We are now centered in Princeville on Kauai's north coast. All of the towns on Kauai have Hawaiian names. Princeville is not really a town but a cluster of resorts centered around an area that was first a Russian fort, then a coffee and sugar cane ranch operated by a Scotsman named Wyllie. After Hawaiian King Kamehameha IV and his queen visited in 1860, the name Princeville was strategically given to honor the royal son. In 1969, the ranch was purchased for development as an upscale resort with its own private airport.
Some people come to Princeville and never leave the resort, but I have been planning how to explore the area for weeks now, remembering some of the things Nelda and I did on our visit 17 years ago. The road around the north side of the island stops about 10 miles further at the beginning of Na Pali coast, which is too rugged for a road. Actually, it's also too rugged for even hiking for most of us. There are a series of one-lane bridges as the road gets narrower and passes through the beautiful town Hanalei. Many movie scenes were filmed here, including several from South Pacific. In fact, the mystical "Bali Hai" of that movie is actually a shot of the beginning of the Na Pali coast.
I had been studying to the find the most perfect beaches in the area, but we have discovered that every one we stop at is pretty special. Different combinations of dramatic waves, smooth snorkeling, and shady palm trees, but all quite nice.
Nelda says she will author a post later today, with a few more pictures.
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