With an aerial tour of Kauai, you will enjoy a birds eye view of this majestic island, soaring through the Waimea Canyon, dropping into the mysterious and lush “hanging valleys” of the Na Pali Coast, and looking down on the towns of Kauai, including many historical landmarks and places of interest.  The history of this verdant isle is as varied and colorful as its stunning natural beauty.

Kauai is a place rich in a sense of place.  Currently, the island enjoys its place on the short list of most coveted vacation and second home destinations in the world.  It is an island paradise for today’s visitor, offering exciting activities, gourmet restaurants and lodging ranging from quaints cottages to five star world class hotels.  The last two hundred years of history of the island is a study in colonialism and religious missionary work.   Prior to Western contact, Kauai’s role in the human history of the Hawaii Archipelago, and within the Hawaiian Monarchy is a story of solidarity and courageous warriors. 

Fire that erupted deep in the heart of the Pacific Ocean ravaged high above to create many atolls (fringing corral reef) and islands, among them was Kauai.  It is astounding that from this violent and fiery beginning, the island of Kauai is known the world over as the “Garden Isle”, a paradise of rushing waterfalls, fragrant blossoms and white sand beaches. 

The first human contact with the island is believed to have happened in the fourth or fifth century A.D.  These trans-Pacific settlers are believed to have traveled from as far away as Micronesia in their traditional canoes, navigating by their knowledge of astronomy, and landing their canoes on the virgin beaches of Hawaii.  These adventurous settles brought with them many basic food items, that included the staple of the Hawaiian diet, Taro.  Taro root is used to make “poi”, which is served with the modern “plate lunch”.  This purple starch is popular at luau’s today, and is still a major part of the Hawaiian diet. 

These seafaring pioneers established a uniquely Hawaiian culture in the next 1200 years, and ultimately the islands were populated by small villages that utilized the local natural resources, and thrived in this fertile environment.  The villages were located within traditional land units known as “Ahupua’a”, which were pie shaped land regions that stretched from the very center of the island to the sea, including within each a number of different resource zones which were cultivated for various living needs.  These early Hawaiian’s established a strict and hierarchal tribal code of conduct, and there was a complex system of spirituality and rule.  Huge rock structures were constructed in geographically significant sites, and these places of worship were called “He’aus”. 

Over time, the various islands had periods of war and periods of peace.  When the King Kamehameha of the Big Island succeeded in conquering all of the other Hawaiian Islands, Kauai was able to maintain independence for many years before eventually being conquered by this warring chief as well.  Eventually, Kauai’s King Kaumualii peacefully offered Kauai to Kamehameha to avoid more bloodshed.  At that time, the Hawaiian Archipelago was consolidated into a central leadership structure.  This development paved the way for the development of the Hawaiian Monarchy, after first contact with the West.

Captain James Cook first found Kauai on his voyage to Alaska in 1778.  He landed first in Waimea, and even visited the “forbidden island” of Ni’ihau.  Ultimately, Hawaii would also be the place of Captain Cook’s death.

Next time, we will learn more about the Missionary era on Kauai, and ultimately the modern history of the Kauai we know.