Kauai City Information

Population: 57,000

Location: 533 sq. miles

Elevation: 3 miles

Time Zone: Six hours behind standard time on the east coast of mainland U.S. When it is noon (EST) in New York City; it is 6:00 AM on the island of Kaua'i. However, Daylight Savings Time is not observed. As a result, the time in summer will be 5 hours behind that of New York City.

When to Go: Though Kaua'i's climate is tropical, it actually consists of many distinct microclimates, including sunny dry areas, lush river valleys, temperate foothills and high mountain rain forests. Most of the year, temperatures on Kaua'i range in the 70s, with winter nighttime lows in the 60s.
The north coast beaches are best for surfing in the winter and swimming in the summer. The reverse is true for the south coast beaches. Thus, it is always a good time to visit the island regardless of your recreational interests. The climate is such that the weather is perfect year round. Summers on Kaua'i bring daytime temperatures in the mid-80s and nighttime lows in the 70s. Even in the middle of Kaua'i's summer, the nearly constant gentle trade winds create a cool balmy climate instead of the oppressive heat common to other tropical destinations.

Holidays
New Year's Day Jan. 1
Martin Luther King, Jr., Day 3rd Mon. in Jan.
President's Day 3rd Mon. in Feb.
Kuhio Day, March 24
Memorial Day last Mon. in May
Kamehameha Day, June 9
Independence Day July 4
Admission Day, 3^rd Friday in August
Labor Day 1st Mon. in Sept.
Discoverer's Day, 2^nd Monday in October
Veteran's Day, November 10
Election Day, November
Thanksgiving Day 4th Thurs. in Nov.
Christmas Day Dec. 25
Mainland-style discount and department stores reached Kaua'i years ago, carrying an all-inclusive selection of moderately priced merchandise. Kaua'i's major shopping centers are open daily from 9 or 10 to 5, although some stay open until 9. Stores are basically clustered around the major resort areas and Lihu'e.

Doctors: Walk-ins are accepted at Kaua'i Medical Clinic, 3-3420 Kuhio Hwy. Suite B, Lihu'e ( 808/245-1500, or 808/245-1831 after hours)

Emergencies: Dial 911 for police, fire, and ambulance service. The Poison Control Center can be reached at 800/362-3585.

Hospitals: Wilcox Health System, 3420 Kuhio Hwy., Lihu'e ( 808/245-1100), has emergency services available around the clock.

Police: For non-emergencies, call 808/245-9711.

Post Office: The main post office is at 4441 Rice St., Lihu'e. To find the branch office nearest you, call 800/ASK-USPS.

Weather: For current weather conditions, call 808/245-6001. For marine conditions, call 808/245-3564
Electricity
The U.S. electrical standard is 110 volts/60 cycles AC. Foreign visitors traveling with dual-voltage appliances will not need a converter, but they will need a plug adapter. The standard U.S. electrical outlet takes a plug of two flat pins set parallel to one another.

ATMs
Automated teller machines for easy access to cash are everywhere on the islands. ATMS can be found in shopping centers, small convenience and grocery stores, inside hotels and resorts, as well as outside most bank branches. For a directory of locations, call 800/424-7787 for the Cirrus network or 800/843-7587 for the Plus network.

Divers' Alert
Do not fly for 24 hours after scuba diving.
Telephones
The country code for the United States is 1. The area code for Kaua'i is 808.

Taxes
There is a 4.17% state sales tax on all purchases in Hawaii, including food. A hotel room tax of 7.25%, combined with the sales tax of 4.17%, adds an 11.42% charge to your hotel bill. A $2-per-day road tax is also assessed on each rental vehicle.

Getting There

By Air
Many of the major airline carriers serving Honolulu now fly direct to Kaua'i, sparing visitors the necessity of making a connecting flight out of Honolulu. Island hopping is still easy, with flights departing Honolulu every 20 to 30 minutes daily until mid-evening.
Kaua'i's Lihu'e Airport (LIH) (808/246-1400) handles most of the air traffic in and out of Kaua'i. Three miles east of the town of Lihu'e, the terminal is spacious and contemporary. Once you arrive, if you have any immediate questions, stop by the Lihu'e Airport Visitor Information Center (808/246-1440), outside each baggage claim area. Open daily.
North of Lihu'e is Princeville Airport (HPV), a tiny strip in the middle of rolling ranch lands and sugarcane fields today used primarily by private planes
Hawai'i's major airport is Honolulu International (HNL), (808/836-6413 or 808/836-6411) on O'ahu, 20 minutes (9 mi) west of Waikiki. Visitors traveling on from there to other islands depart from either the inter-island terminal or the commuter-airline terminal, located in two separate structures adjacent to the main overseas terminal building. Flying time to Honolulu is about 10 hours from New York, 8 hours from Chicago, and 5 hours from Los Angeles.

Transfers Between the Airport and Town
The driving time from Lihu'e Airport to the town of Lihu'e is only five minutes. From Lihu'e to Wailua or Kapa'a driving time is 15 minutes, and to Princeville and Hanalei about 45 minutes.
From Lihu'e south to Po'ipu, the major resort area, is a 30-minute drive. To Waimea it takes one hour, and if you choose the rustic accommodations in the hills of Koke'e, allow a good hour and a half of driving time from Lihu'e.
Check with your hotel or condo to see if it offers free shuttle service from the airport.
Buses run more or less hourly from 5:30am to 6pm. with special rates for students and disabled passengers. They do not, however, accommodate luggage.
By Car
Car-rental companies have offices at both airports on Kaua'i. They'll also provide you with driving directions to your hotel or condo.

By Ship
Another way to visit Kaua'i for a short time is to book passage on an inter-island cruise ship. American Hawai'i Cruises (Robin St. Wharf, 1380 Port of New Orleans Pl. New Orleans, LA 70130-1890, 800/765-7000) has been conducting seven-day excursions for years. The massive white SS Independence, refurbished in 1997, and the 1,214-passenger MS Patriot, added to the fleet in 2000, leave Honolulu each Saturday, stopping at Nawiliwili on the east coast of Kaua'i, as well as at Maui and Hilo and Kona on the Big Island. At each port of call you may get off the ship for sightseeing and shore excursions.

Getting Around Kaua'i
With little public transportation, rental cars are recommended, but getting around on Kaua'i is easy. Kaua'i's roads almost encircle the entire coastline except for the Na Pali Coast where building roads is not possible.

Driving Around Kaua'i: A car is recommended as the best way to see the island. There are only two major highways, each beginning in Lihu'e. From Lihu'e Airport, turn right, Continue to the Coconut Coast and through the North Shore and dead-end at Kee Beach, where the Na Pali Coast begins. The breathtaking steep green cliffs of Na Pali provide a natural barrier, limiting access to those walking or traveling via helicopter or boat.

Motorcycle Rentals are also available.

Other Transportation Options: Kaua'i Taxi Company ( 808/246-9554) offers taxi, limousine, and airport shuttle service. Kaua'i Bus ( 808/241-6410) operates a fleet of 15 buses that serve the entire island. Space is extremely limited aboard the buses, and they don't stop at any of the resort areas, but they do serve more than a dozen coastal towns between Kekaha, on the southwest shore and Hanalei.