During your visit to any Hawaiian Island, you’re going to have views of some of the most dramatic sites and stunning features the islands have to offer. When you land on Kauai, the site that sticks out the most, literally, is Mount Waialeale, the mountain that encompasses a majority of the island, and helps to create the dramatic landscape of the island. Each island features towering mountain ranges, created from years of volcanic activity, but Kauai’s mountain might be the most significant. This is one of the top Hawaii attractions on Kauai, and a place that you will want to witness for yourself during your trip.
Just about anywhere you visit on Kauai is touched by the mountain, stretching from the southern part of the island to the northern, and all the way to the west and the Na Pali Coast. The extinct shield volcano is the second highest point on the island, and due to the incredible amount of rainfall that it receives, is also the second wettest place on Earth, receiving over 400 inches of rain each year, with the average amount coming in at over 450 inches annually.
Due to the amount of rainfall, a unique environment has been created, becoming vital to the island with many different rare plant species that are found all over the mountain. The Alaka’I Wildlife Preserve is a wetlands where these tropical plants flourish, and perhaps most incredibly, some of these plants and flowers are exclusive to Hawaii. Studies and research has shown that Mt. Waialeale receives rain 360 days per year, creating conditions on some parts of the mountain that are impossible to navigate, and though hiking trails are found on the slopes, actually hiking on them is quite dangerous.
Known primarily for its gorgeous beaches, the interiors of the island are often overlooked and are actually very diverse, making for a great place to explore and find a bit of adventure. The most dramatic features that result from Mt. Waialeale are Waimea Canyon and the Na Pali Coast. With features that take your breath away, these two places are considered the top destinations on the island and provide countless opportunities for adventure and fun. The Na Pali Coast is the place on Kauai for ocean activities on the island, and is also the place where you go for an extreme 14 mile hike that traverses the towering ocean cliffs that rise as high as 400 feet above sea level.
With so many Hawaii attractions to consider during your trip to Kauai, make some time to visit the parts of Mt. Waialeale that are easily accessible. Waimea Canyon features incredible lookout points, and the lush slopes of the mountain are filled with waterfalls that create quite the visual. The best way to see the mountain is on a Kauai helicopter tour, which also shows you the diverse and stunning beauty of Kauai.
Due to the high volume of visitors traveling to Hawaii year round, our Kauai tours and Kauai activities sell out quickly. In many cases, tours sell out weeks or months in advance. To ensure your spots on tour, we recommend reserving your tours today. Call our office or book online to take advantage of our low price guarantee today.
back to trip planner