What's It Like To Live in Paradise?

This is a beautiful picture of a gazebo and some deck chairs... oh yeah, and that massive green mountain in the background. Images like these are aplenty on Kauai. The population of the island only lives on about 5% of the land that makes up Kauai. Part of that is because Kauai is so under-populated (WOO HOO!) and part of that is because that most of Kauai is not "inhabitable" in the way that we think of having homes and the like.

From nearly everywhere on the island, you can look back (if you're facing the ocean) and you'll be able to see mountain. Part of that is because so many different sets of mountains on the island. There's the "Sleeping Giant," which really looks like there is a giant who is lying down and sleeping (it also looks like he is praying which is kind of cool). There is this set of mountains that is in this picture above, there's Mount Waialeale, which is the wettest spot on Earth, and many more!

While living on Kauai, there really is an abundance of things to do. Many people come to the island to hike the many trails there are (in and up the mountains and such). When people think of hiking on Kauai, it is usually for Kalalau Trail (I've included a BIG picture of that below).

There is so much beauty on this island that it's almost unimaginable that someone could get "bored" living here.

One of my favorite things about Kauai are the beaches... well, to be more accurate, the WORLD-CLASS beaches... that are almost always NOT CROWDED! It's unreal to go to the beach on a warm day and see, at most, 60 people (unless there's some kind of a surfing tournament, and then you might see 100). And this is at one of Kauai's most popular places, Hanalei Bay.

It's like people haven't taken the time to realize that Honolulu and Waikiki are just Hawaiian only in name. A true Hawaiian beach does not have people scrunched up towel-to-towel next to each other. I love being able to walk with my dog up and down the beach and not have him disturb tourists or step onto anyone's area. This is made possible because of how sparsely spread out everyone is.

The beaches in Hawaii are some of the best I've seen (I've been to California and Virginia, when it comes to "good beaches,") and every time I get in the car and head to the beach (which is everyday), I'm amazed at how many people ARE NOT at the beach. Growing up in the Greater-Toronto Area, I was used to seeing hundreds of people at the beach. Here on Kauai, I'd be lucky to see a hundred (different) people at the beach on a given week -- total!

Oh the sunsets!

I haven't yet been on the Kalalau Trail (on the West side of the island), but I can only imagine that the sunsets FROM the trail are exquisite! Still, the sunsets to be seen from Hanalei Bay (and other northern areas of the island) are nothing to be sneezed at either. The sun slowly makes its way over the mountain and you are subjected to an orange-y sky of delight. The sun continues on its trek down over the ocean and before it leaves, it populates the sky with what looks like cotton candy. It lasts for about 10 minutes, but the white fluffy clouds turn to bright pink and its quite a sight to see.

For those who like to greet the day WITH the sun... Kauai is an island... and the whole eastern side of the island is (populated), so it's very easy to get in the car and drive to one of the many beaches on the east side and watch the sun... rise... over... the... ocean... every...day... lol... And of course, as I said earlier about the beaches... you'll never be crowded watching the sunrise in the morning!

As I was saying earlier... look at those fluffy white clouds. At sunset, those turn pink!

Anyway, this picture captures the essence of Kauai for me. It is, in a word, idyllic. It looks so good that it almost looks like someone's "dream place" that isn't real... something that is only to be imagined but never experienced... but I get to experience this everyday. Everytime i turn to see a sight like this, I am sure to stop and appreciate just what I am looking at. Beauty. It's.... breath-taking... and it turns me speechless sometimes. To think of the places I've called home: Toronto, Victoria (BC), Virginia, California, New Zealand... and now Hawaii.

I've found it very humbling to remember where I've been (snowy winters) to appreciate the sunny warm winters (and still be in the Northern Hemisphere).

How great is that to wake up on Christmas morning (at home) and take your dog to the beach to be greeted by these sights?

This island, at each turn, never ceases to amaze in its beauty. Wonderful fragrant flowers, tall trees, polite people... It's all Kauai. It's this island feeling and warm welcomeness that makes Kauai such a great place to be.

I have yet to try my foot at surfing, but I think it's pretty cool that people, on Christmas morning can shoot on down to the beach and surf their heart out!

As I was saying earlier, Kauai is an outdoor adventurer's dream! All the great hiking there is to do is a good first step. And then there's the abundance of camping to be done... All through the Kalalau Trail and also near the beaches all around the island. There's the world-class surfing, boogie-boarding, swimming... river kayaking, ocean kayaking... sailing... hang-gliding... wind-surfing... GOLF (there are 9 or so golf courses on this island already!)... and they've even opened up a mini-putt, lol.

Hmmm, what else have we got here. Oh right, there's even horseback riding, which probably isn't so special all on its own, but when you pair it with the unique vistas you'll get to see set atop a horse's back, it makes it worth it. :-)

This lens was originally created as part of a Challenge by a fellow Squidmaster (people who create lenses or websites), Mandee.

_Joan_ is keeping track of all of the lenses that are published as part of this challenge with her lens: Squidoo's Virtual Jenga #2: - the "About Me" Quest.

Ironically, I was planning on doing a bunch of lenses about where I've lived, but I hadn't been planning on doing a lens about where I was currently living. This lens gave me the opportunity to put to paper some of the wonderfulness of the Island of Kauai. :-)