“Aloha! The local time is 3:17 pm. Thank you for flying with us. We will be landing at Lihue Airport in roughly twenty minutes. The weather is a comfortable 74 degrees, with light winds from the north. Please fasten your seatbelts; flight attendants, please prepare for arrival,” the pilot pleasantly states.
I look out the window to a vast turquoise ocean with small white caps and a few birds scouring for lunch. I was finally going to visit the island I had heard so many enchanting stories about—Kauai. I desperately needed a reset from my mundane routine. I needed an adventure.
From Postcard Daydreams to Hawaiian Reality
I had been dreaming of this trip for years, commuting back and forth to work with a little postcard of these majestic, flowing waterfalls on this tropical island taped to my cubicle.
My college roommate traveled to Kauai years ago and sent me that postcard: a place that looked warm and inviting, a place my soul had been calling me to for years while I was caught up in the rat race.
Anxiously awaiting our landing on Kauai, I flipped through the airline magazine only to find the same photo from the postcard: Wailua Falls.
“Hidden on Kauai’s coconut coast on the east side, Wailua Falls is a must see.” I was thrilled! I had pictured this place for years, and here I was, about to burst with excitement at finally seeing the beautiful landscape and waterfalls of Kauai. As the plane approached the island, lush emerald-green mountains, black rocks, and caramel-colored sandy beaches emerged.
The sky was a new, rich blue I had never seen before, with buttery clouds painted across it.
First Impressions
My first impression upon stepping off the plane was that the air felt different, like a warm blanket had been tossed over my shoulders. The airport was quaint and easy to navigate, and the sounds of steel guitar played overhead.
The aroma of fresh leis made it easy to drop my guard despite my lack of sleep; I was full of enthusiasm. After a great night’s rest, I woke while it was still dark outside, thanks to the time change. So, before daybreak, I headed out for coffee.
The Kauai roads began waking without streetlights on most of my drive from Poipu, so the stars just before dawn were mesmerizing—vast and clear. Once I made it out of the tree-tunnel canopy overhead, there was a dazzling blanket in the sky.
With each waking moment, I was reminded I was far from home, which felt like a wonderfully curious adventure on Kauai. I headed northeast from the south shore and found myself back in Lihue, where I landed yesterday, off Highway 583. It was nestled at the bottom of a valley in the northern part of town.
The sun started to rise as I bore left down this winding road, passing residences, pastureland, and remnants of Kauai’s old sugar days. As the end of 583 curved one last time, there, in all its glory, was the majestic 80-foot Wailua Falls.
Arriving At Wailua Falls
After roughly a twenty-minute ride, I parked in a small lot with about ten spots. Vendors were setting up for the early morning, and a beautiful mist was falling over the stone wall. Fragments of light from the sunrise billowed through the valley, with tiny rainbows scattered throughout—no two moments looked the same. While I watched this waterfall come to life, I unexpectedly felt as though I was coming to life, too. Something was emerging from my being that I had never felt before; I was in awe.
“Hey, aloha, you like one fresh coconut?” voiced a man by the stone wall. He stood on the back of his white Toyota pickup, with a pile of fresh coconuts and a machete in his hand. Although I had never seen a machete as large or as sharp, his smile made me feel comfortable. Of course, I wanted a fresh coconut.
After paying the man, he was kind enough to share some of the history of the waterfall, explaining that the ancient royal Hawaiians—the “Ali’i” (ah-lee-E)—would jump off this very waterfall as a test of strength. Many locals have rich stories of their generations gathering on the Wailua River, using the plants along the trails for medicine, and catching fish in the streams for food.
The idea of eating wild boar that had feasted on guavas and avocados made my mouth water.
The Wailua Falls lead into the Wailua River on the south end, and from stories told by Kopa that day, it sounded like commoners were once not allowed to visit any of the falls. They were sacred places only the Kings and Queens could enjoy—places that have since become very special for locals to gather today.
Meeting Kopa
As I sipped my fresh coconut—chopped open by Kopa and gathered from the sacred coconut coast—staring into the mist of Wailua Falls as the sun hit the bottom of the large pool, I felt astonished. There was something special about that moment that changed the trajectory of my life, right then and there. It was as if the mist, the enchantment, and the spirit of this faraway place moved me into a new space, allowing me to reflect on my life and on the lives of those who had stood before me.
Just then, out of the corner of my eye, I saw two hikers trying to climb down the fence by the parking lot toward the back of the falls. My knee-jerk reaction was to yell at them, but I quickly remembered I wasn’t in my home court; I was a guest in someone else’s home. I most definitely wanted to be a gracious guest.
What happened next was my favorite part: Kopa got down from his truck bed and approached the visiting hikers. This Hawaiian man was broad in stature but gentle in nature. He grabbed his large bamboo walking stick, which appeared to have traveled with him to many places, and his machete in his other hand.
RELATED: Hiking Trails You Should Know About In Kaua’i
“Aloha,” Kopa said with calm force. “You no need go down there. Come, I will show you.” He then proceeded to share the stories of the island, its humanity, and the humility one should have when entering Hawaii. The best part is that Kopa wasn’t curt, aggressive, or forceful in conveying his point—something most Americans and visitors alike could note.
I watched the hikers go from defensive to quietly sitting down with Kopa, like children at story time. With their coconuts in hand, sipping from their straws, all felt right with the world that day.
Reflection And Change
My stay in Kauai, especially the revelations I experienced at the stunning Wailua Falls, put many things in perspective for me. Just like the hundreds of waterfalls that are fed by Mt. Waialeale and eventually lead to the ocean, everything is changing every day.
During rainy seasons, the falls, streams, and rivers flush out what is no longer needed. During dry spells, some of the falls dissipate and dwindle. Such is life. Throughout these ebbs and flows, Kauai acknowledges its changes both externally and internally, offering dramatic visuals of nature at its finest.
Kauai whispers gently to visitors: go on an adventure, be curious about new places and cultures, try new things, respect the seasons in your own life, and don’t miss an opportunity to declare a new direction.
Need help planning your trip to Kaua’i? Email reservations@poipu365.com and we can help you!
