles. So no matter where you are, if you are patient, you are likely to see one. One of these places is just past Lawai Beach on the way to Spouting Horn. Pass the beach and the resort and park along the side of the road. You will see a large rock wall on the ocean side of the road that separates the beachfront homes. This is another great turtle viewing location.

You may also encounter sea turtles while swimming or snorkeling. One note of caution however is that millions of years of evolution have made sea turtles remarkably adapted for life in the ocean. As a resulted, turtles can safely feed in rough surf. However, these areas are extremely dangerous for snorkeling and swimming. Snorkel in areas that are safe and you may still get lucky enough to encounter a turtle.

If you want to see turtles in the water, Lawai Beach is your best bet. Just be careful where you snorkel, following a sea turtle too far out can get you in trouble. For more info about snorkeling at Lawai Beach, check out the Best Place to Snorkel on Kauai’s South Shore.

If you want to learn more about Hawaii’s Sea Turtles, check out the following titles: The Book of Honu by Maui authors Peter Bennett and Ursula Keuper-Bennett, Sea Turtles of Hawaii by Kauai author Patrick Ching or for your Kindle, Hawaii’s Green Sea Turtles by Kauai Author Monika Mira.

Meet Kauai’s Children’s Authors

Kauai children’s authors are hitting the road with an island-wide, year-long book signing tour. Kauai Children’s Authors Guild members, Monika Mira, Mark Huff, Wendy Lewis, Susan Dierker, and Carol Peacock will be signing copies of their children’s books on Saturday April 21st at Kauai Mini Golf in Kilauea. They will also be appearing at Beach Rail in Harbor Mall, Talk Story Bookstore in Hanapepe, Na Aina Kai Gardens in Kilauea, National Tropical Botanical Gardens in Poipu and the Princess Ka’iulani Festival in Hanepepe. They are also in negotiations with a number of other locations and events (See below for the event schedule.)

The authors recognize the importance of reading to and interacting with children. “We want children to know that creativity is important, and by learning to write, they to have something to aspire to. We also wish to be accessible to the children and their families.” It was with these intentions that the Kauai Children’s Authors Guild was formed.

Kauai’s Children’s Authors will also be reading their books, or in Mira’s case, conducting coral reef building activities in classrooms and Libraries. For more information about the Kauai Children’s Authors Guild you can view their blog, or Facebook page.

Spring and Summer Book Signing Events:

Saturday April 21st, 2012 from 1p-3p

Kauai Mini Golf in Kilauea is hosting a group book signing for members of the Kauai Children’s Authors Guild. Local authors will be available to sign copies of their children’s books from 1p-3p. Come and enjoy a round of mini golf with your family and get a chance to meet several of Kauai’s Children’s Authors in one place.

Friday April 27th, 2012 from 9a-noon

Beach Rail Toy Store in Harbor Mall will be hosting a group book signing for the Kauai Children’s Authors Guild. Kauai’s authors will be offering signed copies of their books to cruise-line visitors as well as local folks. Free reef fish coloring sheets will be available for the keiki.

Saturday April 28th, 9am-12p

Kauai Children’s Authors Guild member, Monika Mira will be signing copies of her book, The Complete Hawaiian Reef Fish Coloring Book at Na Aina Kai at their monthly keiki day event on Saturday April 28th, from 9a-12p.

Sunday July 15th

Kauai Children’s Authors Guild members, Mark Huff, Carol Peacock-Williams, Susan Dierker, Wendy Lewis and Monika Mira will be signing their books at the National Tropical Botanical Gardens in Poipu on their ‘Ohana day from 9am-noon.