Kalalau Valley as seen from Kokee. Jan TenBruggencate - The Honolulu Advertiser

For visitors and kama'aina (Hawai'i residents) alike, unforgettable memories can be made of a hike along Kaua'i's Na Pali coast, a horseback ride down Waimea Canyon or a restful stay at Princeville.

Getting to Kaua'i

You can travel to Kaua'i from Honolulu on Hawaiian Airlines and Aloha Airlines, the two inter-island carriers. Fares are approximately $140 round-trip from Honolulu to Lihu'e Airport, but can cost as much as $210 on busy days, so book early. Flights to Kaua'i also leave from the other islands. Check with Hawaiian and Aloha for details.

United Airlines, flying out of Los Angeles, and Royal Airlines out of Vancouver, Canada, also offer direct flights to Lihu'e Airport.

Getting to and from the airport

Lihu'e Airport (airport code LIH) is the island's major gateway. Visitor information booths, although not manned 24 hours a day, are located near the baggage claim areas and in the main lobby outside the security checkpoint. For visitor information, call (808) 246-1440.

There are three visitor information booths:

• at Baggage Claim A & B 
• at Baggage Claim C & D 
• in the main lobby after exiting security checkpoint 

Arrival/departure gates are all on Level 2. Baggage Claim is on the mauka (mountain) side of the facility on Level 1.

To get to hotels and other resort areas from Lihu'e Airport, you generally have two options:

Rental cars - The major rental car counters are located across from the Hawaiian Air baggage area and are open seven days a week:

Alamo Rent A Car - (808) 246-0646; toll-free (800) 327-9633. Open 5:45 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Avis Rent A Car - (808) 245-3512; toll-free (800) 321-3712. Open 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Budget Rent A Car - toll-free (877) 283-2468
Dollar Rent A Car - (808) 245-3651. Open 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Hertz Rent A Car - (808) 245-3356; toll-free (800) 654-3131. Open 6 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.
National Car Rental - (808) 245-5636; toll-free (800) 227-7368. Open 6 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Thrifty Car Rental - (808) 246-6252. Open 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Taxi - It's best to reserve a cab in advance, but you can also call for a taxi from phones outside of the baggage area. Fares are approximately $15 to Wailua on the east coast, $60 to Princeville on the north shore and $30 to Poipu on the south shore:

Akiko's Taxi - (808) 822-7588; toll-free (877) 722-7588
City Cab - (808) 245-3227
Bran's Taxi - (808) 245-6533
Kaua'i Taxi Co. - (808) 246-9554

As of this writing, Lihu'e offers no airport shuttle service, and only a few hotels operate an airport pick-up/drop-off service.

Travelers to Princeville/Hanalei can fly to the Princeville Airport on a Pacific Wings airlines charter (888- 575-4546), but there are no longer scheduled airlines to that airport.

Most Kaua'i hotels are located in Lihu'e within a few miles of the airport, Wailua on the east side, Poipu in the south and Princeville/Hanalei in the north. Lodgings come in a range of prices:

In the expensive category, there are two obvious leaders on the Garden Island, each in vastly different areas. On the northern shore, overlooking what is often called Bali Ha'i is the Princeville Resort with unsurpassed views and a perfect beach. The golf links are among the world's most famous. Standand room rates are $510 a night, but packages are available.

On the southern shore, at Poipu Beach, is the well-designed Hyatt Regency Kaua'i. Built to evoke some elements of a long-ago Hawai'i, it nevertheless provides everything anybody wants in a modern resort hotel. An unusual feature is the seven connecting swimming pools. Room rates range from $255 to $565 a night.

There are several bargain hotels on the island. In Lihu'e, the venerable Tip Top Motel, has no website, but email is tiptop@aloha.net. Other possibilities on nearby Kalapaki Bay include the Garden Island Inn or the Banyan Harbor Resort at Koloa, the Koloa Landing Cottages, or perhaps the Poipu Plantation.

At Kapaa, are two old-timers, the Hotel Coral Reef or the Kapaa Sands and out at Princeville, the Paliuli Cottages are another option.

Seeing Kaua'i

You can tour the island on the ground, in the air and on water. Taxi companies offer island tours to popular spots on the island, as do established tour companies like Roberts Hawaii, (808) 245-9101 or toll-free (800) 831-5541; Aloha Kaua'i Tours, (808-245-7224); and Kaua'i Island Tours (808-245-4777).

Helicopter tours are a dramatic way to see the island, but keep in mind there is a certain amount of risk with such flights. Here are some of the companies that offer helicopter tours:

Air Kaua'i Helicopters 808-246-4666; toll-free 800-972-4666; heliop@aloha.net
Bali Hai Helicopter Tours, Inc. 808-335-3166; toll-free 800-325-8687; blh@aloha.net
Hawaii Helicopters - Kaua'i 808-826-6591; toll-free 800-994-9099; helitour@maui.net
Island Helicopters Kaua'i, Inc. 808-245-8588; fly@islandhelicopters.com
Ohana Helicopter Tours - 808-245-3996; toll-free 800-222-6989; info@ohana-helicopters.com
Safari Aviation Inc. 808-246-0136; toll-free 800-326-3356; safari@safariair.com
South Sea Helicopters 808-245-2222; 800-367-2914; 2ssh@gte.net
Will Squyres Helicopter Tours 808-245-8881; 888-245-4354; squyres@aloha.net

The following is a list of top tourist targets.